COBOL INSPECT Function

In the real world scenario many a times you required to find the length of string value to do a concatenation or string parse but more commonly is used in the VARCHAR column data type of DB2 table.

Hence it becomes important for any application to be aware of the COBOL function available to calculate the length of the input string.

one of the very common methods used in COBOL for finding the length of the string is to use a INSPECT function. the INSPECT function majorly are of two times.

in this blog I will shows you the following 2 types of INSPECT TALLYING function which help to get the length of string, very much need in teal world scenarios.

Basic syntax:

Below is the example of the COBOL code which receives data from JCL using instream and PARM parameter

instream data received by the COBOL program by issuing a ACCEPT statement
whereas, the PARM parameter is received by the COBOL program by using LINKAGE SECTION and by mentioning PROCEDURE USING linkage section structure.

you can check these in the below code.

Note: you can only pass 100 bytes of Maximum value using PARM parameter.

source code URL: https://gist.github.com/sandeep-sparrow/33120681a51eef602f2b633e8260267f

below is the JCL:


Here I have passed 'WELCOME TO MAINFRAME' as the PARM string which is received in the linkage section of COBOL program as shown below.


//SYSIN DD *
WELCOME TO MAINFRAM
/*

SPOOL O/P


is the instream data which is received in the COBOL program by ACCEPT statement.
on submission of JCL, the program is executed and we can check the spool output where both the inspect function find the length of the same string but with different values.

Thank you, hope these help you learn something new today :)

Sandeep Prajapati
Technology Analyst, Infosys Limited.
                                 

 

       

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sort JCL in Descending Order and Format the output

Image
JCL sort is IBM utility used for sorting input data source such as PS, VSAM or SMS files. In this example I will demonstrate on How to Sort the Sequential Data set in Descending order and in the last, format the record in such a way that we will only get the selected column values in the output file JCL: This JCL executes SORT program in 2 steps Step01 - sorts the input file in Descending Order Step02 - copy the input file in output while in specified Format only. //* THIS JCL SORTS THE OUTPUT FILE IN DESCENDING ORDER       //* AND FORMATS THE OUTFILE                                  //STEP01   EXEC PGM=SORT                                     //SYSOUT   DD SYSOUT=*                                       //SORTIN   DD DSN=G101105.CLAIM.EXTRACT1,DISP=SHR            //SORTOUT  DD DSN=G101105.CLAIM.SORTED,                      //         DISP=(NEW,CATLG),UNIT=SYSDA,                      //         SPACE=(CYL,(100,100),RLSE),                       //         DCB=(LRECL=135,RECFM=FB,BLKSIZE=
Read more

Dynamic Allocation of PS Dataset Using a COBOL program.

Image
 Hi Mainframe, In most of Mainframe Shops, we use JCL for Allocation of PS Dataset. But Many a times a requirement comes where we need to allocates a PS dataset dynamically within a COBOL program which catalog the Files and once catalog the Allocated PS Dataset can be used to perform various File I/O operations such as Open, Read, Write and Close file. In order to Achieve these IBM has provide many Utility as such Sub program can be called in the COBOL main program as a Static call with the Appropriate TSO command to Allocate a new File Dynamically.  Syntax for PS Data Set Allocations is: DSN(&SYSUID..MVS.TEST.FILE01) NEW TRACKS SPACE(100,100) UNIT(SYSDA) CATALOG The file name is Specified in the DSN and any number of Files can be Allocated using IBM Supplied Utility. The most come IBM Utility Used is: 'PUTENV' This Utility or Subprogram is called STATICALLY with the Above mention DSN details....         ID DIVISION .         PROGRAM-ID .   GETENVX.         AUTHOR.        S
Read more