Using DBCS symbols as variable names or labels

To enable the use of DBCS characters in variable names and labels, use the ETMODE option of the OPTIONS instruction. For more information, see OPTIONS.

The following are some ways that DBCS names can be used:

as variables or labels within your program
as constant symbols
as a STEM name on EXECIO or as a trapping variable for the OUTTRAP function
to pass parameters on the LINKPGM, ATTCHPGM, LINKMVS, LU62, CPICOMM, and APPCMVS host command environments
with functions like SYMBOL and DATATYPE
in arguments of functions (like LENGTH)
with the variable access routines IKJCT441 and IRXEXCOM.

The following example shows a program using a DBCS variable name and a DBCS subroutine label:

/* REXX */
OPTIONS 'ETMODE'            /* ETMODE to enable DBCS variable names */
MI<.X.E.D>=1                /* Set mixed DBCS variable name         */
<.S.Y.M.D> = 10             /* Variable with DBCS characters between
                               Shift-out (<) and Shift-in (>)       */
call <.D.B.C.S.R.T.N>       /* Call subroutine, with DBCS name      */
 ⋮
<.D.B.C.S.R.T.N>:           /* Subroutine with DBCS name            */
do i = 1 to 10
  if x.i = <.S.Y.M.D> then  /* Does x.i match the DBCS variable's
                               value?                               */
    say 'Value of the DBCS variable is: '<.S.Y.M.D>
 end
 exit 0