Use of initializing INIT((1)' 'instead of INIT(2)

raviprasath_kp · New User Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 65 Location: chennai

. What is the use of initializing INIT((1)' ') instead of INIT((2)' '); because in my programs many variables are initialized in this manner.

Does it have any significance?

3 RATE_BAND CHAR (2) INIT((1) ' ' );

3 RATE_BAND CHAR (2) INIT((2) ' ' );

2. How do we display group item.

3. How to display the following variable

5 SO_SNA BIT(1) INIT((1)'0'B)

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:13 pm

The (1) and (2) are repeat counters, but since in this case you have but one field, any repeat count is redundant (and clutter in my opinion). The fact that the field has 2 bytes is irrelevant - setting a field of any length to null string or blank will blank the entire field.

A great feature of PL/I is the GET DATA and PUT DATA statements.

So the statement PUT DATA SO_SNA;
will output SO_SNA=<value>. This works for any fields.