Re: error: invalid expression on USAGE POINTER item

[Michael Potter]

"Um... where is the second compile?"

Look for one above the line of equal signs and the second one below
the line of equal signs.

These are two different machines.

One has errors on the definition of the variable and the other only
errors on the IF statement.

"And what version of COBOL are you emulating?"

Whatever the default is for cobc.  I got it down to the simplest example.

Ultimately we are only interested in the IBM mainframe compatibility.



On Mon, May 15, 2023 at 12:52 PM Simon Sobisch <simonsobisch@web.de> wrote:
>
>
> Am 15.05.2023 um 13:01 schrieb James K. Lowden:
> > On Mon, 15 May 2023 08:29:13 -0400
> > Ron Norman <rjn@inglenet.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Microfocus Cobol does accept this and works as if C-W is a POINTER.
> >
> > Interesting.  ISO doesn't allow it.
>
> It explicit does.
>
> > What is the MF rule?  That the USAGE of any name, if missing, can be
> > inferred from the one before it, if at the same level?
>
> No, it is inferred from the group (the parent).
>
>  From 13.18.60.3 USAGE clause syntax rule 2:
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> If the USAGE clause is written in the data description entry for a group
> item, it may also be written in the data description entry for any
> subordinate elementary item or group item, but the same usage shall be
> specified in both entries.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> and from 13.18.60.4 USAGE clause, general rule 1
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> If the USAGE clause is specified or implied at a group level, it applies
> only to each elementary item in the group. Unless the GROUP-USAGE clause
> is also specified or implied, the USAGE clause applies only to each
> elementary item in the group and not to the group itself.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Therefore the example:
>
>         01  A-W         USAGE POINTER.
>             03  B-W     USAGE POINTER.
>             03  C-W.
>
> defines an alphanumeric group (is the case for every group which has no
> explicit GROUP-USAGE NATIONAL/BIT - something that GnuCOBOL doesn't
> support so far) which contains two variables of USAGE POINTER.
>
> > If so, does that hold for the PICTURE, too?
>
> No, as only elementary items may contain a PICTURE clause.
>
> > --jkl
>
> Simon
>