COBOL Tutorial

COBOL FORMAT Clause - Quick Reference

Progress0 of 0 lessons

Overview

The FORMAT clause is used to specify formatting rules for data display and output operations in COBOL. This clause controls how data is presented, including field alignment, padding, width, and other display characteristics to ensure consistent and professional-looking output.

Purpose and Usage

Data presentation - Control how data is displayed
Field alignment - Specify left, right, or center alignment
Padding control - Define padding characters and behavior
Width specification - Control field display width
Consistent formatting - Ensure uniform data presentation

Formatting Concept

Format Flow: [Raw Data] → [FORMAT Rules] → [Formatted Output] → [Display]

Format Types: [Alignment] [Padding] [Width] [Decimal] [Currency] [Date]

Display Control: [Field Width] [Alignment] [Padding] [Spacing] [Symbols]

FORMAT provides controlled and consistent data presentation

FORMAT enables professional and consistent data presentation in COBOL programs.

Syntax

The FORMAT clause follows specific syntax patterns and is used within data description entries and display operations.

Basic Syntax

cobol

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
* Basic FORMAT clause syntax
01 data-item PIC X(20) FORMAT IS format-specification.
 
* Examples
01 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
01 ACCOUNT-BALANCE PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED".
01 REPORT-DATE PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
01 CURRENCY-AMOUNT PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
 
* Complete example with multiple formats
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 REPORT-HEADER.
    05 COMPANY-NAME PIC X(40) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
    05 REPORT-TITLE PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
    05 REPORT-DATE PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED".
 
01 CUSTOMER-DATA.
    05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(5) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 ACCOUNT-BALANCE PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
    05 LAST-TRANSACTION PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".

FORMAT is used in data description entries to specify display formatting.

Format Types

Format Type	Description	Use Case
LEFT-JUSTIFIED	Align data to the left	Text fields and labels
RIGHT-JUSTIFIED	Align data to the right	Numeric fields and amounts
CENTERED	Center data in field	Headers and titles
CURRENCY	Format as currency	Monetary amounts
DATE	Format as date	Date fields

Usage in Display Operations

cobol

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
* Using FORMAT in display operations
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    * Display formatted data
    DISPLAY "Customer Report" FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    DISPLAY "=================" FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    
    * Display customer information with formatting
    DISPLAY "ID: " CUSTOMER-ID FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Name: " CUSTOMER-NAME FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Balance: " ACCOUNT-BALANCE FORMAT IS "CURRENCY"
    DISPLAY "Date: " LAST-TRANSACTION FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    
    * Display formatted report line
    DISPLAY CUSTOMER-ID " " CUSTOMER-NAME " " 
            ACCOUNT-BALANCE " " LAST-TRANSACTION
        FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED, LEFT-JUSTIFIED, CURRENCY, CENTERED"
    
    * Display with custom formatting
    DISPLAY "Total: " TOTAL-AMOUNT FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED, CURRENCY"

FORMAT is used in DISPLAY statements to control output formatting.

Common Use Cases

FORMAT is commonly used in specific scenarios where controlled data presentation is needed.

Report Generation

cobol

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
* Report generation with FORMAT
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 REPORT-HEADER.
    05 COMPANY-NAME PIC X(40) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
    05 REPORT-TITLE PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
    05 REPORT-DATE PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED".
 
01 REPORT-LINE.
    05 PRODUCT-ID PIC 9(5) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 PRODUCT-NAME PIC X(20) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 QUANTITY PIC 9(4) FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 UNIT-PRICE PIC 9(6)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
    05 TOTAL-PRICE PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    * Display report header
    DISPLAY COMPANY-NAME FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    DISPLAY REPORT-TITLE FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    DISPLAY "Date: " REPORT-DATE FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "=========================================="
    
    * Display column headers
    DISPLAY "ID    Product Name         Qty    Unit Price    Total"
    DISPLAY "----  --------------------  ----   -----------   --------"
    
    * Display report data
    PERFORM DISPLAY-REPORT-LINE
        UNTIL END-OF-FILE = 'Y'
    
    * Display totals
    DISPLAY "=========================================="
    DISPLAY "Total: " GRAND-TOTAL FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED, CURRENCY"
    
    STOP RUN.
 
DISPLAY-REPORT-LINE.
    DISPLAY PRODUCT-ID "  " PRODUCT-NAME "  " 
            QUANTITY "  " UNIT-PRICE "  " TOTAL-PRICE
        FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED, LEFT-JUSTIFIED, RIGHT-JUSTIFIED, CURRENCY, CURRENCY"
    READ PRODUCT-FILE
        AT END MOVE 'Y' TO END-OF-FILE
    END-READ.

Use FORMAT for professional report generation with consistent formatting.

Data Display and Output

cobol

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
* Data display with FORMAT
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 CUSTOMER-DISPLAY.
    05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(5) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 ACCOUNT-BALANCE PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
    05 LAST-TRANSACTION PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
 
01 TRANSACTION-DISPLAY.
    05 TRANSACTION-ID PIC 9(6) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 TRANSACTION-DATE PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "CENTERED".
    05 TRANSACTION-AMOUNT PIC 9(8)V99 FORMAT IS "CURRENCY".
    05 TRANSACTION-TYPE PIC X(10) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    * Display customer information
    DISPLAY "Customer Information"
    DISPLAY "==================="
    DISPLAY "ID: " CUSTOMER-ID FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Name: " CUSTOMER-NAME FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Balance: " ACCOUNT-BALANCE FORMAT IS "CURRENCY"
    DISPLAY "Last Transaction: " LAST-TRANSACTION FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    
    * Display transaction history
    DISPLAY "Transaction History"
    DISPLAY "==================="
    PERFORM DISPLAY-TRANSACTION
        UNTIL END-OF-TRANSACTIONS = 'Y'
    
    STOP RUN.
 
DISPLAY-TRANSACTION.
    DISPLAY TRANSACTION-ID " " TRANSACTION-DATE " " 
            TRANSACTION-AMOUNT " " TRANSACTION-TYPE
        FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED, CENTERED, CURRENCY, LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    READ TRANSACTION-FILE
        AT END MOVE 'Y' TO END-OF-TRANSACTIONS
    END-READ.

Use FORMAT for consistent data display and user-friendly output.

Formatted Input/Output

cobol

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
* Formatted input/output with FORMAT
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 INPUT-FORMAT.
    05 INPUT-PROMPT PIC X(20) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 INPUT-FIELD PIC X(30) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
 
01 OUTPUT-FORMAT.
    05 OUTPUT-LABEL PIC X(15) FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED".
    05 OUTPUT-VALUE PIC X(20) FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED".
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    * Display formatted prompts
    DISPLAY "Enter customer name: " FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    ACCEPT CUSTOMER-NAME
    
    DISPLAY "Enter account number: " FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    ACCEPT ACCOUNT-NUMBER
    
    * Display formatted results
    DISPLAY "Customer: " CUSTOMER-NAME FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Account: " ACCOUNT-NUMBER FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "Balance: " ACCOUNT-BALANCE FORMAT IS "CURRENCY"
    
    * Display formatted menu
    DISPLAY "Select option:" FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
    DISPLAY "1. View Balance" FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "2. Make Deposit" FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "3. Make Withdrawal" FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    DISPLAY "4. Exit" FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
    
    STOP RUN.

Use FORMAT for professional input/output interfaces.

Best Practices and Tips

Following these best practices ensures effective use of the FORMAT clause for proper data presentation.

FORMAT Design Principles

Consistent formatting - Use consistent formatting throughout your application
Appropriate alignment - Use left alignment for text, right for numbers
Clear visual hierarchy - Use formatting to create visual structure
User-friendly presentation - Make output easy to read and understand
Professional appearance - Ensure output looks professional
Performance consideration - Consider performance impact of complex formatting

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Pitfall	Problem	Solution
Inconsistent formatting	Confusing and unprofessional output	Use consistent formatting patterns
Over-formatting	Cluttered and hard to read output	Keep formatting simple and clean
Inappropriate alignment	Poor readability and visual appeal	Use appropriate alignment for data types
Ignoring field width	Data overflow and display issues	Consider field width in formatting
Performance neglect	Slow output with complex formatting	Balance formatting with performance

Performance Considerations

Formatting overhead - Formatting operations add processing time
Complex format specifications - Complex formats increase overhead
Large data volumes - Formatting large amounts of data can be slow
Display frequency - Frequent formatting operations impact performance
Memory usage - Formatting may require additional memory
Compiler optimization - Some compilers optimize formatting operations

When to Use FORMAT

Use Case	FORMAT Suitability	Reasoning
Report generation	Excellent	Perfect for professional report formatting
Data display	Excellent	Ideal for user-friendly data presentation
User interfaces	Good	Good for formatted user interfaces
Performance-critical output	Poor	Formatting overhead may be too high
Simple data output	Poor	Overkill for simple output needs

FORMAT Clause Quick Reference

Usage	Syntax	Example
Basic format	FORMAT IS format-type	FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
Left alignment	FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"	FORMAT IS "LEFT-JUSTIFIED"
Right alignment	FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED"	FORMAT IS "RIGHT-JUSTIFIED"
Center alignment	FORMAT IS "CENTERED"	FORMAT IS "CENTERED"
Currency format	FORMAT IS "CURRENCY"	FORMAT IS "CURRENCY"

Test Your Knowledge

1. What is the primary purpose of the FORMAT clause in COBOL?

To define data types
To specify formatting rules for data display and output
To control file operations
To perform calculations

2. Where is the FORMAT clause typically used?

In DATA DIVISION
In data description entries and display operations
In PROCEDURE DIVISION
In ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

3. What is the main benefit of using FORMAT?

Faster execution
Controlled data presentation and consistent output formatting
Memory optimization
Simpler syntax

4. When is the FORMAT clause most useful?

In programs without output
In programs requiring formatted data display and reports
Only during compilation
Only during program termination

5. How does FORMAT relate to data display?

They are completely independent
FORMAT controls how data is presented and displayed to users
FORMAT overrides display features
They serve the same purpose

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

PICTURE Clause

Understanding the PICTURE clause for data definition.

DISPLAY Statement

Understanding the DISPLAY statement for output.

Data Description Entries

Complete guide to data definition in COBOL.

Report Writing

Understanding report writing in COBOL.

Data Formatting

Understanding data formatting techniques.

FILE-ID Clause FREE Clause

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL FORMAT Clause - Quick Reference

Overview

Purpose and Usage

Formatting Concept

Syntax

Basic Syntax

Format Types

Usage in Display Operations

Common Use Cases

Report Generation

Data Display and Output

Formatted Input/Output

Best Practices and Tips

FORMAT Design Principles

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Performance Considerations

When to Use FORMAT

FORMAT Clause Quick Reference

Test Your Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between FORMAT and PICTURE clause?

Can FORMAT be used with all data types?

What types of formatting can be specified with FORMAT?

How do you specify FORMAT in COBOL?

Are there performance implications when using FORMAT?

Related Concepts

PICTURE Clause

DISPLAY Statement

Data Description Entries

Report Writing

Data Formatting

Related Pages