Common Continuation Errors in Coding Modal Commands

Use continuation rules cautiously when modal commands appear in the input stream. The following examples show common continuation errors:

•   IF LASTCC = 0 -
      THEN
        LISTCAT

• A continuation mark (hyphen) is missing after the THEN keyword. A null command is assumed after the THEN keyword, and the LISTCAT command is unconditionally run.

•   IF LASTCC = 0 -
      THEN -
        REPRO ...
        /*ALTERNATE PATH*/
      ELSE -
        PRINT ...

• Because no continuation mark (hyphen) follows the comment, the program assumes a null command. The ELSE keyword will not match the THEN keyword. Note the correct use of the continuation marks on the other records.

•   IF LASTCC = 0 -
      THEN -
        REPRO ...
      ELSE -

        PRINT ...

• Because a blank line with no continuation mark (hyphen) follows the ELSE keyword, the ELSE becomes null and the PRINT command is unconditionally run.

•   PARM TEST ( - /*COMMENT*/
    TRACE)

• The program does not continue the PARM command onto the second record, because characters other than blanks appear between the continuation mark (hyphen) and the end of the record.

•   PARM TEST ( TRA+ 
    /*FIELD CONTINUATION*/
    CE)

• The processor finds the end of the PARM command after the second record, because no continuation was indicated. The processor rejects command.