From: joemonk64@gmail.com   
      
   > A nitpick, perhaps, but I think a DSECT is a dummy section, not a data    
   > section. IIRC a DSECT only becomes relevant when the assembler is told    
   > to use it to define offsets from a base register.    
   >    
      
   A DSECT can only contain DS operands ... no code. That is why, in the   
   mainframe world, although you are correct they are named dummy sections, we   
   call them data sections.   
      
   It does not become addressable within the storage of a program until   
   referenced by a USING statement.   
      
   Common uses include describing the contents of records in files, and or   
   working storage areas. For instance, you may use a DSECT to describe the   
   layout of a punched card, read the punched card, and the MVC the read buffer   
   into a DSECT which describes the    
   fields in more detail so you can reference them.   
      
   I think in my career as a mainframe programmer, i've used DSECTs less than 20   
   times in 30+ years.   
      
   Joe   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)