If you are using hardware or logical tabs, the TABS line command must be used with one of the other TABS commands or the TABS assignment statement. For example, hardware tab positions defined by the TABS line command do not take effect until tabs mode is turned on, which the line command cannot do. Conversely, a logical tab character defined with the TABS primary or macro command, or the TABS assignment statement, cannot be used to position data strings horizontally unless hardware tab positions are defined with the TABS line command. However, if you are using software tabs, you do not need to turn tabs mode on. The TABS primary and macros commands, and the TABS assignment statement, have no effect on software tabs.