How to check for spaces in a Cobol program

iknow

Hi All
I want the program to follow a certain path if the value of a
variable is spaces. How do I code this logic.

Sridevi_C · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:01 am Post subject:

Hi,
Try this...
Code:
WORKING STORAGE SECTION.
77 A PIC X(5).
77 B PIC X(5) VALUE SPACES.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
IF A = B THEN DISPLAY "A IS NOT POPULATED" ELSE DISPLAY "A IS POPULATED".
There might be a more efficient way.
Regards,
Sridevi.

umeshkmrsh · Active User Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 81 Location: India

Yes there is a better way too.

Code:
WORKING STORAGE SECTION.
77 A PIC X(5).
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
IF A = SPACES THEN
DISPLAY "A IS NOT POPULATED"
ELSE
DISPLAY "A IS POPULATED"
END-IF.

mathiprakash · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject:

Hi Iknow,

You are going to check whether the variable is having spaces or not, right?
Then why cann't you use this,

IF <variable> IS SPACES

This is a better option to check.

Regards,
Matty