GROUP-USAGE clause

Function

The GROUP-USAGE clause enables a group item to be treated like an elementary national item.

Format

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GROUP-USAGE IS NATIONAL

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Syntax rules

1. The GROUP-USAGE clause may only be specified for group items. They may not be strongly typed.

2. The specification implies USAGE NATIONAL for the data entry. A USAGE clause may not be specified (in addition).

3. All subordinate elementary items must be described explicitly or implicitly with USAGE NATIONAL. All subordinate group items must be described explicitly or implicitly with GROUP-USAGE NATIONAL.

4. The GROUP-USAGE clause may not be specified in data description entries with the level number 01 in the FILE SECTION.

General rules

1. The clause makes the group a national group. Its class and category are national.

2. If in a particular case nothing else is specified, a national group is always treated like an elementary item with USAGE NATIONAL and PICTURE N(m), m being the length of the group.

3. GROUP-USAGE NATIONAL is assumed implicitly for all subgroups.

4. If a GROUP-USAGE clause is not specified explicitly or implicitly, a strongly typed group is always an alphanumeric group.

   The GROUP-USAGE clause is required when or group containing only national data items is also to be treated as a group like a national item, e.g. when filling with blanks when moves take place.