What are QUOTE and QUOTES in COBOL?

QUOTE and QUOTES are figurative constants that represent quotation mark characters ("). They provide a portable way to include quotation marks in string operations and data manipulation without hardcoding the character.

When should I use QUOTE instead of literal quotation marks?

Use QUOTE when you need to include quotation marks within string literals, when building dynamic strings with embedded quotes, or when working with data that contains quotation marks to ensure proper parsing and manipulation.

What's the difference between QUOTE and QUOTES?

QUOTE and QUOTES are synonymous - both represent the same quotation mark character. QUOTES is simply the plural form of QUOTE, but they function identically in COBOL programs.

MainframeMaster

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL QUOTE and QUOTES

COBOL QUOTE and QUOTES represent essential figurative constants and comprehensive quotation mark handling capabilities within string manipulation environments, providing sophisticated literal delimiter mechanisms for advanced text processing, enhanced string construction features for complex data formatting workflows, and intelligent quotation mark management that enables precise string delimiting, optimal text parsing operations, and systematic literal manipulation while maintaining character consistency, ensuring portable string operations, and enabling flexible text processing architectures across business applications requiring exact quotation handling, comprehensive string formatting, and reliable delimiter management throughout sophisticated data processing scenarios and professional text manipulation environments.

Basic QUOTE and QUOTES Usage

Fundamental Quotation Mark Operations

Basic usage patterns for QUOTE and QUOTES figurative constants

cobol

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*> Basic QUOTE and QUOTES usage in COBOL
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. QUOTE-DEMONSTRATION.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-STRING-OPERATIONS.
    05 WS-INPUT-STRING      PIC X(100).
    05 WS-OUTPUT-STRING     PIC X(200).
    05 WS-QUOTED-STRING     PIC X(150).
    05 WS-DELIMITER-STRING  PIC X(50).
 
01  WS-TEXT-FORMATTING.
    05 WS-MESSAGE-TEXT      PIC X(80).
    05 WS-FORMATTED-MSG     PIC X(120).
    05 WS-CSV-FIELD         PIC X(60).
    05 WS-JSON-ELEMENT      PIC X(100).
 
01  WS-PARSING-DATA.
    05 WS-QUOTED-FIELD      PIC X(50).
    05 WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD    PIC X(40).
    05 WS-FIELD-LENGTH      PIC 9(3).
    05 WS-QUOTE-COUNT       PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-QUOTE-DEMO.
    DISPLAY "=== COBOL QUOTE AND QUOTES DEMONSTRATION ==="
    
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-BASIC-QUOTE-USAGE
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-STRING-FORMATTING
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-CSV-PROCESSING
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-JSON-CONSTRUCTION
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-QUOTE-PARSING
    
    DISPLAY "=== QUOTE DEMO COMPLETE ==="
    STOP RUN.
 
DEMONSTRATE-BASIC-QUOTE-USAGE.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "📝 BASIC QUOTE USAGE"
    DISPLAY "===================="
    
    *> Using QUOTE to include quotation marks in strings
    STRING "The message " QUOTE "Hello World" QUOTE " was displayed"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Quote in string: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Using QUOTES (plural form - same functionality)
    STRING "SQL query: " QUOTES "SELECT * FROM customers" QUOTES
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Quotes in SQL: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Building quoted expressions
    MOVE "important data" TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    STRING QUOTE WS-INPUT-STRING QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-QUOTED-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Quoted data: " WS-QUOTED-STRING
    
    *> Multiple quote usage
    STRING QUOTE "Name" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "John Smith" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Name-value pair: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING.
 
DEMONSTRATE-STRING-FORMATTING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🎨 STRING FORMATTING WITH QUOTES"
    DISPLAY "================================="
    
    *> Format error messages with quotes
    MOVE "Invalid input value" TO WS-MESSAGE-TEXT
    STRING "Error: " QUOTE WS-MESSAGE-TEXT QUOTE " - Please retry"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-FORMATTED-MSG
    
    DISPLAY "Error message: " WS-FORMATTED-MSG
    
    *> Format configuration strings
    STRING "CONFIG_SETTING=" QUOTE "production" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Config setting: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Format command line arguments
    STRING "program.exe " QUOTE "input file.txt" QUOTE " " 
           QUOTE "output file.txt" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Command line: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Format display messages with embedded quotes
    STRING "User said: " QUOTE "I'll be there at 3 PM" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "User message: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING.
 
DEMONSTRATE-CSV-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "📊 CSV DATA PROCESSING"
    DISPLAY "======================"
    
    *> Create CSV field with embedded commas
    MOVE "Smith, John Jr." TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    STRING QUOTE WS-INPUT-STRING QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CSV-FIELD
    
    DISPLAY "CSV field: " WS-CSV-FIELD
    
    *> Build complete CSV record with quotes
    STRING QUOTE "1001" QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "Smith, John Jr." QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "Manager, Sales" QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "New York, NY" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "CSV record: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Handle fields with quotes inside
    MOVE 'Product "Deluxe" Model' TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    STRING QUOTE WS-INPUT-STRING QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CSV-FIELD
    
    DISPLAY "Complex CSV field: " WS-CSV-FIELD
    
    *> CSV header with quoted column names
    STRING QUOTE "Customer ID" QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "Full Name" QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "Job Title" QUOTE ","
           QUOTE "Location" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "CSV header: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING.
 
DEMONSTRATE-JSON-CONSTRUCTION.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🔧 JSON CONSTRUCTION"
    DISPLAY "===================="
    
    *> Simple JSON property
    STRING QUOTE "name" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "John Smith" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-JSON-ELEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "JSON property: " WS-JSON-ELEMENT
    
    *> JSON object with multiple properties
    STRING "{" 
           QUOTE "id" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "1001" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "name" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "John Smith" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "active" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "true" QUOTE
           "}"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "JSON object: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> JSON array element
    STRING "["
           QUOTE "apple" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "banana" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "cherry" QUOTE
           "]"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "JSON array: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    *> Complex JSON with nested quotes
    STRING "{"
           QUOTE "message" QUOTE ": "
           QUOTE "User said: "Hello World"" QUOTE
           "}"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-OUTPUT-STRING
    
    DISPLAY "Complex JSON: " WS-OUTPUT-STRING.
 
DEMONSTRATE-QUOTE-PARSING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🔍 QUOTE PARSING AND EXTRACTION"
    DISPLAY "==============================="
    
    *> Count quotes in a string
    MOVE '"Hello" and "Goodbye"' TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    PERFORM COUNT-QUOTES-IN-STRING
    DISPLAY "Input string: " WS-INPUT-STRING
    DISPLAY "Quote count: " WS-QUOTE-COUNT
    
    *> Extract quoted content
    MOVE '"Important Message"' TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    PERFORM EXTRACT-QUOTED-CONTENT
    DISPLAY "Original: " WS-INPUT-STRING
    DISPLAY "Extracted: " WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    
    *> Remove surrounding quotes
    MOVE '"Database Connection String"' TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    PERFORM REMOVE-SURROUNDING-QUOTES
    DISPLAY "Before: " WS-INPUT-STRING
    DISPLAY "After: " WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    
    *> Add quotes if missing
    MOVE "Configuration Value" TO WS-INPUT-STRING
    PERFORM ADD-QUOTES-IF-NEEDED
    DISPLAY "Original: Configuration Value"
    DISPLAY "Quoted: " WS-QUOTED-FIELD.
 
COUNT-QUOTES-IN-STRING.
    MOVE 0 TO WS-QUOTE-COUNT
    
    PERFORM VARYING WS-FIELD-LENGTH FROM 1 BY 1
        UNTIL WS-FIELD-LENGTH > FUNCTION LENGTH(WS-INPUT-STRING)
        
        IF WS-INPUT-STRING(WS-FIELD-LENGTH:1) = QUOTE
            ADD 1 TO WS-QUOTE-COUNT
        END-IF
    END-PERFORM.
 
EXTRACT-QUOTED-CONTENT.
    MOVE SPACES TO WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    
    *> Find content between first and last quote
    IF WS-INPUT-STRING(1:1) = QUOTE
        MOVE FUNCTION LENGTH(FUNCTION TRIM(WS-INPUT-STRING)) 
             TO WS-FIELD-LENGTH
        
        IF WS-INPUT-STRING(WS-FIELD-LENGTH:1) = QUOTE
            MOVE WS-INPUT-STRING(2:WS-FIELD-LENGTH - 2) 
                 TO WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
        END-IF
    END-IF.
 
REMOVE-SURROUNDING-QUOTES.
    MOVE SPACES TO WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    MOVE FUNCTION LENGTH(FUNCTION TRIM(WS-INPUT-STRING)) 
         TO WS-FIELD-LENGTH
    
    *> Check if string starts and ends with quotes
    IF WS-INPUT-STRING(1:1) = QUOTE AND
       WS-INPUT-STRING(WS-FIELD-LENGTH:1) = QUOTE
        
        *> Extract content without surrounding quotes
        MOVE WS-INPUT-STRING(2:WS-FIELD-LENGTH - 2) 
             TO WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    ELSE
        *> No surrounding quotes, return as-is
        MOVE WS-INPUT-STRING TO WS-UNQUOTED-FIELD
    END-IF.
 
ADD-QUOTES-IF-NEEDED.
    MOVE FUNCTION LENGTH(FUNCTION TRIM(WS-INPUT-STRING)) 
         TO WS-FIELD-LENGTH
    
    *> Check if already quoted
    IF WS-INPUT-STRING(1:1) = QUOTE AND
       WS-INPUT-STRING(WS-FIELD-LENGTH:1) = QUOTE
        
        *> Already quoted
        MOVE WS-INPUT-STRING TO WS-QUOTED-FIELD
    ELSE
        *> Add quotes
        STRING QUOTE WS-INPUT-STRING QUOTE
               DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-QUOTED-FIELD
    END-IF.

Figurative Constants

String Processing

Text Formatting

Advanced Quote Processing

Complex Text Processing and Data Formatting

Advanced techniques for quote handling in business applications

cobol

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*> Advanced quote processing for business applications
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. ADVANCED-QUOTE-PROCESSOR.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-DOCUMENT-PROCESSING.
    05 WS-XML-ELEMENT       PIC X(200).
    05 WS-HTML-CONTENT      PIC X(300).
    05 WS-SQL-STATEMENT     PIC X(500).
    05 WS-REPORT-LINE       PIC X(132).
 
01  WS-DATA-EXCHANGE.
    05 WS-API-REQUEST       PIC X(400).
    05 WS-API-RESPONSE      PIC X(400).
    05 WS-CONFIG-ENTRY      PIC X(100).
    05 WS-LOG-MESSAGE       PIC X(200).
 
01  WS-QUOTE-UTILITIES.
    05 WS-ESCAPE-SEQUENCE   PIC X(10).
    05 WS-QUOTE-STYLE       PIC X(10).
    05 WS-PROCESSING-MODE   PIC X(15).
    05 WS-VALIDATION-FLAG   PIC X VALUE 'Y'.
 
01  WS-BUSINESS-DATA.
    05 WS-CUSTOMER-RECORD.
       10 WS-CUST-ID        PIC X(8).
       10 WS-CUST-NAME      PIC X(40).
       10 WS-CUST-ADDRESS   PIC X(60).
       10 WS-CUST-NOTES     PIC X(100).
    05 WS-PRODUCT-RECORD.
       10 WS-PROD-ID        PIC X(10).
       10 WS-PROD-NAME      PIC X(50).
       10 WS-PROD-DESC      PIC X(200).
    05 WS-TRANSACTION-RECORD.
       10 WS-TRANS-ID       PIC X(12).
       10 WS-TRANS-DESC     PIC X(80).
       10 WS-TRANS-AMOUNT   PIC S9(7)V99.
 
01  WS-FORMAT-TEMPLATES.
    05 WS-EMAIL-TEMPLATE    PIC X(300).
    05 WS-REPORT-TEMPLATE   PIC X(200).
    05 WS-MESSAGE-TEMPLATE  PIC X(150).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-ADVANCED-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY "=== ADVANCED QUOTE PROCESSING ==="
    
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-XML-PROCESSING
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-SQL-GENERATION
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-API-FORMATTING
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-REPORT-GENERATION
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-CONFIG-PROCESSING
    PERFORM DEMONSTRATE-LOG-FORMATTING
    
    DISPLAY "=== ADVANCED PROCESSING COMPLETE ==="
    STOP RUN.
 
DEMONSTRATE-XML-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🔖 XML DOCUMENT PROCESSING"
    DISPLAY "=========================="
    
    *> Create XML elements with quoted attributes
    MOVE "customer-data" TO WS-CUST-NAME
    MOVE "12345" TO WS-CUST-ID
    
    STRING ""
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "XML element: " WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    *> XML with complex content
    MOVE 'Special "VIP" Customer Package' TO WS-CUST-NOTES
    STRING "" QUOTE WS-CUST-NOTES QUOTE ""
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "XML description: " WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    *> XML namespace with quotes
    STRING ""
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "XML namespace: " WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    *> CDATA section with quotes
    STRING ""
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-XML-ELEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "XML CDATA: " WS-XML-ELEMENT.
 
DEMONSTRATE-SQL-GENERATION.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🗄️ SQL STATEMENT GENERATION"
    DISPLAY "==========================="
    
    *> Simple SELECT with quoted values
    MOVE "Smith" TO WS-CUST-NAME
    STRING "SELECT * FROM customers WHERE last_name = "
           QUOTE WS-CUST-NAME QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "SQL SELECT: " WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    *> INSERT statement with quoted fields
    MOVE "1001" TO WS-CUST-ID
    MOVE "John Smith Jr." TO WS-CUST-NAME
    MOVE "123 Main St, Apt 4B" TO WS-CUST-ADDRESS
    
    STRING "INSERT INTO customers (id, name, address) VALUES ("
           QUOTE WS-CUST-ID QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE WS-CUST-NAME QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE WS-CUST-ADDRESS QUOTE ")"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "SQL INSERT: " WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    *> UPDATE with quoted values and conditions
    STRING "UPDATE products SET description = "
           QUOTE "Premium "Elite" Package" QUOTE
           " WHERE category = " QUOTE "electronics" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "SQL UPDATE: " WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    *> Complex WHERE clause with multiple quotes
    STRING "SELECT * FROM orders WHERE "
           "customer_name = " QUOTE "VIP Customer" QUOTE
           " AND status = " QUOTE "pending" QUOTE
           " AND notes LIKE " QUOTE "%urgent%" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-SQL-STATEMENT
    
    DISPLAY "SQL Complex: " WS-SQL-STATEMENT.
 
DEMONSTRATE-API-FORMATTING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "🌐 API REQUEST/RESPONSE FORMATTING"
    DISPLAY "=================================="
    
    *> REST API JSON request
    MOVE "1001" TO WS-CUST-ID
    MOVE "John Smith" TO WS-CUST-NAME
    STRING "{"
           QUOTE "action" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "create_customer" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "data" QUOTE ": {"
           QUOTE "id" QUOTE ": " QUOTE WS-CUST-ID QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "name" QUOTE ": " QUOTE WS-CUST-NAME QUOTE
           "}}"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-API-REQUEST
    
    DISPLAY "API Request: " WS-API-REQUEST
    
    *> SOAP envelope with quoted attributes
    STRING ""
           ""
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-API-REQUEST
    
    DISPLAY "SOAP Envelope: " WS-API-REQUEST
    
    *> GraphQL query with quotes
    STRING "{"
           QUOTE "query" QUOTE ": "
           QUOTE "{ customer(id: "1001") { name address } }" QUOTE
           "}"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-API-REQUEST
    
    DISPLAY "GraphQL Query: " WS-API-REQUEST
    
    *> API response with error message
    STRING "{"
           QUOTE "status" QUOTE ": " QUOTE "error" QUOTE ", "
           QUOTE "message" QUOTE ": "
           QUOTE "Invalid parameter "customer_id"" QUOTE
           "}"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-API-RESPONSE
    
    DISPLAY "API Response: " WS-API-RESPONSE.
 
DEMONSTRATE-REPORT-GENERATION.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "📊 BUSINESS REPORT GENERATION"
    DISPLAY "============================="
    
    *> Report header with quoted titles
    STRING "CUSTOMER REPORT - " QUOTE "Monthly Summary" QUOTE
           " - Generated: " FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(1:8)
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    DISPLAY "Report Header: " WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    *> Report line with quoted data
    MOVE "1001" TO WS-CUST-ID
    MOVE "Premium Customer" TO WS-CUST-NAME
    STRING WS-CUST-ID " | "
           QUOTE WS-CUST-NAME QUOTE " | "
           "Active Since: " QUOTE "2020-01-15" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    DISPLAY "Report Line: " WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    *> Financial report with currency quotes
    MOVE 125000.75 TO WS-TRANS-AMOUNT
    STRING "Total Revenue: " QUOTE "$" WS-TRANS-AMOUNT QUOTE
           " (as of " QUOTE FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(1:8) QUOTE ")"
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    DISPLAY "Financial Line: " WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    *> Exception report with quoted messages
    STRING "EXCEPTION: Customer "
           QUOTE "VIP-001" QUOTE
           " has invalid status: "
           QUOTE "pending_review" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-REPORT-LINE
    
    DISPLAY "Exception Line: " WS-REPORT-LINE.
 
DEMONSTRATE-CONFIG-PROCESSING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "⚙️ CONFIGURATION FILE PROCESSING"
    DISPLAY "================================="
    
    *> Configuration key-value pairs
    STRING "database.connection.string="
           QUOTE "server=localhost;database=prod;user=app" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    DISPLAY "Config DB: " WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    *> Application settings with quotes
    STRING "app.title=" QUOTE "Customer Management System v2.1" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    DISPLAY "Config Title: " WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    *> File path configuration
    STRING "file.backup.path="
           QUOTE "C:Program FilesAppBackups" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    DISPLAY "Config Path: " WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    *> Email template configuration
    STRING "email.template.welcome="
           QUOTE "Welcome to our "Premium" service!" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-CONFIG-ENTRY
    
    DISPLAY "Config Email: " WS-CONFIG-ENTRY.
 
DEMONSTRATE-LOG-FORMATTING.
    DISPLAY " "
    DISPLAY "📝 APPLICATION LOG FORMATTING"
    DISPLAY "============================="
    
    *> Error log with quoted context
    STRING FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(9:6) " ERROR: "
           "Failed to process customer "
           QUOTE "CUST-001" QUOTE
           " - Reason: " QUOTE "Invalid data format" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    DISPLAY "Error Log: " WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    *> Info log with quoted parameters
    STRING FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(9:6) " INFO: "
           "Processing file " QUOTE "customers.dat" QUOTE
           " with mode " QUOTE "batch" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    DISPLAY "Info Log: " WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    *> Debug log with quoted variables
    STRING FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(9:6) " DEBUG: "
           "Variable " QUOTE "customer_count" QUOTE
           " = " QUOTE "1250" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    DISPLAY "Debug Log: " WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    *> Audit log with quoted actions
    STRING FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(9:6) " AUDIT: "
           "User " QUOTE "admin" QUOTE
           " performed action " QUOTE "delete_customer" QUOTE
           " on record " QUOTE "CUST-9999" QUOTE
           DELIMITED BY SIZE INTO WS-LOG-MESSAGE
    
    DISPLAY "Audit Log: " WS-LOG-MESSAGE.

QUOTE Features and Capabilities

Basic Operations

• Figurative constant representation
• String delimiter handling
• Literal value embedding
• Portable quotation marks

Text Processing

• CSV data formatting
• JSON construction
• XML attribute handling
• SQL statement building

Business Applications

• Report generation
• Configuration processing
• API request formatting
• Log message construction

Data Exchange

• System integration
• File format handling
• Message formatting
• Document generation

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL QUOTE and QUOTES

Basic QUOTE and QUOTES Usage

Advanced Quote Processing

QUOTE Features and Capabilities

Best Practices

Related Concepts

Figurative Constants

String Manipulation

Literal Handling

Related Pages

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL QUOTE and QUOTES

Basic QUOTE and QUOTES Usage

Advanced Quote Processing

QUOTE Features and Capabilities

Best Practices

Quote Handling

String Construction

Data Formatting

Related Concepts

Figurative Constants

String Manipulation

Literal Handling

Related Pages