The FLAG-85 directive is used to have language resources displayed by the compiler whose behavior has changed in comparison to the ANS85 standard or has been defined exactly.
Format
>>FLAG-85 ZERO-LENGTH {ON | OFF}General rules
If the FLAG-85 directive is specified within a statement, it applies for the first time for the next statement.
The same FLAG-85 phrase applies for WHEN phrases in EVALUATE and SEARCH statements as for the EVALUATE and SEARCH statements themselves.
If no FLAG-85 directive is specified, ">>FLAG-85 ZERO-LENGTH OFF" is assumed.
If ON is specified or assumed, the check of the language elements is activated for the subsequent source text. The check remains activated until it is deactivated by another FLAG-85 directive with the OFF phrase.
If OFF is specified, the check of the language elements is deactivated for the subsequent source text. The check remains deactivated until it is activated again by another FLAG-85 directive with the ON phrase.
When the FLAG-85 directive is activated, compiler messages are issued in the following situations:
A READ statement which can supply a record with the length 0.
A statement in which a potential zero-length item is addressed.