RE: [COBOL400-L] Conversion of numeric data to character format?

["Jon Paris" <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 >>    I think that works for a single case, but you can't write a generic
routine ....

I agree that writing a generic routine is not always possible.  I honestly
don't recall the full details of the original request, but in some cases it
is possible. For example - a generic trim routine could be written by
utilizing descriptors to determine the size of the field passed and then
doing %trim(%subst(......  of course the RPG is a little uglier.

If only COBOL had implemented a more generic FUNCTION option with some form
of prototyping (not the 400 folks fault I know) then it would be much easier
to tap into the RPG and C functions directly.

I have always found COBOL's string handling to be a royal pain in the
proverbial.

Jon Paris
Partner400
www.Partner400.com