Data Definition Language (DDL) Reference Manual

Definition Attributes

Data Definition Language (DDL) Reference Manual—529431-004

6-71

USAGE

The USAGE clause either specifies computational storage allocation for a numeric

group or field or identifies a COBOL as an index.

COMP[UTATIONAL]

specifies that the field or group is a numeric item that is to be stored as a

computational value.

INDEX

specifies that a field is to be used as an index for COBOL only.

COMP[UTATIONAL]-3

specifies that the field or group is a numeric item that is stored in decimal form, but

one digit takes one half-byte. The sign is stored separately as the rightmost half-

byte, regardless of whether S is specified in the PICTURE declaration. See

Example 6-59 on page 6-72.

PACKED-DECIMAL

Specifies that the field or group is a numeric item that is stored in decimal form, but

one digit takes one-half byte. The sign is stored separately as the rightmost half

byte, regardless of whether S is specified in the PICTURE declaration.

[ USAGE [ IS ] ] { COMP[UTATIONAL] }

{ INDEX }

{ COMP[UTATIONAL]-3 }

( PACKED-DECIMAL }

Note. Use PACKED-DECIMAL only for COBOL.