What is Filler Clause ?

When you don not want to assign any name to the storage area that can be specified with the FILLER clause. Syntax of FILLER clause is as shown below:

Level-no

FILLER

PIC

character-string

FILLER clause is required for COBOL-74 and in COBOL-85; you can leave the field name blank. FILLER clause is generally used to control the spacing between the output fields. For example: 05 FILLER PIC X(5)

FILLER CLAUSE:

Consider the statements given below: 1) 01 f pic x(80) value all -.

This statement causes a line of 80 characters filled with -

2)01

pic x(60) value all *.

This statement causes a line of 60 characters filled with * 3)01 filler pic x(10) value TESTING. Note that we can either use simply f or filler in the statements.Generally fillers are used to improve the clarity of the output and form designs utilizethe potential of filler clauses to the maximum.