The H edit descriptor transfers data between the external record and the H edit descriptor itself. It has the form of a Hollerith constant, as follows:
nHc1c2c3 . . . cn
In an input statement, the H edit descriptor transfers n characters from the external field to the edit descriptor. The first character appears immediately after the letter H. Any characters in the edit descriptor before input are replaced by the input characters.
In an output statement, the H edit descriptor transfers n characters following the letter H from the edit descriptor to the external field.
For details on repeating an H edit descriptor format, see Section 8.3.6.