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Guidelines for Handling Linkage Section Parameters

There are a number of scenarios where different behaviors could be desired, with respect to the handling of Linkage Section parameters.

These include:

  • The allocation of memory to fields that are declared in a USING clause but not used.
  • The passing of parameters that are null pointers.
  • The omission of parameters, which may be subsequently used.

The -f compiler flags related to the handling of Linkage Section parameters are:

  • -falloc-unused-linkage
    Causes the compiler to allocate static memory for level 01 fields in the Linkage Section that are not used in either a USING clause or an ENTRY clause.
  • -fprotect-linkage
    Generates code at the entry point of a program containing a USING xxx clause.
  • -fsafe-linkage
    Generates code at the entry point of a program containing a USING xxx clause. This allows for the omission of parameters. Doing this will avoind a SIGVEC being returned by the debugger when all linkage parameters are not provided.
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