Automatic Editing and Error Handling › Automatic Editing Criteria › External Pictures › Implicit External Pictures

Implicit External Pictures

What is an Implicit External Picture?

If the developer does not use the online or batch compiler to explicitly specify an external picture for the field, an implicit external picture is constructed for a field. The implicit external picture is derived from the internal picture and/or from the usage mode defined for the related record element.

If Automatic Editing is not Enabled

The status of automatic editing for the field determines the external picture that is constructed for the field:

If automatic editing is not enabled for the field, the online compiler constructs the external picture for a field:

• The data type is alphanumeric
• The length is determined by the length (in characters/bytes) that is specified by the internal picture and/or by the usage mode of the associated record element

For example, the following table illustrates how an external picture is constructed for a field for which automatic editing is not enabled:

Note: Internal pictures cannot be specified for COMP-1 or COMP-2 elements. The previous external pictures for COMP-1 and COMP-2 elements are the default external pictures for these elements when automatic editing is disabled for a field. To avoid an error (such as PROG-470, PROG-402, or PROG-403), automatic editing should be enabled for all fields with usage other than DISPLAY.

If Automatic Editing is Enabled

If automatic editing is enabled for the field, the online compiler assigns an external picture to the field:

• If an external picture is defined for the associated element, that external picture is assigned to the field
• If an external picture is not defined for the element, the mapping facility constructs an external picture for the field:
  • The data type is the same as the data type of the internal picture, when applicable. Fields associated with COMP-1 and COMP-2 elements are assigned predetermined numeric external pictures.
  • The length is determined by the length (in characters/bytes) that is specified by the internal picture, when applicable.
  • The composition is derived from the internal picture according to the translation equivalents listed in the following table.

The following table illustrates how an external picture is constructed for a field when automatic editing is enabled:

Note: Internal pictures cannot be specified for COMP-1 or COMP-2 elements. The previous external pictures for COMP, COMP-1, -2 and -3 elements are the default external pictures for these elements when automatic editing is enabled for a field.

Internal to External Translation