COBOL Numeric Data Type Example

Data Types Tutorial   

Scenario - Describes how the numeric data aligns in COBOL variables.

Code -

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

       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 
       01  WS-VAR.
           05 NUMERIC-J1        PIC 9(03).
           05 NUMERIC-J2        PIC 9(09).

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           MOVE 256128          TO  NUMERIC-J1
                                    NUMERIC-J2.

           DISPLAY 'NUMERIC-J1:  ' NUMERIC-J1.
           DISPLAY 'NUMERIC-J2:  ' NUMERIC-J2.

		   STOP RUN.

Output -

NUMERIC-J1:  128         
NUMERIC-J2:  000256128

Explaining Example -

In the above example:

  • NUMERIC-J1 is declared with length 3, and NUMERIC-J2 is declared with length 9. 256128 value moved to both fields.
  • After moving, NUMERIC-J1 is smaller than the value passed. Because of the right justification, the value should move from right to left up to the length declared. So NUMERIC-J1 had the value 128.
  • After moving, NUMERIC-J2 is larger than the value passed. Because of the right justification, the value should move from right to left up to the length declared. So NUMERIC-J2 had the value 000256128.