Re: stupid cobol question

[Scott Monnig <smonnig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick,

Yes there is a *LIKE like working storage definition, it is LIKE.  When 
defining working storage variables instead of a normal PIC X(2) or 
whatever, substitute LIKE FIELD or LIKE FIELD OF QUALIFIER:

        01  ws-variable1      LIKE FIELD1.
        01  ws-variable2      LIKE FIELD2 OF MASTERREC.

I think 
        FIELD1 RENAMES FIELD2  will replace all instances of field2 with 
field1.  

REDEFINES is a way to look at a variable in alternate ways or with 
alternate formats.  We use REDEFINES to extract portions of fields, 
inspect numeric data stored in alphanumeric fields, or deal with variable 
record formats.

        01  ws-var            pic 9(8).
        01  ws-var-red   redefines ws-var.
            05  ws-ccyy       pic 9(4).
            05  ws-mm         pic 9(2).
            05  ws-dd         pic 9(2).

is a common usage, or

        01  ws-var               pic x(80).
        01  ws-rec1      redefines ws-var.
            05  ws-rec1-part1    pic x(10).
            05  ws-rec1-part2    pic 9(5).
            05  ws-rec1-part3    pic 9(5).
            05  ws-rec1-part4    pic x(60).
        01  ws-rec2      redefines ws-var.
            05  ws-rec2-part1    pic 9(5).
            05  ws-rec2-part2    pic 9(5).
            05  ws-rec2-part3    pic x(70).

Hope this helps (and is correct),

Scott

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On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Rick Baird wrote:

> Or, subject could be:  Stupid Cobol,... question.
> 
> Hey all,
> 
> I'm doing some contract work in cobol, and before last month, it had
> been VERY long since I'd even seen a cobol program, let alone changed or
> written one.
> 
> As an RPG pgmr, I've always used the rule of thumb that you should avoid
> hard coding variable definitions in your programs.  Is there a cobol
> working storage keyword equivelent to the *like defn?  
> 
> also, what EXACTLY is the difference between RENAMES and REDEFINES
> keywords?  Maybe I'm just dense, but the manuals aren't much help.
> 
> Thanks much,
> 
> Rick Baird
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