The MAX Function
The MAX function returns the content of the argument-1 that contains the
maximum value. The type of this function depends upon the argument types as
follows:
Argument Type |
Function Type |
Alphabetic |
Alphanumeric |
Alphanumeric |
Alphanumeric |
National |
National |
All arguments integer |
Integer |
Numeric |
Numeric |
(some arguments can be integer) |
|
General Format

Arguments
- If more than one argument-1 is specified, all arguments must be of the same
class except alphabetic and alphanumeric arguments which can be mixed.
Returned Values
- The returned value is the content of the argument-1 having the greatest value.
The comparisons used to determine the greatest value are made according to
the rules for relation conditions. See the topic Relation Condition in
the chapter Procedure Division.
- If more than one argument-1 has the same greatest value, the content of the
argument-1 returned is the leftmost argument-1 having that value.
- If the type of the function is alphanumeric
or national
the size of the returned value is the same as the size of the selected argument-1.
- If the value of argument-1 is numeric non-integer, results are returned in
floating-point format.