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General Storage Area (GSA) Definition

GSA Definition commands appear immediately following all input file definition commands to ensure program continuity.

Use the GSA to define standard literals or tables of data for the program. Size of the GSA is limited only by the amount of core storage available. The Reporting Facility can also use this area internally for intermediate storage of work areas during compilation.

The following is a basic diagram of the GSA definition commands within a program:

┌────────┐
│        │
│    1   │ Run Control
│        │
├────────┤
│        │
│   2A   │ Input File Definition
│        │
├────────┤
│        │
│   2B   │ GSA Definition
│        │
├────────┤
│        │
│    3   │ Data Manipulation/File Reading
│        │
├────────┤
│        │
│ 4A,4B  │ Report Definition/Output File Definition
│        │
└────────┘