Replace Sign by '('

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

My field is defined as

01 FIELD PIC -,---,--9.99.
01 FIELD-R REDIFINES FIELD PIC X(12).

Some numeric value is moved in FIELD, e.g. -101.75
when displayed it prints as -101.75

What I want to print is (101.75)

I can eazily put ')' as it's position is fix. Problem is with '(' as its position depends upon the size of the number.
We are using '-' for leading zero suppressing. Can i use INSPECT to replace this '-' with '('.

I have tried

INSPECT FIELD RELACING '-' BY '('

INSPECT FIELD-R RELACING '-' BY '(' ......... Nothing is working

Any work around ??

Robert Sample · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:02 pm

1) The COBOL code you posted won't compile -- it is REPLACING not RELACING. This is why people are told, repeatedly, to cut and paste the code instead of typing it again -- typos can drastically change the meaning of the posted code.

2) Have you tried INSPECT FIELD-R REPLACING FIRST '-' BY '('. ?

donevin · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:20 pm

INSPECT FIELD-R (or FIELD) REPLACING ALL "-" BY "(".

works for me

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

That works ......

Probably the "LEADING" in the command was causing problems

Thanks you guys !!

Robert Sample · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:05 pm

Since the first character in your field, once substituted, is a space and not a '(' the LEADING won't work. FIRST will work, ALL will work -- but LEADING means leading: if there's another character in the first position instead of the character you're looking for, the INSPECT is done.

donevin · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:25 pm

First is then the most accurate in terms of syntax and intention in my opinion.