The SOURCE FORMAT directive shows the reference format of the following source or library text.
Format
>>SOURCE [FORMAT IS] {FREE | FIXED
}
General rules
If FIXED is specified, the subsequent source text or library text is treated as fixed format text. If FREE is specified, it is treated as free format text.
The default reference format of a compilation group is fixed format.
The reference format set for the COPY statement applies for the library text to be read in until a SOURCE FORMAT directive is specified in the library text.
SOURCE FORMAT directives in a library text apply until another SOURCE FORMAT directive is specified or the end of the library text is reached. Once processing of the library element has been completed, the reference format which applied for the initiating COPY statement applies again.
The SOURCE FORMAT directive should be used in newly created COPY elements so that these COPY elements can in future also be used regardless of the format of the containing source program.