12.5.24 RECL Specifier

The RECL specifier asks the maximum record length for a file. It takes the following form:

RECL = rcl

rcl
Is a scalar integer variable that is assigned a value as follows:

• If the file or unit is connected, the value assigned is the maximum record length allowed.
  
  
• If the file is not connected, the value assigned is the maximum record length allowed in the file. However, if the maximum record length is zero, the value assigned is the length of the longest record in the file.

  If inquiring about a file that has no maximum record size, see Section 12.6.25.

• If the file is segmented, the value assigned is the longest segment length in the file.
  
  
• If the file does not exist, the value assigned is zero.

The assigned value is expressed in longwords (4-byte units) if a file is currently (or was previously) connected for unformatted data transfer; otherwise, the value is expressed in bytes.