Defining DBCS data
Use the PICTURE and USAGE clauses to define DBCS data items. DBCS data items can use PICTURE symbols G, G and B,
or N. Each DBCS character position is 2 bytes in
length.
About this task
You
can specify a DBCS data item by using the USAGE DISPLAY-1 clause.
When you use PICTURE symbol G, you
must specify USAGE DISPLAY-1. When you use PICTURE symbol N but
omit the USAGE clause, USAGE DISPLAY-1 or USAGE
NATIONAL is implied depending on the setting of the NSYMBOL compiler
option.
If you use a VALUE clause with the USAGE clause
in the definition of a DBCS item, you must specify
a DBCS literal or the figurative constant SPACE or SPACES.
For the purpose of handling reference modifications, each character in a DBCS data item is considered to occupy the number of bytes that corresponds to the code-page width (that is, 2).