Strings

All strings are always interpreted and processed in a character set.

However, different character sets can be used. For example, data can be present in a file in one character set, be stored in a different character set in the work file and be displayed in a different character set again.
If necessary, in such cases, the string can be converted from the source into the target character set. Thus, for example, a file which is present in the character set EDF03IRV can be read into a work file in the character set UTF16 and displayed in UTFE at a Unicode terminal. It is then possible to insert any required characters (from the set of those available).
For logging purposes, the file can also be output to SYSLST using the character set EDF041.

The following table indicates how EDT determines the character set to be used in each case.

Source/target	Character set for the string
Input/output at a terminal	Communications character set
Reading from SYSDTA	Character set assigned to SYSDTA (provided by the BS2000 macro GCCSN). If *NONE, then EDF03IRV is used. If SYSDTA is assigned to a terminal then the communications character set is used.
Reading from a work file	Character set for the work file
Writing to a work file	Character set for the work file. If *NONE, then character set for the input data.
Reading from a string variable	Character set for the string variable.
Writing to a string variable	When a new string variable is created, character set in the CODE operand. If not specified, character set for the string. If no new string variable is created, character set of the string variable.
S variables or job variables	Character set from the CODE operand in the read/write statement. EDF041, if not specified.
Executing an @INPUT procedure	Character set of the file which contains the @INPUT procedure. If *NONE, then EDF03IRV is used.
Executing a @DO procedure	Character set of the work file which contains the @DO procedure.
Inserting from a DMS file or a library element	Character set from the file's catalog entry. If *NONE, then EDF03IRV is used.

Source/target	Character set for the string
Writing to a DMS file or a library element	If a new file is created, character set from the CODE operand or character set of the work file. On write-back, character set from the CODE operand or character set of the file or work file
Reading and writing from/to a POSIX file	Character set from the CODE operand in the read/write statement or the character set specified in @PAR CODE. By default EDF041.
Writing to SYSOUT	Character set assigned to SYSOUT (provided by the BS2000 macro GCCSN). If *NONE, then EDF03IRV is used. If SYSOUT is assigned to a terminal then the communications character set is used.
Writing to SYSLST	Character set assigned to SYSLST (provided by the BS2000 macro GCCSN). If *NONE, then EDF03IRV is used.

In the case of some statements (e.g. @CREATE, @SETJV), it is possible to specify multiple character sets which are initially joined in an intermediate result.
If all the strings involved have the same character set then this is also the character set of the intermediate result. If the involved strings have different character sets then the character set of the intermediate result is UTFE.
This intermediate result is then converted into the target character set.