The RECORD clause specifies: (1) the number of character positions in
  a fixed length record, (2) variable length record format, or (3) the
  minimum and maximum number of character positions in a variable
  length record.

1  –  1format CONTAINS

  The RECORD clause specifies: (1) the number of character positions in
  a fixed length record, (2) variable length record format, or (3) the
  minimum and maximum number of character positions in a variable
  length record.

  Format 1 -

   RECORD CONTAINS [shortest-rec TO] longest-rec CHARACTERS

1.1  –  shortest-rec

  is an integer that specifies the minimum number of character
  positions in a variable-length record.

1.2  –  longest-rec

  is an integer greater than shortest-rec.  It specifies the maximum
  number of character positions in a variable-length record or the
  size of a fixed-length record.

2  –  2format VARYING

  The RECORD clause specifies: (1) the number of character positions in
  a fixed length record, (2) variable length record format, or (3) the
  minimum and maximum number of character positions in a variable
  length record.

  Format 2 -

   RECORD IS VARYING IN SIZE [FROM shortest-rec] [TO longest-rec]
                             CHARACTERS [DEPENDING ON depending-item]

2.1  –  shortest-rec

  is an integer that specifies the minimum number of character
  positions in a variable-length record.

2.2  –  longest-rec

  is an integer greater than shortest-rec.  It specifies the maximum
  number of character positions in a variable-length record or the
  size of a fixed-length record.

2.3  –  depending-item

  is the identifier of an elementary unsigned integer data item in
  the Working-Storage or Linkage Section.  It specifies the number
  of character positions for an output operation, and it contains
  the number of character positions after a successful input
  operation.