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COBOL Basics | Beginner | COBOL

INITIALIZE Statement

Problem Description

Use INITIALIZE to set fields to default values.

Expected Output

Fields reset to spaces or zeros

Hints

INITIALIZE sets alphanumeric to spaces, numeric to zeros.

Solution

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. INITDEMO. DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 WS-RECORD. 05 WS-NAME PIC X(20) VALUE "JOHN DOE". 05 WS-AGE PIC 9(3) VALUE 25. 05 WS-SALARY PIC 9(7)V99 VALUE 50000.50. PROCEDURE DIVISION. DISPLAY "BEFORE INITIALIZE:". DISPLAY "NAME: [" WS-NAME "]". DISPLAY "AGE: " WS-AGE. DISPLAY "SALARY: " WS-SALARY. INITIALIZE WS-RECORD. DISPLAY "AFTER INITIALIZE:". DISPLAY "NAME: [" WS-NAME "]". DISPLAY "AGE: " WS-AGE. DISPLAY "SALARY: " WS-SALARY. STOP RUN.

Explanation:

INITIALIZE resets: alphanumeric to SPACES, numeric to ZEROS.