iTS 1.0+)

Data Division

Compaq NonStop™ Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual—426750-001

5-2

Data Division Sections

The four sections of the Data Division each describe a different type of data. The

sections are defined as follows:

•

The Working-Storage Section describes the structure of local data developed within

the program. Data entries in this section are initialized each time the program unit is

called; therefore, values are not retained between calls.

•

The Linkage Section describes the structure of parameter data passed to a

subprogram by a CALL statement. Items described in the calling program are

referred to in the USING clause of the Procedure Division header of a called

program.

•

The Screen Section describes the types and locations of fields in screens that can be

displayed on the terminal. Screens described in the Screen Section are referred to in

the Procedure Division of the program.

•

The Message Section describes the data type, size, and relative position (sequence)

of each field in a message. This section also defines the editing and conversion that

must be performed on each field. Messages described in the Message Section are

referred to in the Procedure Division of the program.

When multiple sections are included in a program, they must appear in the order shown.

Items within each section can appear in any order.

Although a program can contain both a Screen Section and a Message Section, it cannot

use both sections at once. A program either displays and accepts data on a terminal

screen or it communicates with an intelligent device; it cannot do both. The

TERMINAL IS clause of the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph dictates whether you

can reference the Screen Section or the Message Section in the Procedure Division of

your program.

Working-Storage Section

The Working-Storage Section defines records and miscellaneous data items used for

internal purposes. Data entries in this section can be set to initial values. When local

data items or intermediate storage are not needed, this section can be omitted.

The section begins with a section header. The format of the header is:

Data description entries for individual items follow the header. All item names must be

unique. Subordinate data names can be duplicated as long as they can be qualified.

The maximum size of elementary items, group items and 01 level data items in the

Working-Storage Section is 32,000 bytes. The maximum size of a data item that

contains only double-byte characters is 16,000 double-byte characters (32,000 bytes) for

a Working-Storage Section entry.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.