What is the use of POINTER clause

pallavi_vibhute · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Location: hyderabad

Hi all..

Is there any POINTER clause exists & if yes wht is the use of tht ..
I wil be thankfull if u ppl help me out..

thanks
pallavi.

Arun Raj · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:48 am

Hii

Pointers are data items that contain virtual storage addresses. You define them either explicitly with the USAGE IS POINTER clause in the DATA DIVISION or implicitly as ADDRESS OF special registers.

You can perform the following operations with pointer data items:

Pass them between programs by using the CALL . . . BY REFERENCE statement.
Move them to other pointers by using the SET statement.
Compare them to other pointers for equality by using a relation condition.
Initialize them to contain an invalid address by using VALUE IS NULL.

Thanks
Arun

cobolunni · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:52 am

Also i think pointer will take a storage space of 4 bytes .
is i am right

pallavi_vibhute · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Location: hyderabad

Thnaks Arun for ur reply

regards,
pallavi.

neelesht · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:53 pm

Hi Pallavi/Arun

Is this Pointer function available in COBOL, since I know this is one of the main features of PL1, but never knew that its available in COBOL as well .

Thanks,
Neelesh

pallavi_vibhute · New User Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Location: hyderabad

hiii

im very new to mainframe & dont know PL/1 ... so better ask to Arun abt this pointer clause...

thanks
pallavi

neelesht · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:18 am

Hi Pallavi,

Thanks alot.

Arun,
Could you please let me know something more about this Pointer in COBOL.

Thanks,
Neelesh

priyesh.agrawal · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:40 am

Neelesh...

Check if it helps...

neelesht · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:49 am

Thanks Priyesh.

Neelesh