Cobol varaible field length is more then 18 !

prem_ibm · New User Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Chennai

Hi Every one !

Unfortunately i got one requirement where i have to divide one field which is more then 18 in length.

i am thinking to devide data in half part.....later this will be merge...to get data length equal to 18 or less then 18.

expected result should be same(whether will dividing in one short or half..half and merging...for final dividation)

Thanks

Prem

Bill O'Boyle · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:16 am

Does your compiler support the ARITH(EXTEND) option?

What is your Cobol Version/Release?

If it doesn't support ARITH(EXTEND), then this division is easily accomplished via an Assembler sub-program.

Assembler supports up to 16-Bytes/31-Digits, Packed-Decimal (COMP-3) or you can use the Assembler 64-Bit "Grande" Registers or Aligned-Doublewords along with the "Divide Grande" instruction.

Enterprise PL/I can also do this.

Anyway you look at it, it can be done....

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:24 pm

Surely you are not the first at your site to use a wildly big number? Ask someone who's already done it.

If you are, do as Mr Bill indicates, look at the compile options at the start of your output listing from a compile. Early on, you should/may see ARITH(COMPAT). If so, find out from your support people how to compile with ARITH(EXTEND).