Variable Definition

The name to be assigned to the variable. Rules for Natural variable names apply. With DEFINE DATA INDEPENDENT, the variable name must begin with a plus character (+).

For information on naming conventions for user-defined variables, see Naming Conventions for User-Defined Variables in Using Natural.

For information on format/length definition of user-defined variables, see Format and Length of User-Defined Variables in the Programming Guide.

Alphanumeric (A), Unicode (U) or binary (B) for dynamic variables.

With an array-definition, you define the lower and upper bounds of dimensions in an array-definition.

For further information, see Array Dimension Definition.

A field may be defined as DYNAMIC.

For more information on processing dynamic variables, see Introduction to Dynamic Variables and Fields.

The variable/array is to be treated as a named constant. The constant value(s) assigned will be used each time the variable/array is referenced. The value(s) assigned cannot be modified during program execution.

See also Defining Fields, User-Defined Constants, Defining Named Constants in the Programming Guide.

Note:
For reasons of internal handling, it is not allowed to mix variable definitions and constant definitions within one group definition; that is, a group may contain either variables only or constants only. The CONSTANT clause must not be used with DEFINE DATA INDEPENDENT and DEFINE DATA CONTEXT. The CONST clause cannot be used with X-arrays.

The variable/array is to be assigned an initial value. This value will also be used when this variable/array is referenced in a RESET INITIAL statement.

If no INIT specification is supplied, a field will be initialized with a default initial value depending on its format (see table Default Initial Values below).

For further information, see Defining Fields, Initial Values in the Programming Guide.

Note:
With DEFINE DATA INDEPENDENT and DEFINE DATA CONTEXT, the INIT clause is evaluated in each executed programming object that contains this clause (not only in the programming object that allocates the variable). This is different to the way the INIT works for global variables. The INIT clause cannot be used with X-arrays.

With the init-definition option, you define the initial/constant values for a variable. See Initial-Value Definition.

With an array-init-definition, you define the initial/constant values for an array.

For further information, see Initial/Constant Values for an Array.

With this option, additional parameters to be in effect for a field/variable may be defined.

For further information, see EM, HD, PM Parameters for Field/Variable.