Double-byte character set

In addition to the standard EBCDIC set of characters, High Level Assembler accepts double-byte character set (DBCS) data.

When the DBCS option is specified, High Level Assembler accepts double-byte data as follows:

Double-byte data, optionally mixed with single-byte data, is permitted in:
- The nominal value of character (C-type) constants and literals
- The value of character (C-type) self-defining terms
- The operand of MNOTE, PUNCH and TITLE statements
Pure double-byte data is supported by:
- The pure DBCS (G-type) constant and literal
- The pure DBCS (G-type) self-defining term

Double-byte data in source statements must always be bracketed by the shift-out (SO) and shift-in (SI) characters to distinguish it from single-byte data.

Double-byte data is supported in the operands of the AREAD and REPRO statements, and in comments and remarks, regardless of the invocation option. Double-byte data assigned to a SETC variable symbol by an AREAD statement contain the SO and SI.