Using symbols before fixed code

A period is required after a symbol when the code that follows the symbol is fixed and begins with:

An alphanumeric or national character ($, #, @)
A period.
A left parenthesis, when it is at the start of the designation of a relative generation of a generation data group (GDG) that does not contain a plus or minus sign.

The system recognizes the period as a delimiter. The period does not appear after you assign a substitution text to a symbol or nullify a symbol.

For example, if the first part of a data set name varies and the last does not, as in MONDATA, TUESDATA, and so forth, code:

DSNAME=&DAY.DATA

When coding a system symbol in a data set name with a relative generation number, you must place a period between the system symbol and the generation number if the following conditions are met:

The system symbol immediately precedes the generation number.
The generation number is not preceded by a plus or minus sigh.

For example, if &SYSNAME resolves to SY1, type DSNAME=PROD.&SYSNAME. (0) if the desired data set name is PROD.SY1(0). If a plus or minus sign is included, the period is optional: DSNAME=PROD.&SYSNAME.(+0) and DSNAME=PROD.&SYSNAME(+0) are both acceptable.

Code two consecutive periods (..) if a period follows a symbol. For example, code &DEPT..POK when the desired value is D58.POK and DEPT=D58 is the value assignment.