POINTER phrase

The POINTER phrase in the USAGE clause is used to define data of the category “data pointer”.

Syntax rules

1. The USAGE POINTER clause should only be specified on level 01 or within a type description entry with the attribute STRONG. Deviations from this rule are permitted as extensions.

2. The USAGE POINTER clause must not be specified at group level in definitions.

3. The USAGE POINTER clause must not be specified in the FILE SECTION .

4. The USAGE POINTER clause must not be specified in structures in which the EXTERNAL or DYNAMIC clauses are used on level 01.

5. In the case of data items defined with a USAGE POINTER clause, no VALUE clause may be specified.

6. Data items for which there is a USAGE POINTER clause may not possess a REDEFINES clause and may also not be directly referenced by such clauses. In addition, such data items may also not be present indirectly in any redefined or redefining structure.

7. Data items and structures for which there is a USAGE POINTER clause may not be named using a different name (RENAMES clause).

8. No VALUE clause may be specified at group level in the case of groups that contain data items with a USAGE POINTER clause.

9. No condition name (level 88) may be specified for data items having a USAGE POINTER clause.

10. The data item specified in the KEY phrase of an OCCURS clause may not be defined using a USAGE POINTER clause.

11. If type-name-1 is specified, the data description entry must also contain a TYPEDEF clause.

General rule

1. A data item described using the USAGE POINTER clause has the category “data pointer” and contains the address of a data item. The assumed start value is equal to NULL. If type-name-1 is specified, a type-specific pointer is involved. A type-specific pointer has only the predefined value NULL as its content or the address of a typed data item of the type type-name-1.