NUMBER—Generate Sequence Numbers

The NUMBER primary command sets number mode, which controls the numbering of lines in the current data.

Syntax

Notes:

¹ STD is the default for non-COBOL data set types. COBOL is the default for COBOL data set types.

ON: Automatically verifies that all lines have valid numbers in ascending sequence and renumbers any lines that are either unnumbered or out of sequence. You can also use RENUM to turn number mode on and renumber lines.
The editor interprets the STD, COBOL, and DISPLAY operands only when number mode is turned on.
OFF: Turns number mode off. You can also use NONUMBER to turn number mode off. If you alter or delete sequence numbers and enter NONUMBER on the Command line at the same time, the editor issues the message Some input data ignored and discards the data typed over the sequence numbers. The editor converts the original sequence numbers to data.
STD: Numbers the data in the standard sequence field.
COBOL: Numbers the data in the COBOL field.
STD COBOL: Numbers the data in both fields.
If both STD and COBOL numbers are generated, the STD number is determined and then used as the COBOL number. This can result in COBOL numbers that are out of sequence if the COBOL and STD fields were not synchronized. Use RENUM to force synchronization.
NOSTD: Turns standard number mode off.
NOCOBOL: Turns COBOL number mode off.
NOSTD NOCOBOL: Turns both the standard number mode and COBOL number mode off.
DISPLAY: Causes the width of the data window to include the sequence number fields. Otherwise, the width of the window does not include the sequence number fields. When you display a data set with a logical record length of 80 and STD numbering, the sequence numbers are not shown unless you are using a 3278 Model 5 terminal, which displays 132 characters. Automatic left or right scrolling is performed, if required, so that the left most column of the data window is the first column displayed.

Description

Attention: If number mode is off, make sure the first 6 columns of your data set are blank before turning COBOL number mode on. Otherwise, the data in these columns is replaced by sequence numbers. If that happens and if edit recovery or SETUNDO is on, you can use the UNDO command to recover the data. You can also use CANCEL at any time to end the edit session without saving the data.

When number mode is on, NUMBER verifies that all lines have valid numbers in ascending sequence. It renumbers any lines that are either unnumbered or out of sequence, but it does not otherwise change existing numbers.

In number mode, the editor automatically generates sequence numbers in the data for new lines created when data is copied or inserted. The editor also automatically renumbers the data when it is saved if autonum mode is in effect.

If the number overlays the shift-in (SI) or shift-out (SO) characters, the double-byte characters appear incorrectly and results are unpredictable.

Examples

To number data in the standard sequence field, enter this command:

NUMBER ON STD

To number data in both the standard and COBOL fields and include sequence numbers in the display, enter this command:

NUMBER ON STD COBOL DISPLAY