What does it do? Declares a field group for theextract dataset> of the program. Each field group represents the name of a row structure of the extract dataset. You can create as many field groups as you want in a program. You define the actual components of a field group by using the statement INSERT>>.
The name of a field group is either the predefined name header> or any name field_group>. If you declare a field group header >, it automatically becomes the initial part of all remaining field groups of the program and its components constitute the standard sort key of the extract dataset for the statement SORT>>.
The statement FIELD-GROUPS> is possible in the global declaration part of an executable program, of a function group, of a module pool, or of a subroutine pool, as well as in the subprograms and function modules. Field groups that are declared in procedures> are visible only there.
Latest notes:Since you can only define global data objects as components of field groups using the statement INSERT>, we recommend that you also declare field groups only in the global declaration part of a program. The FIELD-GROUPS> statement is forbidden in class pools or interface pools and in the methods of local classes of other programs.