COBOL DISPLAY String and Variable Example

Input Output Statements Tutorial   

Scenario - Displaying string and variable with a single DISPLAY statement.

Code -

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

       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01 WS-VAR         PIC X(12) VALUE "HELLO WORLD".

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
      * Display String and variable in a single line.
           DISPLAY "MESSAGE: " WS-VAR.

           STOP RUN.

Output -

MESSAGE: HELLO WORLD

Explaining Example -

In the above example:

  • It declares a working storage variable WS-VAR capable of holding a string of up to 12 characters and initializes it with the value "HELLO WORLD".
  • It displays the string "MESSAGE: " followed by the content of WS-VAR, resulting in the output "MESSAGE: HELLO WORLD" all in a single line.