The following table shows the maximum size and number of data items.
| Data Item | Maximum Size or Number | 
|---|---|
| Alphanumeric/Group | 2GB-1 (Native COBOL), 4GB (Managed COBOL) | 
| Alphanumeric Edited/ Numeric Edited | Can consist of 32 parts, each of which can contain up to 16 occurrences of a single edited character type subject to a total size of 512 bytes | 
| Numeric | All significant digits must be within 18, 31 or 38 digits of the decimal point, depending on your COBOL environment: ANSI'85: 18 significant digits ISO2000: 31 significant digits Micro Focus: 38 significant digits | 
| COMP/COMP-5 format | 8 bytes | 
| EXTERNAL data item | No specifiable limit | 
| File record size | 62KB | 
| ACCEPT FROM CONSOLE | Limits (if any) are imposed by the operating system. | 
| Full screen DISPLAY/ACCEPT | One screen less one character (the last character position on the screen is not usable) |