This chapter lists which COBOL data items are considered invalid, and explains what happens to them when they are stored in the database.
We also explain which database items are considered invalid, and explain how these are translated to COBOL.
COBOL data (except key data) that is illegal by database standards is stored in the database as null unless you specifically override this default. (Use the configuration variable 4GL-ILLEGAL-DATA to override.)
The following COBOL data usages are considered illegal by the database:
In USAGE DISPLAY numbers, LOW-VALUES , HIGH-VALUES, and SPACES are all illegal.
In COMP-2 numbers, HIGH-VALUES, and SPACES are illegal.
In COMP-3 numbers, HIGH-VALUES is illegal.
All other numeric types fit one of the preceding cases (depending on their
internal storage format).
In DATE fields, the value zero is illegal, as are any other illegal conditions
as defined by the date's USAGE type(see above).
In text fields, LOW-VALUES is illegal.
BINARY numbers are always legal, and all values are legal in BINARY text
fields.
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