COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs

Data Division
HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs—522555-006
7-2
Data Categories and Data Descriptions
Data Categories and Data Descriptions
Topics:
•
Record Description Entries
•
Independent Data Item Description Entries
Record Description Entries
A record description entry is a set of one or more data description entries. The first
data description entry has level number 01. Each additional entry has a level number in
the range 02 through 49 or the special level number 66 or 88. Entries with level
numbers 02 through 49 and 66 are subordinate data items of the record data item
defined in the initial data description entry (which has level number 01). Entries with
level number 66 redefine or rename portions of the record. Entries with level number
88 define condition-names.
Data items with level number 77 do not belong to records.
Table 7-1. Data Categories
Category
File Data Internal Data External Data
Definition Data that a
process can read
from or write to
files (including the
mapping between
the internal
program storage
and the file
storage)
Data that a process
develops internally and
holds in temporary areas
Data that all programs in
the run unit can access
Where
Data is
Described
File Section Working-Storage Section
Extended-Storage Section
Linkage Section
File Section
Working-Storage Section
Extended-Storage Section
How
Data is
Described
Data file
description entries
and sort-merge
file description
entries, each
followed by one or
more record
description entries
Record description entries
and independent data item
entries
File descriptions, record
description entries, and
independent data item
entries