Floating comment indicators (*>)

In addition to the fixed indicators that can only be specified in the indicator area of the source reference format, a floating comment indicator (*>) can be specified anywhere in the program-text area to indicate a comment line or an inline comment.

A floating comment indicator indicates a comment line if it is the first character string in the program-text area (Area A plus Area B), or indicates an inline comment if it is after one or more character strings in the program-text area.

These are the rules for floating comment indicators:
  • Both characters (* and >) that form the multiple-character floating indicator must be contiguous and on the same line.
  • The floating comment indicator for an inline comment must be preceded by a separator space, and can be specified wherever a separator space can be specified.
  • All characters following the floating comment indicator up to the end of Area B are comment text.