COBOL Tutorial

COBOL CONVERSION - Quick Reference

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Overview

CONVERSION in COBOL refers to the process of transforming data from one format, type, or representation to another. This includes converting between different data types, formats, and representations to ensure compatibility and proper data processing in COBOL applications.

Purpose and Usage

Data type compatibility
Format standardization
Data transformation
System integration
Legacy data handling

Syntax

CONVERSION operations follow specific syntax patterns in COBOL:

Basic Conversion Syntax

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* Basic data conversion using MOVE
01  numeric-field PIC 9(5) VALUE 12345.
01  alphanumeric-field PIC X(10).
01  converted-field PIC 9(5).
 
* Numeric to alphanumeric conversion
MOVE numeric-field TO alphanumeric-field.
 
* Alphanumeric to numeric conversion
MOVE alphanumeric-field TO converted-field.
 
* Using FUNCTION for conversions
01  date-string PIC X(10) VALUE "2024-01-15".
01  converted-date PIC 9(8).
 
* Date conversion
MOVE FUNCTION DATE-OF-INTEGER(
    FUNCTION INTEGER-OF-DATE(date-string)
) TO converted-date.
 
* String case conversion
01  original-text PIC X(20) VALUE "Hello World".
01  upper-text PIC X(20).
01  lower-text PIC X(20).
 
* Convert to uppercase
MOVE FUNCTION UPPER-CASE(original-text) TO upper-text.
 
* Convert to lowercase
MOVE FUNCTION LOWER-CASE(original-text) TO lower-text.

CONVERSION uses MOVE statements and functions to transform data.

Advanced Conversion Examples

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* Advanced conversion operations
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
PERFORM-CONVERSIONS.
    * Currency conversion
    PERFORM convert-currency.
    
    * Date format conversion
    PERFORM convert-date-format.
    
    * String formatting conversion
    PERFORM convert-string-format.
    
    STOP RUN.
 
CONVERT-CURRENCY.
    * Convert currency format
    01  currency-amount PIC X(15) VALUE "$1,234.56".
    01  clean-amount PIC X(15).
    01  numeric-amount PIC 9(8)V99.
    
    * Remove currency symbols and formatting
    MOVE currency-amount TO clean-amount.
    INSPECT clean-amount REPLACING ALL "$" BY SPACE.
    INSPECT clean-amount REPLACING ALL "," BY SPACE.
    INSPECT clean-amount REMOVAL ALL SPACES.
    
    * Convert to numeric
    MOVE clean-amount TO numeric-amount.
    DISPLAY "Original: " currency-amount.
    DISPLAY "Converted: " numeric-amount.
 
CONVERT-DATE-FORMAT.
    * Convert date format
    01  input-date PIC X(10) VALUE "15/01/2024".
    01  output-date PIC X(10).
    
    * Convert DD/MM/YYYY to YYYY-MM-DD
    MOVE input-date(7:4) TO output-date(1:4).
    MOVE "-" TO output-date(5:1).
    MOVE input-date(4:2) TO output-date(6:2).
    MOVE "-" TO output-date(8:1).
    MOVE input-date(1:2) TO output-date(9:2).
    
    DISPLAY "Input date: " input-date.
    DISPLAY "Output date: " output-date.
 
CONVERT-STRING-FORMAT.
    * Convert string format
    01  phone-string PIC X(15) VALUE "(555) 123-4567".
    01  clean-phone PIC X(15).
    
    * Remove formatting characters
    MOVE phone-string TO clean-phone.
    INSPECT clean-phone REPLACING ALL "(" BY SPACE.
    INSPECT clean-phone REPLACING ALL ")" BY SPACE.
    INSPECT clean-phone REPLACING ALL "-" BY SPACE.
    INSPECT clean-phone REMOVAL ALL SPACES.
    
    DISPLAY "Original phone: " phone-string.
    DISPLAY "Clean phone: " clean-phone.

Practical Examples

Here are some practical uses of CONVERSION in COBOL:

Data Import and Conversion

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* Data import and conversion system
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  imported-data.
    05  raw-customer-id PIC X(10).
    05  raw-customer-name PIC X(50).
    05  raw-customer-age PIC X(3).
    05  raw-customer-salary PIC X(15).
01  converted-data.
    05  customer-id PIC 9(8).
    05  customer-name PIC X(50).
    05  customer-age PIC 9(3).
    05  customer-salary PIC 9(8)V99.
01  conversion-errors.
    05  error-count PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
    05  error-message PIC X(100).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
CONVERT-IMPORTED-DATA.
    * Read imported data
    READ import-file
        AT END
            MOVE "Y" TO end-of-file-flag
        NOT AT END
            PERFORM convert-customer-data
    END-READ.
    
    * Display conversion summary
    DISPLAY "Conversion completed. Errors: " error-count.
    
    STOP RUN.
 
CONVERT-CUSTOMER-DATA.
    * Convert customer ID (alphanumeric to numeric)
    IF raw-customer-id IS NUMERIC
        MOVE raw-customer-id TO customer-id
    ELSE
        ADD 1 TO error-count
        MOVE "Invalid customer ID format" TO error-message
        PERFORM log-conversion-error
    END-IF.
    
    * Convert customer name (trim and validate)
    MOVE raw-customer-name TO customer-name.
    INSPECT customer-name REMOVAL LEADING SPACES.
    INSPECT customer-name REMOVAL TRAILING SPACES.
    
    * Convert customer age (alphanumeric to numeric)
    IF raw-customer-age IS NUMERIC
        MOVE raw-customer-age TO customer-age
        IF customer-age < 0 OR customer-age > 150
            ADD 1 TO error-count
            MOVE "Invalid age value" TO error-message
            PERFORM log-conversion-error
        END-IF
    ELSE
        ADD 1 TO error-count
        MOVE "Invalid age format" TO error-message
        PERFORM log-conversion-error
    END-IF.
    
    * Convert customer salary (currency to numeric)
    PERFORM convert-salary.
    
    * Write converted data if no errors
    IF error-count = 0
        WRITE converted-record FROM converted-data
    END-IF.
 
CONVERT-SALARY.
    * Convert salary from currency format to numeric
    MOVE raw-customer-salary TO temp-salary.
    
    * Remove currency symbols and formatting
    INSPECT temp-salary REPLACING ALL "$" BY SPACE.
    INSPECT temp-salary REPLACING ALL "," BY SPACE.
    INSPECT temp-salary REMOVAL ALL SPACES.
    
    * Validate and convert
    IF temp-salary IS NUMERIC
        MOVE temp-salary TO customer-salary
        IF customer-salary <= 0
            ADD 1 TO error-count
            MOVE "Invalid salary value" TO error-message
            PERFORM log-conversion-error
        END-IF
    ELSE
        ADD 1 TO error-count
        MOVE "Invalid salary format" TO error-message
        PERFORM log-conversion-error
    END-IF.
 
LOG-CONVERSION-ERROR.
    * Log conversion errors
    DISPLAY "Conversion error: " error-message.
    DISPLAY "Customer ID: " raw-customer-id.
    * Additional error logging logic here.

Data import and conversion system for processing external data.

Report Format Conversion

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* Report format conversion system
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
CONVERT-REPORT-FORMAT.
    * Convert report data for different output formats
    PERFORM convert-for-csv-format.
    PERFORM convert-for-xml-format.
    PERFORM convert-for-json-format.
    
    STOP RUN.
 
CONVERT-FOR-CSV-FORMAT.
    * Convert data for CSV output
    01  csv-record PIC X(200).
    01  csv-separator PIC X VALUE ",".
    
    * Build CSV record
    MOVE customer-id TO csv-record(1:10).
    MOVE csv-separator TO csv-record(11:1).
    MOVE customer-name TO csv-record(12:50).
    MOVE csv-separator TO csv-record(62:1).
    MOVE customer-age TO csv-record(63:3).
    MOVE csv-separator TO csv-record(66:1).
    MOVE customer-salary TO csv-record(67:10).
    
    * Write CSV record
    WRITE csv-record TO csv-file.
    DISPLAY "CSV record written: " csv-record.
 
CONVERT-FOR-XML-FORMAT.
    * Convert data for XML output
    01  xml-record PIC X(500).
    
    * Build XML record
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(1:10).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(11:4).
    MOVE customer-id TO xml-record(15:10).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(25:5).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(30:6).
    MOVE customer-name TO xml-record(36:50).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(86:7).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(93:5).
    MOVE customer-age TO xml-record(98:3).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(101:6).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(107:8).
    MOVE customer-salary TO xml-record(115:10).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(125:9).
    MOVE "" TO xml-record(134:11).
    
    * Write XML record
    WRITE xml-record TO xml-file.
    DISPLAY "XML record written: " xml-record.
 
CONVERT-FOR-JSON-FORMAT.
    * Convert data for JSON output
    01  json-record PIC X(300).
    
    * Build JSON record
    MOVE '{"customer_id":"' TO json-record(1:15).
    MOVE customer-id TO json-record(16:10).
    MOVE '","name":"' TO json-record(26:9).
    MOVE customer-name TO json-record(35:50).
    MOVE '","age":' TO json-record(85:7).
    MOVE customer-age TO json-record(92:3).
    MOVE ',"salary":' TO json-record(95:9).
    MOVE customer-salary TO json-record(104:10).
    MOVE '}' TO json-record(114:1).
    
    * Write JSON record
    WRITE json-record TO json-file.
    DISPLAY "JSON record written: " json-record.

Report format conversion for different output formats (CSV, XML, JSON).

Best Practices

Always validate data before and after conversion.
Handle conversion errors gracefully with appropriate error messages.
Use appropriate data types for the target format.
Consider performance implications of conversion operations.
Document conversion rules and requirements clearly.
Test conversion logic with various data scenarios.

Common Pitfalls

Not validating data before conversion, leading to errors.
Losing data precision during numeric conversions.
Not handling conversion errors appropriately.
Using inappropriate data types for conversion targets.
Not considering performance impact of complex conversions.

Test Your Knowledge

1. What is CONVERSION in COBOL?

A data type
A process of transforming data from one format to another
A file operation
A program structure

2. What types of conversions can be performed in COBOL?

Only numeric conversions
Only string conversions
Numeric, string, and data type conversions
Only file conversions

3. What is the primary purpose of CONVERSION in COBOL?

To improve performance
To transform data for compatibility and processing
To reduce memory usage
To simplify syntax

4. How is CONVERSION typically performed in COBOL?

Using CONVERT statements
Using MOVE statements and functions
Using file operations
Using arithmetic operations

5. What is a common use of CONVERSION in COBOL?

File operations
Data type compatibility and format standardization
Arithmetic calculations
Program flow control

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

Data Types

Understanding COBOL data types.

MOVE Statement

Using MOVE for data assignment and conversion.

INSPECT Statement

String manipulation and conversion.

Data Validation

Validating data during conversion.

Data Processing

Processing and transforming data.

CONSOLE DATA-POINTER

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL CONVERSION - Quick Reference

Overview

Purpose and Usage

Syntax

Basic Conversion Syntax

Advanced Conversion Examples

Practical Examples

Data Import and Conversion

Report Format Conversion

Best Practices

Common Pitfalls

Test Your Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CONVERSION in COBOL?

When should I use CONVERSION in COBOL?

What types of conversions are commonly performed in COBOL?

How do you perform conversions in COBOL?

What are the benefits of using CONVERSION in COBOL?

Related Concepts

Data Types

MOVE Statement

INSPECT Statement

Data Validation

Data Processing

Related Pages