LENGTH OF

The LENGTH OF function returns the size in bytes of a data item. It can always be used where a numeric literal is allowed.

General Format

LENGTH OF Data-Name

Syntax Rules

1. Data-name is a Data Item, as defined in the Definitions section in the Preface of this document.

2. Data-Name may be qualified.

3. Data-Name may not be reference modified.

General Rules

1. If Data-Name is a national item, then the number of digits is returned instead of the number of bytes.

2. If Data-Name specifies the OCCURS clause, then the size of the first occurrence is returned.