HLASM: V1R6 Language Ref

Terms, literals, and expressionsz/VM and z/OSWhen you specify the GOFF assembler option, the assembler requires the LIST(133)option, and uses the entire 4-byte value for the location counter and prints the4-byte value in the assembly listings. In this case the maximum valid locationcounter value is 2 31 −1.End of z/VM and z/OSIf the location counter exceeds its valid maximum value the assembler issues errormessageASMA039S Location counter errorControlling the location counter value: You can control the setting of the locationcounter in a particular control section by using the START or ORG instruction,described in Chapter 3, “Program structures and addressing” and Chapter 5,“Assembler instruction statements,” respectively. The counter affected by either ofthese assembler instructions is the counter for the control section in which theyappear.Location counter reference: You can refer to the current value of the locationcounter at any place in a program by using an asterisk as a term in an operand.The asterisk is a relocatable term, specified according to the following rules:v The asterisk can be specified only in the operands of:– Machine instructions– DC and DS instructions– EQU, ORG, and USING instructionsv It can also be specified in literal constants. See “Literals” on page 40. Forexample:THERE L =3A(*)generates three identical address constants, each with value A(THERE).The value of the location counter reference (*) is the same as the value of thesymbol THERE, the current value of the location counter of the control section inwhich the asterisk (*) is specified as a term. The asterisk has the same value asthe address of the first byte of the instruction in which it appears. For example:HERE B *+8where the value of * is the value of HERE.For the value of the asterisk in address constants with duplication factors, see“Subfield 1: Duplication Factor” on page 131 of “DC instruction” on page 125, and“Address constants—A and Y” on page 151. For a discussion of location counterreferences in literals, see “Subfield 1: Duplication Factor” on page 131.Symbol length attribute referenceThe length attribute of a symbol may be used as a term. Reference to the attributeis made by coding L' followed by the symbol, as in:L’BETAThe length attribute of BETA is substituted for the term. When you specify a symbollength attribute reference, you obtain the length of the instruction or data namedby a symbol. You can use this reference as a term in instruction operands to:v Specify assembler-determined storage area lengthsv Cause the assembler to compute length specifications for youChapter 2. Coding and structure 37