HLASM Language Reference

Data Attributes
type attribute is assigned, and statement 7 shows that the defined attribute is
assigned. In comparison, the length attribute for symbol CSYM2 is available
immediately, as it was retrieved indirectly using the conditional assembly instruction
in statement 8.
During conditional assembly, an ordinary symbol used in the name field of an EQU
| instruction has a length attribute value that depends on the order of the symbol's
| definition and the reference to its length attribute.
| If the first operand of the EQU instruction is a self-defining term, the length
| attribute value is 1.
| If the first operand of the EQU instruction is a symbol whose value and length
| attribute are defined, the length attribute value is that of the symbol in the first
| operand.
| If the first operand of the EQU instruction is a defined symbol and the EQU
| instruction specifies a length value in the second operand, the length attribute
| value is that of the second operand.
| At assembly time, the symbol has the same length attribute value as the first term
of the expression in the first operand of the EQU instruction. However, the second
operand of an EQU instruction can be used to assign a length attribute value to the
symbol in the name field. This second operand can not be a forward reference to
another EQU instruction.
Notes:
1. The length attribute reference, when used in conditional assembly processing,
can be specified only in arithmetic expressions.
2. When used in conditional assembly processing, a length attribute reference to a
symbol with the type attribute value of M, N, O, T, U, or $ is flagged. The
length attribute for the symbol has the default value of 1.
Scale Attribute (S')
The scale attribute can be used only when referring to fixed-point, floating-point, or
decimal constants. The following table shows the numeric value assigned to the
scale attribute:
Constant
Types
Allowed
Type of DC or DS
Allowed
Value of Scale
Attribute Assigned
Fixed-Point H and F Equal to the value of the scale modifier
(−187 through +346)
Floating Point D, E, and L Equal to the value of the scale modifier
(0 through 14 — D, E)
(0 through 28 — L)
Decimal P and Z Equal to the number of decimal digits
specified to the right of the decimal
point
(0 through 31 — P)
(0 through 16 — Z)
Chapter 9. How to Write Conditional Assembly Instructions 333