o The copy operation takes place when the new record is compiled,
not when it is copied into a program. When you modify a template
record, you should recompile any record definitions that contain
COPY field descriptions copying the modified template record.
o The COPY field description statement copies a complete record, a
template record, into a single field.
o The COPY field description statement copies the description of
the template record as the description of the COPY field. If the
first subordinate field of the template record is a BIT field,
the first subordinate field of the COPY field begins on the first
bit immediately following the preceding field. Otherwise, the
COPY field begins on the first byte immediately following the
preceding field. You can modify this starting position with the
ALIGNED clause
o If you specify an absolute version number in the path name
parameter, CDDL copies the version of the template record with
that version number each time you compile the record description
containing the COPY field. If you do not specify a version
number, CDDL copies the highest version of the template record
each time you compile the record description.
o In the COPY field, the field name you assign replaces the field
name copied from the field description statement of the template
record.
o When the CDDL compiler compiles a record definition containing a
COPY field description, it automatically makes an entry
documenting the copy operation in the history list of the
template record, whether or not you use the /AUDIT qualifier.