COBOL ACCEPT System Date Example

Input Output Statements Tutorial   

Scenario - Receiving system date in different formats.

Code -

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+
       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. ACCPTDT.
       AUTHOR. MTH.

       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01 WS-VAR.
          05 WS-DATE-YYMMDD       PIC 9(06).
          05 WS-DATE-YYYYMMDD     PIC 9(08).

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
      * Receiving system date in default format.
           ACCEPT WS-DATE-YYMMDD FROM DATE.

      * Receiving system date in YYYYMMDD.
           ACCEPT WS-DATE-YYYYMMDD FROM DATE YYYYMMDD.

           DISPLAY 'DATE YYMMDD  :  ' WS-DATE-YYMMDD
           DISPLAY 'DATE YYYYMMDD:  ' WS-DATE-YYYYMMDD.

           STOP RUN.

Output -

DATE YYMMDD  :  240507
DATE YYYYMMDD:  20240507

Explaining Example -

In the above example:

  • It first accepts the system date in the default format (YYMMDD) and stores it in WS-DATE-YYMMDD.
  • It accepts the system date in the YYYYMMDD format and stores it in WS-DATE-YYYYMMDD.
  • Finally, it displays both date values and terminates the program.