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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.

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

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

Non-Unicode programs always handle flat structures as data objects of the type c when assigning from and to elementary data objects. In Unicode programs, however, a conversion rule applies, stating that the structure must be character-like (at the very least in its initial fragment).

Comparisons Between Incompatible Flat Structures

As is the case with assignments, the structures are not handled as c fields, but in accordance with their Unicode fragment view (see Comparison Rules Between Operands).

Comparisons Between Flat Structures and Single Fields

As is the case with assignments, the system checks whether the structure is character-like, at the very least in its initial fragment (see Comparison Operators for All Data Types).