Moving an alphanumeric value and numeric value to 9(4)comp-5

kamesh20 · New User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Mumbai

Hi,

We have a calling program that has the variable declared as x(5) - say it is 'A'.

we move the value of this variable to a 9(4) comp-5 variable - say it is 'B'.

We pass the variable 'B' to the called program and move it to a variable x(4)- say it is 'C'.

The problem is coming for the below cases:
For example -
'A' has two values - 1)T020
2)58132

When we are moving these values to the variable B it has the value E314 for the above two values of A also.

In the called program when we are moving this B (E314) to the variable C, the C(1:1) has the value 'T' (equal to char form of 'E3') for both the values of A (T020, 58132).

But we want to know what is the actual value came in (whether it is T020 or 58132)

Please let me know if there is a way..

Constarints:
Pass area to the called program can not be increased or changed.

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:42 am

Hello,

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:42 am

Although your explanation is not entirely clear to me, I do not believe that what you want to know can be determined. x'E314' is a COMP-5 variable that can also be represented as character 'T?' where the ? is a hex 14 (decimal 20) value. The power of COMP-5 is that any pattern of bits represents a valid number. The downside of COMP-5 is that you cannot tell if the variable started as a number such as 58132 or as a character string 'T?' without recourse to external data telling you which format to use.

kamesh20 · New User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Mumbai

Hi Dick and Robert,

Yes i know it is very confusing and bit difficult to put on a paper.

The code was written a way back and the issue came up now. May be we have to change the design now..

Thanks for your time and sorry for trouble if any.

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:10 am

You're welcome - and no trouble

Given the constraints, not much more we could offer.

If there are questions, do post them - we can work on making them more understandable if needed

d

Bill O'Boyle · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:53 am

Have you considered using EXTERNAL WORKING-STORAGE (introduced with VS/COBOL II some 20+ years ago), which must be defined exactly the same in both the Calling program and the Called program (in fact, all programs within the run-unit) and is addressable by all programs within the run-unit?

Then, the parmlist doesn't need to be changed and the sub-program can address this EXTERNAL WS directly, after being populated by the calling-program. Just a little bit of logic change here and there, in both programs and you're done! No conversion required or any type of value "subtlety" to consider.

Although some may perceive this approach as merely a "bandaid", using EXTERNAL WS has saved my A$$ several times....

Regards,