User guide > Variables

The term field represents a sequential range of data locations and is specified as $col-col.

If CARD CHARACTERS is used, the range can be up to 1000 data locations long.

If CARD CHARACTERS is not used, the range can only be up to 80 data locations long and must be within the same card buffer.

Where the field is to be treated as a whole number (if it appears in an arithmetic expression, for instance), it can only be 15 cols in length. In this case the cols are checked for single-coding in the range 0-9. If all the cols in the field are blank, then the value used will be the setting of the format IFB (Integer Field Blank). If the field contains any V codes, X codes, multi-codes or embedded blanks, then the value used will be the setting of the format IFF (Integer Field Failed). Leading blanks are allowed. A leading X (minus) code is valid and will cause the field to be negative unless F=NANF (No Accept Negative Fields).

If format ADF is set then up to 20 digits are allowed including a decimal point.

If the field is compared with a literal (text), then a straight comparison is made. For the result to be true, the field must contain exactly the same codes as the literal. The test will be case sensitive.

If the CT function is used on a field, then all 12 codes in each data location are counted to arrive at a total number of codes in the field.

Examples of fields:

$5-8

$478-480

$201-280

$1245-1254

$301-315,

$field

$field