BCL statement continuation

A BCL statement that exceeds 71 columns can be continued.

If the total length of the fields on a statement exceeds 71 columns, you can continue the fields onto one or more lines.

The following are BCL statements that you cannot continue. Although you cannot continue these statements, you can code as many separate statements as you need.
  • Comment statement
  • Delimiter statement
  • Null statement

For other BCL statements, you can continue the parameter field or the comments field on the statement.

If you continue both the parameter field and the comments field on the same card image, ignore the indication to continue the comment. How you continue a parameter field depends on whether or not the parameter is enclosed in apostrophes.

Continuing a parameter field

  1. Interrupt the field after a complete parameter or subparameter, including the comma that follows it, at or before column 71.
  2. Code // in columns 1 and 2 of the following statement.
  3. Code a blank character in column 3 of the following statement.

    If column 3 contains anything but a blank or an asterisk, the system assumes that the following statement is a new statement and the continuation is in error.

  4. Continue the interrupted parameter or field (beginning in any column from 4 through 16).
Example:
The following example illustrates a continued parameter for a DD statement: 
//MYDD    DD DSN=THIS.IS.A.REALLY.LONG.DATASET.NAME, 
//        DISP=OLD

Continuing a parameter field enclosed in apostrophes

  1. Extend the parameter to column 71.
    Note: Do not code an apostrophe in column 71 of a statement that is continued. The apostrophe in column 71 is interpreted as the final character in the statement and ignores the continuation.
  2. Code // in columns 1 and 2 of the following statement.
  3. Continue the parameter in column 16 of the following statement even if this splits the parameter. Trailing blanks or commas within the apostrophes do not indicate a continued statement; they are treated as part of the parameter.
Example:
This example illustrates the continuation of a parameter enclosed in apostrophes:
//STEP1  EXEC  PGM=MYPGM,PARM='PARM1,PARM2,PARM3,PARM4,PARM5,,,,,,,,,PA  
//             RM52,PARM53'

Continuing a comment field

  1. Interrupt the comment at a convenient place before column 72, up to and including column 71.
  2. Code a nonblank character in column 72.
  3. Code // in columns 1 and 2 of the following statement.
  4. Code a blank character in column 3 of the following statement.
  5. Continue the comments field beginning in any column after column 3.

    You can use comment statements as an alternative way to imbed comments in the BCL stream. For information about comment statements, see Comment statement.

Note: Include comments by following an interrupted parameter field with at least one blank.
Examples:
This example illustrates the continuation of a comment: 
//MYDD DD  DSN=MY.DATASET.NAME,DISP=OLD    ** THIS IS THE DATASET THAT X 
//                         CONTAINS MY DATA **
The comment field can continue to more than one line. In the following example, lines 4 and 5 are comment field continuations:

//SYSUT1  DD RCCEXT=(INP),DISP=(NEW,DELETE),
//   SPACE=(32000,(30,10)),UNIT=3390,
//   DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=3200) COMMENT FIELD COMMENT FIELD COMMENT
//   COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION COMMENT FIELD
//   COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION
The comment statement does not break comment field continuation. In the following example, lines 4 and 6 are comment field continuations:

//SYSUT1  DD RCCEXT=(INP),DISP=(NEW,DELETE),
//   SPACE=(32000,(30,10)),UNIT=3390,        *THIS IS COMMENT FIELD COMMENT
//*COMMENT STATEMENT
// COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION COMMENT FIELD CON
//*COMMENT STATEMENT
// COMMENT FIELD CONTINUATION