💻 COBOL

COBOL Data Types and Variables

Beginner 🕑 20 min read 👁 4 views

Understanding COBOL Data Types

COBOL uses PICTURE (PIC) clauses to define the type and size of data items. Understanding data types is fundamental to COBOL programming.

Numeric Data Types

PIC Clause	Description	Example
9	Numeric digit (0-9)	PIC 9(5) - 5 digits
S	Sign (+ or -)	PIC S9(5) - signed number
V	Implied decimal point	PIC 9(5)V99 - 5.2 format
P	Assumed decimal position	PIC 9(3)PP - multiply by 100

Alphanumeric Data Types

PIC Clause	Description	Example
X	Any character	PIC X(20) - 20 characters
A	Alphabetic only	PIC A(10) - 10 letters

Edited Data Types

Used for formatting output:

Z - Zero suppression
. - Decimal point
, - Comma insertion
$ - Currency symbol
- - Minus sign for negative

Level Numbers

COBOL uses level numbers to create data hierarchies:

01 - Record level
02-49 - Group and elementary items
66 - RENAMES clause
77 - Independent elementary items
88 - Condition names

Code Example

       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

       * Numeric variables
       01 WS-COUNT         PIC 9(5)      VALUE ZEROS.
       01 WS-AMOUNT        PIC S9(7)V99  VALUE ZEROS.
       01 WS-RATE          PIC 9V9(4)    VALUE ZEROS.

       * Alphanumeric variables
       01 WS-NAME          PIC X(30)     VALUE SPACES.
       01 WS-CODE          PIC A(5)      VALUE SPACES.

       * Edited fields for display
       01 WS-DISPLAY-AMT   PIC $ZZZ,ZZ9.99.
       01 WS-DISPLAY-DATE  PIC 99/99/9999.

       * Group item example
       01 WS-EMPLOYEE-REC.
          05 WS-EMP-ID     PIC 9(6).
          05 WS-EMP-NAME   PIC X(30).
          05 WS-EMP-SALARY PIC 9(7)V99.
          05 WS-EMP-DEPT   PIC X(10).

       * Condition name example
       01 WS-STATUS        PIC X(1).
          88 STATUS-ACTIVE    VALUE "A".
          88 STATUS-INACTIVE  VALUE "I".
          88 STATUS-PENDING   VALUE "P".