Data attribute specification

Explicit data attributes are data attributes that you specify in COBOL coding. Implicit data attributes are default values. If you do not explicitly code a data attribute, the compiler assumes a default value.

For example, you need not specify the USAGE of a data item. If USAGE is omitted and the symbol N or symbol U is not specified in the PICTURE clause, the default is USAGE DISPLAY, which is the implicit data attribute. When PICTURE symbol N is used, USAGE DISPLAY-1 is the default when the NSYMBOL(DBCS) compiler option is in effect; USAGE NATIONAL is the default when the NSYMBOL(NATIONAL) compiler option is in effect. Similarly, when PICTURE symbol U is used, USAGE UTF-8 is assumed. These are implicit data attributes.