If CONTINUED is not
specified, all repeating groups are read from the first record of each input
case.
If CONTINUED is specified,
the first continuation record is read when the first record for the input
case is exhausted, that is, when the next repeating group would extend past
the end of the record. The ending column for the first record is defined on STARTS. If the ending column is not specified on STARTS, the logical record length is used.
Subsequent continuation records are read when the current
continuation record is exhausted. Exhaustion of the current continuation record
is detected when the next repeating group would extend past the end of the
record. The ending column for continuation records is defined on CONTINUED. If the ending column is not specified
on CONTINUED, the logical record length
is used.
For inline data, the record length is always 80. For data
stored in a file, the record length is generally whatever was specified on
the FILE HANDLE command or the default
of 1024. Shorter records are extended with blanks when they are read. For
IBM implementations, the physical record length is available and is used.