SDF-P distinguishes between three data types: INTEGER, BOOLEAN and STRING.
INTEGER is a numeric data type and refers to integers in the value range from -231 to 231-1.
BOOLEAN is a Boolean data type. The value range comprises the values 0 and 1. These values can be accessed by means of the reserved words TRUE, ON and YES (for 1) and FALSE, OFF and NO (for 0).
STRING is an alphanumeric data type and refers to strings that can be up to 4096 characters long.
The data type is declared in the DECLARE-VARIABLE command using the TYPE operand. In addition to the three data type designations mentioned above, the operand can be assigned the values ANY and STRUCTURE.
ANY is the default value; the data type of a variable is determined by assignment, i.e. it can change with each new assignment (dynamic data type).
STRUCTURE determines that a variable of the type “structure” is created.
The SDF structure introduced by STRUCTURE defines the layout of the complex variable “structure” and specifies whether it is dynamic (*DYNAMIC) or static and whether the element declarations follow the structure declaration (*BY-SYSCMD) or are defined by means of a structure layout.