Abstract for Language Reference

This information applies to IBM High Level Assembler for z/OS & z/VM & z/VSE, Release 6, Program Number 5696-234 and to any subsequent releases until otherwise indicated in new information. Make sure that you are using the correct information for the level of the product.

Purpose of this information

This manual describes the syntax of assembler language statements, and provides information about writing source programs that are to be assembled by IBM High Level Assembler for z/OS & z/VM & z/VSE, Licensed Program 5696-234, from here on referred to as "High Level Assembler", or "the assembler". It is meant to be used with the HLASM Programmer's Guide.

Detailed definitions of machine instructions are not included in this manual. See Bibliography for a list of manuals that provide this information.

Throughout this information, we use these indicators to identify platform-specific information:

Prefix the text with platform-specific text (for example, "Under CMS…")
Add parenthetical qualifications (for example, "(CMS)")
A definition list, for example:
z/OS

Informs you of information specific to z/OS®.

z/VM

Informs you of information specific to z/VM®.

z/VSE

Informs you of information specific to z/VSE®.

CMS is used in this manual to refer to Conversational Monitor System on z/VM.

Who should read this information

HLASM Language Reference is for application programmers coding in the High Level Assembler language. It is not intended to be used for tutorial purposes, but is for reference only. If you are interested in learning more about assemblers, most libraries have tutorial books on the subject. It assumes that you are familiar with the functional details of the Enterprise Systems Architecture, and the role of machine-language instructions in program execution.

Programming interface information

This information is intended to help the customer create application programs. This information documents General-Use Programming Interface and Associated Guidance Information provided by IBM High Level Assembler for z/OS & z/VM & z/VSE.

General-use programming interfaces allow the customer to write programs that obtain the services of IBM High Level Assembler for z/OS & z/VM & z/VSE.

Changed Assembler instructions

New QY-type and SY-type address constants provide resolution into long displacement.
Support for three decimal floating-point data types, increasing instruction addressability and reducing the need for additional instructions.

Unified Opcode table

OPTABLE option
- The OPTABLE option is permitted on the *PROCESS statement.
Mnemonic tagging
- Suffix tags for instruction mnemonics let you use identically named macro instructions and machine instructions in the same source program.

Other information you might need

Links to information for related IBM products are in the Bibliography.

The High Level Assembler Web site, is at:

   http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/hlasm

Table of contents for Language Reference