The routine returns an array placeholder. A placeholder is used to identify a position in the underlying data system (HDS) and may be passed to other routines (e.g. ARY_NEW) to indicate where a newly created array should be positioned.

CALL ARY_PLACE( LOC, NAME, PLACE, STATUS )

LOC = CHARACTER $\ast$ ( $\ast$ ) (Given)

NAME = CHARACTER $\ast$ ( $\ast$ ) (Given)

PLACE = INTEGER (Returned)

STATUS = INTEGER (Given and Returned)

• Placeholders are intended only for local use within an application and only a limited number of them are available simultaneously. They are always annulled as soon as they are passed to another routine to create a new array, where they are effectively exchanged for an array identifier.

• If this routine is called with STATUS set, then a value of ARY__NOPL will be returned for the PLACE argument, although no further processing will occur. The same value will also be returned if the routine should fail for any reason. The ARY__NOPL constant is defined in the include file ARY_PAR.