Each Natural user session (online or batch) is assigned a separate work area that contains the data of this session. User session data is saved for the duration of the online or batch session.
The work area comprises a set of Natural buffers. A buffer is a storage unit that holds a particular block of data such as variable data referenced in a Natural program.
As illustrated in the diagram above, the size of a buffer can be specified with a Natural
parameter, except for internal or variable Natural buffers. For example, the Natural
profile parameter ESIZE determines the size of the source area
assigned to a Natural editor for editing source code. The profile parameter
DATSIZE determines the size assigned for holding local data from
a Natural program (and subordinate objects if invoked by the program) at execution
time.
Natural provides buffer usage statistics with information on the buffers allocated for the current session, their sizes, and the actual buffer space being used; see the relevant documentation sections in Related Topics below.
Parameter Reference documentation
Buffer Usage Statistics - BUS, General SYSTP Functions, SYSTP Utility, Utilities documentation
BUS - System Commands documentation