Continuation of )SEL - statements

[Adam5]

Hello,

we have z/OS 1.6 and we use file tailoring with skeletons. In "Dialog Developer’s Guide and Reference" page 318 I see following example with the new continuation character '?':

)SEL &RC = 0 ? 
 && &VARNAME = &ZUSER ? 
 && &VARI <= 10

This example does not work, I'm getting following error:

******************************************************************************
* ISPF124                                                                    *
*                                                                            *
* Invalid operator                                                           *
* Invalid Boolean operator, TTESTT record-1                                  *
*                                                                            *
*                                                                            *
*                                                                            *
*                                                                            *
*                                                                            *
*                                                                            *
* File tailoring input line:                                                 *
* )SEL &RC = 0 ?                                                             *
*                                                                            *
* Enter HELP command for further information regarding this error.           *
* Press ENTER key to terminate the dialog.                                   *

Does anybody know, why this example does'nt work :-( ?
Thanks

Adam

 

[rexxhead]

Question Mark--? Indicates a continuation record when placed in the last input column of the record that is to be continued. The question mark is used as a continuation character when more than one input record maps to a single output record. If any character other than a question mark appears in the last input column of an input record, it is copied to that column of the output record. Continuation is not permitted for variable length input records.

This seems to indicate that the "?" must be right-justified in a fixed-length record.

Frank Clarke
Tampa Area REXX Programmers' Alliance
REXX Language Assn Listmaster

 

[Adam5]

Hello,

that was the right hint!

The example works only, if I put the question mark exactly in column 72. When I'm using other colums than 72 (for example column 71 or 73) it does not work properly (that means, I'm getting the error from above).

This is the coding that works:

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7--
)SEL &RC = 0                                                           ?
  && &VARNAME = &ZUSER                                                 ?
  && &VARI <= 10

It is interesting, that the syntax highlightning of ISPF-Edit shows the continuation regardless of the position of the question mark.

Thank you.

Adam