Pointer and counter area

The pointer and counter area exists in HDAM, PHDAM, HIDAM, and PHIDAM databases, and, in some special circumstances, HISAM databases.

The pointer and counter area can contain two types of information:

• Pointer information consists of one or more addresses of segments to which a segment points.
• Counter information is used when logical relationships, an optional function of IMS, are defined.

The length of the pointer and counter area depends on how many addresses a segment contains and whether logical relationships are used. These topics are covered in more detail in other sections.