z/OS® UNIX exploitation of Unicode Services is functionally similar to that provided for Enhanced ASCII, which is described in Using Enhanced ASCII. The basic EBCDIC nature of the z/OS platform remains. Likewise, programs cannot alter their EBCDIC nature as compiled units, except for C programs, which can be compiled as ASCII. Locale restrictions that apply to Enhanced ASCII functions apply to Unicode Services functions as well.

Files that are tagged can be converted between any CCSID of the program or user and the CCSID of the file, if Unicode Services supports that conversion. Unlike Enhanced ASCII, which affects conversion of regular file, pipes, and character special files, an environment enabled for Unicode Services environment affects regular files and pipes only. No character special support beyond that provided for Enhanced ASCII is included.

For more information about Unicode Services, see z/OS Unicode Services User's Guide and Reference.