TITLE : Data handling in COBOL

Purpose:
To introduce how to do manipulations with data in
COBOL
To introduce how to move data between different
variables

OBJECTIVES :
How to handle arithmetic operations in COBOL
How to move data between variables
How to use Intrinsic functions of COBOL
How to handle strings in COBOL
Unit4
Arithmetic Verbs
The following are the arithmetic verbs in COBOL
ADD
SUBTRACT
MULTIPLY
DIVIDE
Compute
Add Verb
The ADD statement sums two or more numeric operands and
stores the result.
ADD {identifier-1} {literal-1}...TO identifier-2...
ADD {identifier-1} {literal-1}...TO {identifier-2}{literal-
2} GIVING identifier-3...
All identifiers or literals preceding the key word TO are added
together, and this sum is added to and stored in identifier-2.
The values of the operands preceding the word GIVING are
added together, and the sum is stored as the new value of each
data item referenced by identifier-3.
The fields or operands that are added should be numeric

Subtract Verb
The SUBTRACT statement subtracts one numeric item, or the
sum of two or more numeric items, from one or more numeric
items, and stores the result.
Format 1
SUBTRACT {identifier-1} {literal-1} .. FROM identifier-
2 ..
Format 2
SUBTRACT {identifier-1} {literal-1} .. FROM
{identifier-2} {literal-2} GIVING identifier-3...
All identifiers or literals preceding the key word FROM are
added together and this sum is subtracted from and stored
immediately in identifier-2.
All identifiers or literals preceding the key word FROM are
added together and this sum is subtracted from identifier-2 or
literal-2. The result of the subtraction is stored as the new
value of each data item referenced by identifier-3.

Multiply Verb
The MULTIPLY statement multiplies numeric items and sets
the values of data items equal to the results.
FORMAT 1:--MULTIPLY {identifier-1} {literal-1} BY
identifier-2..
FORMAT 2:--MULTIPLY {identifier-1} {literal-1} BY
{identifier-2} {literal-2} GIVING identifier-3...
In format 1, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is multiplied
by the value of identifier-2; the product is then placed in
identifier-2.
In format 2, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is multiplied
by the value of identifier-2 or literal-2. The product is then
stored in the data item (s) referenced
by identifier-3.


Divide Verb
Format 1 DIVIDE {identifier-1} {literal-1} INTO identifier-2
Format 2 DIVIDE {identifier-1} {literal-1} INTO {identifier-
2} {literal-2} GIVING identifier-3...
Format 3 DIVIDE {identifier-1} {literal-1} BY {identifier-2}
{literal-2} GIVING identifier-3...
Format 4 DIVIDE {identifier-1} {literal-1} INTO {identifier-
2} {literal-2{ GIVING identifier-3 REMAINDER identifier-
4..
Format 5 DIVIDE {identifier-1} {literal-1} BY {identifier-2}
{literal-2} GIVING identifier-3 REMAINDER identifier-4..
Either the word INTO or BY may be used with a DIVIDE
statement.
The GIVING clause is optional with INTO but required with
BY.

Divide Verb
In format 1, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is divided into
the value of identifier-2, and the quotient is then stored in
identifier-2.
In format 2, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is divided into
the value of identifier-2 or literal-2. The value of the quotient
is stored in each data item referenced by identifier-3.
In format 3, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is divided by
the value of identifier-2 or literal-2. The value of the quotient
is stored in each data item referenced by identifier-3.
In format 4, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is divided into
identifier-2 or literal-2. The value of the quotient is stored in
identifier-3, and the value of the remainder is stored in
identifier-4.
In format 5, the value of identifier-1 or literal-1 is divided by
identifier-2 or literal-2. The value of the quotient is stored in
identifier-3, and the value of the remainder is stored in
identifier-4.


Rounded Option
ROUNDED is optional with all arithmetic operations.

If the ROUNDED option is not specified, truncation of
decimal positions will occur if the resultant field cannot
accommodate all the decimal positions in the answer.

With the ROUNDED option, the computer will always round
the result to the PICTURE specification of the receiving field.

If ROUNDED and REMAINDER are to be used in the same
DIVIDE statement, ROUNDED must appear first.


On Size Error Option
Avoiding Size Errors
The best way to avoid a size error condition is to be
absolutely certain that the receiving field is large enough to
accommodate any possible result.

COBOL has a built-in solution to the problem if the error
occurs. Use an ON SIZE ERROR clause with any arithmetic
operation as follows:

FORMAT:
arithmetic statement [ON SIZE ERROR
imperative statement . . . ]

Compute Verb
The COMPUTE statement assigns the value of an arithmetic
expression to one or more data items.

COMPUTE identifier-1 [ROUNDED] . . . = {arithmetic
expression-1} {literal- 1}{identifier-2} [ON SIZE
ERROR imperative statement]

On most systems, you must follow precise spacing rules when
using the COMPUTE statement. That is, the equal sign as well
as the arithmetic symbols must be preceded and followed by a
space.


Compute Verb
**
* or / (whichever appears 1st from left to right)
+ or - (whichever appears 1st from left to right)
The use of parentheses overrides rules 1--3. That is, operations
within parentheses are performed first.
Without parentheses, exponentiation is performed first.
Multiplication and division operations follow any
exponentiation and precede addition or subtraction operations.
If there are two or more multiplication or division operations,
they are evaluated from left to right in the expression.
Addition and subtraction are evaluated last, also--left to right
Arithmetic Operations
When performing arithmetic, you must make certain that the
receiving field is large enough to accommodate the result.

Addition--the resultant field should be one position larger
than the largest field being added.

Subtraction--resultant field should be as large as the field
being subtracted from.

Multiplication--resultant field size should equal the sum of
the lengths of the operands being multiplied.

Division--resultant field size should equal the sum of the
number of digits in the divisor and dividend.

Arithmetic Operations
Product is + if multiplicand and multiplier have the same sign.
Product is - if multiplicand and multiplier have different signs.
Quotient is + if dividend and divisor have the same sign.
Quotient is - if dividend and divisor have different signs.
If signs of the fields being added are the same, add uses the sign.
If signs of the fields being added are different
add all + numbers, and add all - numbers separately.
Then subtract the smaller total from the larger total and use
the sign of the larger.
Move Verb
The MOVE statement transfers data from one area of storage
to one or more other areas.

Format 1
MOVE identifier-1 TO identifier-2

PICTURE clauses of both fields must be the same.

A second form of the MOVE statement is as follows:
Format 2
MOVE literal-1 TO identifier -2

Move Verb
RULE 1: MOVING INTEGER PORTIONS OF NUMERIC
FIELDS
When moving an integer sending field or an integer portion of
a numeric sending field, to a numeric receiving field,
movement is from right to left.
All non filled high-order (leftmost) integer positions of the
receiving field are replaced with zeros.

RULE 2: MOVING DECIMAL PORTIONS OF NUMERIC
FIELDS
When moving a decimal portion of a numeric sending field to
the decimal portion of a numeric receiving field, movement is
from left to right, beginning at the implied decimal point.
Low-order (rightmost) non filled decimal positions of the
receiving field are replaced with zeros.

Move Verb
Numeric literals are moved to fields in exactly the same
manner as numeric fields are moved.
If a numeric field have negative contents, then it must
have an S in its PIC clause.

If we code MOVE - 123 TO AMT1, for example, then AMT1
should be defined with a PIC S9(3).

An S should be included in the PIC clause of a numeric field
whenever the sign of the number is to be retained.
Move Verb
In a nonnumeric move, data is transmitted from the sending
field to the receiving field from left to right.
Low-order or rightmost positions of the receiving field that are
not replaced with sending field characters are filled with
spaces.
A Group Move Is Considered a Nonnumeric Move
All group items, even those with numeric sub fields, are
treated as alphanumeric fields.

Move Verb
Example
01 A.
05 B PIC X(4) VALUE ABCD.
05 C PIC 9(5) VALUE 12345.
01 D.
05 E PIC X(3).
05 F PIC 9(2).
05 G PIC X(4).
MOVE A TO D.
E : ABC, F : D1, G : 2345
Move Verb
If the same name is used to define fields in different records or
group items, indicate which record or group item is to be
accessed by qualifying the identifier with the word OF or IN.

When more than one field in storage has the same name, we
qualify the name in the PROCEDURE DIVISION as follows:

Format
Identifier-1 OF record-name-1
IN group-item-name-1

String Verb
String Verb
The STRING statement strings together the partial or complete
contents of two or more data items or literals into one single
data item.
STRING Ident1, Ident2, "10" DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO
DestString
The STRING statement moves characters from the source
string to the destination string according to the rules for
alphanumeric to alphanumeric moves.
The ON OVERFLOW clause executes if there are still valid
characters left in the source strings but the destination string is
full.
String Verb
Data movement from a particular source string ends when
either;
the end of the source string is reached
the end of the destination string is reached
the delimiter is detected.

The WITH POINTER phrase allows an identifier/dataname to
be kept which holds the position in the Destination String
where the next character will go.

The DELIMITED BY SIZE clause means that the whole of the
sending field will be added to the destination string

Unstring Verb
Unstring Verb
The UNSTRING statement causes contiguous data in a
sending field to be separated and placed into multiple
receiving fields.
Characters are copied from the source string to the destination
strings according to the rules for alphanumeric moves
If the DELIMITED BY phrase is not specified, the
DELIMITER IN and COUNT IN phrases must not be
specified.
The UNSTRING statement terminates when either;
All the characters in the source string have been examined
All the destination strings have been processed
Some error condition is encountered (such as the pointer
pointing outside the source string).

Unstring Verb
The COUNT IN clause is associated with a particular
destination string and holds a count of the number of
characters passed to the destination string.

Only one TALLYING clause can be used with each
UNSTRING. It holds a count of the number of destination
strings affected by the UNSTRING operation.

When the ALL phrase is used, contiguous delimiters are
treated as if only one delimiter had been encountered.

If the ALL is not used, contiguous delimiters will result in
spaces being sent to some of the destination strings