6 February 2011
OWG-1/29-US-0169
Page 1 of 2
Subject:
Zero length literals and omitted PICTURE clause
Author:
Robert A. Karlin
Document references:
1) ISO/IEC 1989:20xx FCD 1.0
2) OWG-1/29-0131, Late NL comments on ISO IEC FCD 1989:20xx
National body comments:
These two syntax rules allow for the PICTURE clause to be omitted when there is a VALUE
clause with a literal. These rules should be modified to only allow this when the VALUE clause
has a non-zero length literal.
Change these two syntax rules to disallow non-zero literals.
Discussion:
Recommended changes:
1) Page 273, 13.15 Record Description Entry, Syntax rule 14, change in part " …or
national literal that is not a zero-length literal is specified … ".
2) Page 278, 13.16 Data Description Entry, Syntax rule 9, change in part " …or national
literal that is not a zero-length literal is specified … ".
3) Page 284, 13.17 Screen Description Entry, Add new syntax rule 10:
"The PICTURE clause may be omitted when an alphanumeric, boolean, or national
literal that is not a zero-length literal is specified in the VALUE clause. A PICTURE
clause is implied as follows:
a) if the literal is alphanumeric, 'PICTURE X(length)'
b) if the literal is boolean, 'PICTURE 1(length)'
c) if the literal is national, 'PICTURE N(length)'
where length is the length of the literal as specified in 8.3.1.2, Literals."
4) Page 284, 13.117 Screen Description Entry, Delete General rule 3.
6 February 2011
OWG-1/29-US-0169
Page 2 of 2