Describing arguments in the calling program
In the calling program, describe arguments in the DATA
DIVISION in the same manner as other data items in the DATA
DIVISION.
About this task
Storage
for arguments is allocated only in the outermost program. For example,
program A calls program B, which calls program C. Data items are allocated
in program A. They are described in the LINKAGE SECTION of
programs B and C, making the one set of data available to all three
programs.
If you reference data in a file, the file must be open when the data is referenced.
Code the USING phrase
of the CALL statement to pass the arguments. If you pass a data item BY VALUE, it must
be an elementary item.
To pass
CALL arguments
from AMODE 31 programs to AMODE 24 programs,
you must ensure that the arguments are in storage below the 16 MB
line to be addressed by the AMODE 24 subprogram.- For reentrant
AMODE 31programs, compile the program with theDATA(24)option, or specify the Language Environment® runtime optionHEAP(,,BELOW)if WORKING-STORAGE is allocated from HEAP storage. For more information about when WORKING-STORAGE is allocated from HEAP storage, see Storage and its addressability. - For nonreentrant programs that are compiled with the
NORENToption, compile with theRMODE(24)orRMODE(AUTO)option. Consequently, the following items are allocated below the 16 MB line, and can be passed as arguments toAMODE 24programs:WORKING-STORAGEdata items without theEXTERNALclauseFDrecord areas- QSAM buffers
- For mixed
AMODEapplications, the Language Environment runtime optionsALL31(OFF)andSTACK(,,BELOW)are required. Consequently, theLOCAL-STORAGE SECTIONdata items and data items with theEXTERNALattributes will be allocated below the 16 MB line, and can be passed as arguments toAMODE 24programs.