Using SETC variables in arithmetic expressions
You can use a SETC variable as an arithmetic term if its character string value represents a valid self-defining term. This includes the G-type self-defining term. A null value is treated as zero. This use of the SETC variable lets you associate numeric values with EBCDIC, DBCS, or hexadecimal characters, and can be used for such applications as indexing, code conversion, translation, or sorting.
For example, the following set of instructions converts a hexadecimal
value in &X into the decimal value 243 in &VAL.
Name Operation Operand
&X SETC 'X''F3''' &VAL SETA
&X