Alphanumeric Data
Problem Description
Work with alphanumeric (PIC X) and alphabetic (PIC A) data types.
Expected Output
String manipulation basics
Hints
PIC X allows any character, PIC A only letters and spaces.
Solution
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. ALPHATEST.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
* Alphanumeric - any character allowed
01 WS-ALPHANUM PIC X(20) VALUE "Hello123!@#".
* Alphabetic - only A-Z and space
01 WS-ALPHA PIC A(20) VALUE "Hello World".
* Fixed length with VALUE
01 WS-NAME PIC X(10) VALUE "JOHN".
* Will be padded: "JOHN "
01 WS-CODE PIC X(5).
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
DISPLAY "ALPHANUMERIC: [" WS-ALPHANUM "]".
DISPLAY "ALPHABETIC: [" WS-ALPHA "]".
DISPLAY "PADDED NAME: [" WS-NAME "]".
MOVE "ABC" TO WS-CODE.
DISPLAY "CODE: [" WS-CODE "]".
* Right justify test
MOVE SPACES TO WS-CODE.
STRING "XY" DELIMITED SIZE INTO WS-CODE.
DISPLAY "STRING: [" WS-CODE "]".
STOP RUN.
Explanation:
PIC X=alphanumeric (any char), PIC A=alphabetic (letters/space only).