The parameter descriptions in this information are written using the VS COBOL II PIC language syntax and conventions, but you should use the syntax and conventions that are appropriate for the language you want to use.
Figure 1 shows examples of storage definition statements for COBOL, PL/I, and assembler language programs.
VS COBOL II PIC
PIC S9(4) BINARY HALFWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC S9(8) BINARY FULLWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC X(n) CHARACTER FIELD OF N BYTES
COBOL PIC
PIC S9(4) COMP HALFWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC S9(4) BINARY HALFWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC S9(8) COMP FULLWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC S9(8) BINARY FULLWORD BINARY VALUE
PIC X(n) CHARACTER FIELD OF N BYTES
PL/I DECLARE STATEMENT
DCL HALF FIXED BIN(15), HALFWORD BINARY VALUE
DCL FULL FIXED BIN(31), FULLWORD BINARY VALUE
DCL CHARACTER CHAR(n) CHARACTER FIELD OF n BYTES
ASSEMBLER DECLARATION
DS H HALFWORD BINARY VALUE
DS F FULLWORD BINARY VALUE
DS CLn CHARACTER FIELD OF n BYTES