Conversion of Structures in Unicode Programs

The most important differences between the behaviors of Unicode programs and non-Unicode programs are the changed conversion rules for structures for assignments and for comparisons.

Note

Two structures in Unicode programs are only compatible when all alignment gaps are identical on all platforms. This applies in particular for alignment gaps that are created by included structures (INCLUDE)

Assignments between flat structures

In non-Unicode programs, incompatible flat structures are treated as data objects of the type c, whereas in Unicode programs, conversion rules apply which assign the most important role to the Unicode fragment view of the structures.

Assignments between flat structures and single fields

In non-Unicode programs, flat structures are treated as data objects of the type c in case of the assignment of elementary data objects and the assignment to elementary data objects, whereas in Unicode programs, aconversion rule applies according to which the structure must be character-type either completely or at least in the initial fragment.

Comparisons between incompatible flat structures

As is the case with the assignment, the structures are not treated as c fields, but according to their Unicode fragment view (see comparison rules between operands).

Comparisons between flat structures and single fields

As is the case with the assignment, the system checks whether the structure is character-type either completely or at least in the initial fragment (see Comparison Operators for All Data Types).