Easytrieve Reserved Words Index

Reserved Versus Non-Reserved Keywords

Every reserved word is a keyword with special meaning, but not every keyword is reserved. FILE introduces a file definition; IF opens a condition. Reserved status adds the rule that field names cannot reuse the spelling. Some non-reserved keywords might legally appear as identifiers in narrow contexts—doing so confuses the next maintainer. Enterprise standards usually ban language tokens as field names entirely. When compile errors cite unexpected keyword or duplicate symbol, search the failing token in Symbols documentation first.

Major Categories

Per-Word Tutorial Pages

EASYTRIEVE_PAGES section twenty-three calls for one page per significant reserved word with definition, purpose, version introduced, whether it can be used as a variable, examples, and migration issues. The following tutorials are available in this site section; expand the list as Broadcom documentation and shop migration needs grow.

Paths above are relative to /tutorials/easytrieve. Statement keywords like IF and REPORT are covered across the statements reference rather than duplicate pages here—this index routes you to hooks, system symbols, figurative constants, and migration-sensitive names.

Report and Screen PROC Names

Report activities reserve procedure entry point names the product calls automatically. REPORT-INPUT filters records before detail printing. BEFORE-BREAK and AFTER-BREAK surround control level changes. BEFORE-LINE and AFTER-LINE bracket each detail line. ENDPAGE handles page boundaries. TERMINATION runs at report end. Screen activities mirror with INITIATION, BEFORE-SCREEN, AFTER-SCREEN, and TERMINATION. You write PROC bodies with these labels; you do not PERFORM them like user procedures. Naming a user PROC BEFORE-LINE for unrelated batch logic collides with report semantics.

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REPORT PAY-RPT
  LINE EMPNO GROSS
 
REPORT-INPUT. PROC
   IF GROSS LE 0
      SKIP
   END-IF
END-PROC
 
TERMINATION. PROC
   DISPLAY 'COMPLETE'
END-PROC

System Field Reserved Words

System fields expose runtime values without DEFINE. SYSDATE and SYSTIME stamp titles and audit logs. PAGE-NUMBER and LINE-COUNT support report pagination. RECORD-COUNT ties to file statistics. FILE-STATUS reflects last I/O result per file. RETURN-CODE communicates job status. LEVEL and BREAK-LEVEL appear during control reports. Reference these names in expressions; never DEFINE duplicates. See system variables section for field-by-field tutorials.

Figurative and Special Constants

LOW-VALUES and HIGH-VALUES represent extreme byte patterns for comparisons and initialization— newly reserved in 11.6 for field naming conflicts. EOF signals end of file in conditions. DUPLICATE tests repeated keys. SPACE and ZERO appear in MOVE and figurative constant pages. Each figurative has dedicated constant tutorials; reserved status means your STATUS-FLAG field cannot be named HIGH-VALUES even if that seemed clever in 1998.

Migration and Scanning

Before enabling 11.6 function mode compile, scan source libraries for tokens in New Reserved Words documentation. Search DEFINE and FILE lines for BREAK-LEVEL, DRAW, EXECUTE, SET, SYSUSERID, and peers. Rename with prefixes and regression-test SORT, REPORT, and SCREEN paths. The reserved words by release page groups tokens by introduction version. Align with enterprise data dictionary tools that flag language collisions automatically.

Naming Rules for Developers

• Prefix working storage: WS-TOTAL not TOTAL alone when TOTAL is sensitive.
• Avoid statement verbs as names: USE RUN-MODE not EXECUTE as a field.
• Qualify ambiguous business names with domain: PAY-SET-CODE not SET.
• Cross-check new field names against Symbols PDF before merge.
• Document renamed migration fields in program header comments.

Symbols Table and Delimiters

Symbols documentation also lists punctuation—period, comma, colon, quotes—with reference codes separate from field vocabulary. The R marker indicates reserved status on keywords. Delimiter pages teach RECORD-COUNT and FILEONE:RECORD-COUNT examples; reserved word pages teach semantic meaning of RECORD-COUNT as system symbol. Use both chapters when learning syntax versus semantics.

Explain It Like I'm Five

Reserved words are special name tags the Easytrieve teacher already uses for important jobs—like the word STOP on a red sign. You cannot put your lunch box label STOP on your sandwich bag because everyone would think you mean halt. The teacher adds new special tags when the school upgrades buildings—you must rename your boxes if you accidentally used the new tag words. This index is the poster board listing all special tags and pointing to pages that explain each one.

Exercises

1. List five categories of reserved words and one example each.
2. Explain why BEFORE-LINE cannot be a user PROC name for batch utilities.
3. Name three system fields and one valid use per field.
4. Outline a migration scan for SET and EXECUTE field renames.
5. Contrast this index with reserved words (syntax) page purpose.