COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs

Source Program Organization and Format
HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs—522555-006
2-4
Indicator Area
Topics:
•
Indicator Area
•
Area A and Area B
•
Restrictions
Indicator Area
The indicator area begins at margin C and ends at margin A, using only column 1. It
can be empty, or it can contain a single character that describes the type of information
on the line.
Compiler Directive (?)
A compiler directive has a question mark (?) in the indicator area. A compiler directive
is an instruction to the compiler (for more information on compiler directives, see
Compiler Directives).
The compiler interprets any line that has a question mark in column 1 as a compiler
directive. (This is true even when a program uses ANSI format, in which case the
compiler handles the line as if it began with the indicator area. For details on ANSI
format, see Section 16, ANSI Reference Format.)
Ordinary Comment (*)
An ordinary comment has an asterisk (*) in the indicator area. A comment can appear
anywhere in a program. The compiler ignores it.
Comment for Top of Next Page (/)
A comment to be printed at the top of the next page has a slash (/) in the indicator
area. Like an ordinary comment, this comment can appear anywhere in a program.
The compiler advances to the top of the next page and prints the comment at the top of
that page.
Table 2-2. Valid Indicator Area Characters (Tandem Reference Format)
Character Character Name Meaning and Topic Name
?Question markCompiler Directive (?)
*AsteriskOrdinary Comment (*)
/Slash Comment for Top of Next Page (/)
D Uppercase D Debugging Line (D or d)
d Lowercase d Debugging Line (D or d)
-Hyphen Continuation Line (-)
Space Text Line