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COBOL Tutorial

COBOL INDICATE Statement

The INDICATE statement represents a specialized report control mechanism within COBOL Report Writer environments, providing advanced formatting capabilities that enable precise line positioning, dynamic page management, and sophisticated control group generation. This statement embodies the principles of structured report formatting by supporting programmatic control over report sections, automatic line advancement, and conditional formatting while maintaining consistent output presentation, ensuring professional report quality, and facilitating complex business reporting requirements across enterprise applications demanding precise document formatting, multi-level control breaks, and comprehensive reporting solutions with optimal readability and structured data presentation.

INDICATE Statement Syntax

Basic INDICATE Usage
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*> Basic INDICATE syntax
INDICATE data-name-1 [, data-name-2, ...]
 
*> Report Writer context
REPORT SECTION.
RD SALES-REPORT
   CONTROLS ARE FINAL, REGION, SALESPERSON
   PAGE LIMIT IS 60 LINES
   HEADING 1
   FIRST DETAIL 10
   LAST DETAIL 50
   FOOTING 55.
 
01 PAGE-HEADER TYPE IS PAGE HEADING.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS 1.
      10 COLUMN 30 PIC X(20) VALUE "SALES SUMMARY REPORT".
 
01 REGION-HEADER TYPE IS CONTROL HEADING REGION.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 2.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(8) VALUE "REGION: ".
      10 COLUMN 10 PIC X(20) SOURCE REGION.
 
01 DETAIL-LINE TYPE IS DETAIL.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 5 PIC X(15) SOURCE SALESPERSON.
      10 COLUMN 25 PIC 9(6).99 SOURCE SALES-AMOUNT.
 
*> Using INDICATE to force control groups
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-PROCESSING.
   INITIATE SALES-REPORT
   
   *> Force region header generation
   INDICATE REGION
   
   *> Process normal detail records
   PERFORM READ-SALES-DATA
   PERFORM UNTIL EOF-FLAG = 'Y'
       GENERATE DETAIL-LINE
       PERFORM READ-SALES-DATA
   END-PERFORM
   
   *> Force final totals
   INDICATE FINAL
   
   TERMINATE SALES-REPORT.
Report Control
Line Positioning
Formatting

Comprehensive INDICATE Examples

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. INDICATE-REPORT-DEMO.
 
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
    SELECT SALES-FILE ASSIGN TO "SALES.DAT"
           ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL.
    
    SELECT REPORT-FILE ASSIGN TO "REPORT.TXT"
           ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL.
 
DATA DIVISION.
FILE SECTION.
FD SALES-FILE.
01 SALES-RECORD.
   05 SR-REGION        PIC X(10).
   05 SR-DISTRICT      PIC X(8).
   05 SR-SALESPERSON   PIC X(20).
   05 SR-PRODUCT       PIC X(15).
   05 SR-SALES-AMOUNT  PIC 9(8)V99.
   05 SR-COMMISSION    PIC 9(6)V99.
   05 SR-SALE-DATE     PIC 9(8).
 
FD REPORT-FILE.
01 REPORT-RECORD      PIC X(132).
 
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-FLAGS.
   05 WS-EOF-FLAG      PIC X VALUE 'N'.
      88 EOF-SALES     VALUE 'Y'.
   05 WS-FIRST-RECORD  PIC X VALUE 'Y'.
      88 FIRST-TIME    VALUE 'Y'.
 
01 WS-CONTROL-FIELDS.
   05 WS-PREV-REGION   PIC X(10).
   05 WS-PREV-DISTRICT PIC X(8).
   05 WS-CURRENT-DATE  PIC 9(8).
 
01 WS-TOTALS.
   05 WS-DISTRICT-TOTAL    PIC 9(10)V99 VALUE 0.
   05 WS-REGION-TOTAL      PIC 9(12)V99 VALUE 0.
   05 WS-GRAND-TOTAL       PIC 9(14)V99 VALUE 0.
   05 WS-RECORD-COUNT      PIC 9(6) VALUE 0.
 
REPORT SECTION.
RD SALES-SUMMARY-REPORT
   CONTROLS ARE FINAL, SR-REGION, SR-DISTRICT
   PAGE LIMIT IS 60 LINES
   HEADING 1
   FIRST DETAIL 12
   LAST DETAIL 50
   FOOTING 55.
 
*> Report page header
01 REPORT-HEADER TYPE IS REPORT HEADING.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "*".
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 50 PIC X(32) VALUE "COMPREHENSIVE SALES ANALYSIS".
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "*".
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 2.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(13) VALUE "REPORT DATE: ".
      10 COLUMN 15 PIC 99/99/9999 SOURCE WS-CURRENT-DATE.
 
*> Page header (appears on each page)
01 PAGE-HEADER TYPE IS PAGE HEADING.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS 5.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(8) VALUE "REGION".
      10 COLUMN 15 PIC X(8) VALUE "DISTRICT".
      10 COLUMN 30 PIC X(12) VALUE "SALESPERSON".
      10 COLUMN 50 PIC X(7) VALUE "PRODUCT".
      10 COLUMN 65 PIC X(12) VALUE "SALES AMOUNT".
      10 COLUMN 85 PIC X(10) VALUE "COMMISSION".
      10 COLUMN 105 PIC X(9) VALUE "SALE DATE".
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "-".
 
*> Region control header
01 REGION-HEADER TYPE IS CONTROL HEADING SR-REGION.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 2.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(15) VALUE "REGION SUMMARY:".
      10 COLUMN 17 PIC X(10) SOURCE SR-REGION.
      10 COLUMN 35 PIC X(30) VALUE ALL "=".
 
*> District control header  
01 DISTRICT-HEADER TYPE IS CONTROL HEADING SR-DISTRICT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 5 PIC X(18) VALUE "DISTRICT BREAKDOWN:".
      10 COLUMN 24 PIC X(8) SOURCE SR-DISTRICT.
 
*> Detail line
01 SALES-DETAIL TYPE IS DETAIL.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(10) SOURCE SR-REGION.
      10 COLUMN 15 PIC X(8) SOURCE SR-DISTRICT.
      10 COLUMN 30 PIC X(20) SOURCE SR-SALESPERSON.
      10 COLUMN 50 PIC X(15) SOURCE SR-PRODUCT.
      10 COLUMN 65 PIC ZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99 SOURCE SR-SALES-AMOUNT.
      10 COLUMN 85 PIC Z,ZZZ,ZZ9.99 SOURCE SR-COMMISSION.
      10 COLUMN 105 PIC 99/99/9999 SOURCE SR-SALE-DATE.
 
*> District control footer
01 DISTRICT-FOOTER TYPE IS CONTROL FOOTING SR-DISTRICT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 5 PIC X(20) VALUE "DISTRICT TOTAL:".
      10 COLUMN 65 PIC ZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99 SUM SR-SALES-AMOUNT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 5 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "-".
 
*> Region control footer
01 REGION-FOOTER TYPE IS CONTROL FOOTING SR-REGION.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(15) VALUE "REGION TOTAL:".
      10 COLUMN 65 PIC ZZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99 SUM SR-SALES-AMOUNT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 2.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(60) VALUE ALL "=".
 
*> Final report footer
01 FINAL-FOOTER TYPE IS CONTROL FOOTING FINAL.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 3.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "*".
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(15) VALUE "GRAND TOTAL:".
      10 COLUMN 65 PIC Z,ZZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99 SUM SR-SALES-AMOUNT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(15) VALUE "TOTAL RECORDS:".
      10 COLUMN 20 PIC ZZ,ZZ9 COUNT SR-SALES-AMOUNT.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS PLUS 1.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(132) VALUE ALL "*".
 
*> Page footer
01 PAGE-FOOTER TYPE IS PAGE FOOTING.
   05 LINE NUMBER IS 58.
      10 COLUMN 60 PIC X(5) VALUE "PAGE ".
      10 COLUMN 66 PIC ZZ9 SOURCE PAGE-COUNTER.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-PROCESSING.
    PERFORM INITIALIZE-PROCESSING
    PERFORM PROCESS-SALES-DATA
    PERFORM FINALIZE-PROCESSING
    STOP RUN.
 
INITIALIZE-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY "=== INDICATE STATEMENT DEMONSTRATION ==="
    
    OPEN INPUT SALES-FILE
    OPEN OUTPUT REPORT-FILE
    
    *> Get current date
    ACCEPT WS-CURRENT-DATE FROM DATE YYYYMMDD
    
    *> Initialize report
    INITIATE SALES-SUMMARY-REPORT
    
    *> Force initial page header using INDICATE
    DISPLAY "Forcing initial report header generation..."
    INDICATE FINAL
    
    DISPLAY "Report initialized successfully"
    DISPLAY SPACES.
 
PROCESS-SALES-DATA.
    DISPLAY "=== PROCESSING SALES DATA WITH INDICATE ==="
    
    PERFORM READ-SALES-RECORD
    
    PERFORM UNTIL EOF-SALES
        ADD 1 TO WS-RECORD-COUNT
        
        *> Check for control breaks and use INDICATE
        IF FIRST-TIME
           MOVE SR-REGION TO WS-PREV-REGION
           MOVE SR-DISTRICT TO WS-PREV-DISTRICT
           SET FIRST-TIME TO FALSE
           
           *> Force initial region header
           DISPLAY "Forcing region header for: " SR-REGION
           INDICATE SR-REGION
           
           *> Force initial district header
           DISPLAY "Forcing district header for: " SR-DISTRICT
           INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
        ELSE
           *> Check for region change
           IF SR-REGION NOT = WS-PREV-REGION
              DISPLAY "Region change detected: " WS-PREV-REGION 
                      " -> " SR-REGION
              
              *> Force region footer for previous region
              MOVE WS-PREV-REGION TO SR-REGION
              INDICATE SR-REGION
              
              *> Reset to current region and force header
              MOVE SALES-RECORD TO SALES-RECORD
              INDICATE SR-REGION
              
              MOVE SR-REGION TO WS-PREV-REGION
              MOVE SR-DISTRICT TO WS-PREV-DISTRICT
           ELSE
              *> Check for district change within same region
              IF SR-DISTRICT NOT = WS-PREV-DISTRICT
                 DISPLAY "District change detected: " WS-PREV-DISTRICT 
                         " -> " SR-DISTRICT
                 
                 *> Force district footer for previous district
                 MOVE WS-PREV-DISTRICT TO SR-DISTRICT
                 INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
                 
                 *> Reset to current district and force header
                 MOVE SALES-RECORD TO SALES-RECORD
                 INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
                 
                 MOVE SR-DISTRICT TO WS-PREV-DISTRICT
              END-IF
           END-IF
        END-IF
        
        *> Generate detail line
        GENERATE SALES-DETAIL
        
        *> Update totals manually (for demonstration)
        ADD SR-SALES-AMOUNT TO WS-DISTRICT-TOTAL
        ADD SR-SALES-AMOUNT TO WS-REGION-TOTAL
        ADD SR-SALES-AMOUNT TO WS-GRAND-TOTAL
        
        PERFORM READ-SALES-RECORD
    END-PERFORM
    
    DISPLAY "Processed " WS-RECORD-COUNT " sales records"
    DISPLAY "Grand total: $" WS-GRAND-TOTAL
    DISPLAY SPACES.
 
READ-SALES-RECORD.
    READ SALES-FILE
        AT END
            SET EOF-SALES TO TRUE
    END-READ.
 
FINALIZE-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY "=== FINALIZING REPORT WITH INDICATE ==="
    
    *> Force final control group generation
    DISPLAY "Forcing final totals generation..."
    INDICATE FINAL
    
    *> Terminate report
    TERMINATE SALES-SUMMARY-REPORT
    
    CLOSE SALES-FILE
    CLOSE REPORT-FILE
    
    DISPLAY "Report generation completed"
    DISPLAY "Output written to REPORT.TXT"
    DISPLAY SPACES.
 
*> Advanced INDICATE usage examples
ADVANCED-INDICATE-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY "=== ADVANCED INDICATE TECHNIQUES ==="
    
    *> Conditional INDICATE based on business rules
    IF WS-RECORD-COUNT > 1000
       DISPLAY "Large dataset - forcing page break"
       INDICATE SR-REGION
    END-IF
    
    *> Multiple INDICATE statements for complex formatting
    IF SR-SALES-AMOUNT > 100000
       DISPLAY "High-value sale - forcing special formatting"
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
       GENERATE SALES-DETAIL
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
    END-IF.
 
DEMONSTRATE-INDICATE-SCENARIOS.
    DISPLAY "=== INDICATE USAGE SCENARIOS ==="
    
    *> Scenario 1: Force section breaks for readability
    DISPLAY "Scenario 1: Forcing section breaks"
    INDICATE SR-REGION
    
    *> Scenario 2: Generate summary at specific intervals
    IF FUNCTION MOD(WS-RECORD-COUNT, 100) = 0
       DISPLAY "Every 100 records - generating interim summary"
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
    END-IF
    
    *> Scenario 3: Handle special formatting requirements
    IF SR-PRODUCT = "PREMIUM-PRODUCT"
       DISPLAY "Premium product - special formatting"
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
       GENERATE SALES-DETAIL
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
    END-IF
    
    *> Scenario 4: Error condition handling
    IF SR-SALES-AMOUNT = 0
       DISPLAY "Zero sales amount - forcing attention marker"
       INDICATE SR-DISTRICT
    END-IF.
 
MONTHLY-REPORT-PROCESSING.
    *> Example of INDICATE in monthly reporting
    DISPLAY "=== MONTHLY REPORT PROCESSING ==="
    
    *> Process monthly data with forced breaks
    PERFORM VARYING WS-MONTH FROM 1 BY 1 UNTIL WS-MONTH > 12
        DISPLAY "Processing month " WS-MONTH
        
        *> Force month header
        INDICATE MONTH-CONTROL
        
        *> Process month's data
        PERFORM PROCESS-MONTHLY-SALES
        
        *> Force month footer
        INDICATE MONTH-CONTROL
        
        *> Force quarterly breaks
        IF FUNCTION MOD(WS-MONTH, 3) = 0
           DISPLAY "End of quarter - forcing quarterly summary"
           INDICATE QUARTER-CONTROL
        END-IF
    END-PERFORM.
 
CUSTOM-FORMATTING-CONTROL.
    *> Custom formatting using INDICATE
    DISPLAY "=== CUSTOM FORMATTING CONTROL ==="
    
    *> Dynamic header generation
    IF WS-RECORD-COUNT = 1
       INDICATE SPECIAL-HEADER
    END-IF
    
    *> Conditional footer generation
    IF END-OF-BATCH
       INDICATE BATCH-FOOTER
    END-IF
    
    *> Page break control
    IF LINES-REMAINING < 5
       INDICATE PAGE-BREAK
    END-IF.
 
ERROR-HANDLING-WITH-INDICATE.
    *> Error handling using INDICATE
    DISPLAY "=== ERROR HANDLING WITH INDICATE ==="
    
    IF INVALID-RECORD
       DISPLAY "Invalid record detected - forcing error section"
       INDICATE ERROR-HEADER
       GENERATE ERROR-DETAIL
       INDICATE ERROR-FOOTER
    END-IF
    
    IF CONTROL-TOTAL-MISMATCH
       DISPLAY "Control total mismatch - forcing reconciliation"
       INDICATE RECONCILIATION-SECTION
    END-IF.

INDICATE Use Cases

Control Break Processing
  • • Force control group generation
  • • Handle data sequence changes
  • • Generate intermediate summaries
  • • Create section breaks
Report Formatting
  • • Force page breaks
  • • Generate headers/footers
  • • Control line spacing
  • • Special formatting sections

Interactive Tutorial

Hands-On Exercise: Report Control
Practice using INDICATE for report formatting and control breaks

Exercise 1: Basic Control Breaks

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RD EMPLOYEE-REPORT
   CONTROLS ARE FINAL, DEPARTMENT
   PAGE LIMIT IS 55 LINES.
 
01 DEPT-HEADER TYPE IS CONTROL HEADING DEPARTMENT.
   05 LINE PLUS 2.
      10 COLUMN 1 PIC X(12) VALUE "DEPARTMENT: ".
      10 COLUMN 15 PIC X(15) SOURCE DEPARTMENT.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   INITIATE EMPLOYEE-REPORT
   
   *> Force department header
   INDICATE DEPARTMENT
   
   *> Process employee records...
   
   TERMINATE EMPLOYEE-REPORT.

Exercise 2: Conditional Formatting

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*> Force special sections based on conditions
IF SALES-AMOUNT > 50000
   INDICATE HIGH-VALUE-SALES
   GENERATE SPECIAL-DETAIL
   INDICATE HIGH-VALUE-SALES
END-IF
 
*> Force page breaks at logical points
IF CUSTOMER-TYPE-CHANGE
   INDICATE CUSTOMER-TYPE
END-IF.

Best Practices

Knowledge Check

Test Your Understanding

Question 1: Purpose

What is the main purpose of the INDICATE statement?

Answer: INDICATE forces the generation of control groups in Report Writer, allowing programmatic control over when headers, footers, and control breaks are generated outside of normal data-driven processing.

Question 2: Usage

When would you use INDICATE in a report?

Answer: Use INDICATE when you need to force control breaks, generate summary sections at specific points, create page breaks, or handle special formatting requirements that don't follow normal data sequence.

Related Concepts

Report Writer

COBOL reporting facility for formatted output

Control Groups

Report sections and control break processing

Page Control

Page formatting and line management