Format controlled conversions occur only when a format list is used by a GET or PUT statement to control the conversion of data between the program and an input or output stream, and to control positioning within those streams.
An input conversion occurs when a field of an input line is converted to a value specified by a data format. That value is then assigned to a variable given by the format list of the GET statement. If the data type of the variable differs from the data type of the value produced by the format, an additional conversion results from the assignment.
An output conversion occurs when a value given in the format list of a PUT statement is converted to an output field by a format item.
The following sections describe the five data format items that are used for input and output of data in various formats. These data format items comprise the format specifications that are included in your GET or PUT statements.