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COBOL SEND Statement - Quick Reference

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Overview

The SEND statement is used to transmit data or messages in communication-oriented COBOL programs. It is commonly used in CICS applications and other communication environments to send data to terminals, other programs, or systems.

Purpose and Usage

  • Message transmission - Send messages to terminals or other programs
  • Communication - Enable program-to-program communication
  • CICS support - Support CICS applications
  • Data flow - Control data flow between components
  • Interactive applications - Support interactive user interfaces

Syntax

The SEND statement is used in the PROCEDURE DIVISION for message transmission.

Basic Syntax

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* Basic SEND syntax
SEND data-item [FROM literal]
    [LENGTH data-name]
    [WITH identifier-1]
    [FROM identifier-2]
    [ERASE]
    [FREEKB]
    [FRSET]
    [ALARM]
    [BELL]
    [LIGHT]
    [PRINT]
    [WAIT]
    [NOHANDLE]
    [HANDLE CONDITION condition-name [command-statement]].
 
* Complete example
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. SEND-EXAMPLE.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  MESSAGE-DATA.
    05  MESSAGE-TEXT    PIC X(80).
    05  MESSAGE-LENGTH  PIC 9(3).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    MOVE "Hello, World!" TO MESSAGE-TEXT
    MOVE 13 TO MESSAGE-LENGTH
    SEND MESSAGE-DATA
    STOP RUN.

SEND transmits data in communication programs.

Practical Examples

Examples of using the SEND statement in different scenarios.

Simple Message Sending

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* Send a simple message
SEND "Welcome to the application"
    ERASE
    FREEKB.

SEND with ERASE and FREEKB options.

Sending with Data Items

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* Send using data items
01  OUTPUT-MESSAGE.
    05  MSG-TEXT    PIC X(40).
    05  MSG-LENGTH  PIC 9(3).
 
MOVE "Processing completed successfully" TO MSG-TEXT
MOVE 32 TO MSG-LENGTH
SEND OUTPUT-MESSAGE
    LENGTH MSG-LENGTH
    WAIT.

SEND with LENGTH and WAIT options.

CICS SEND Example

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* CICS SEND example
EXEC CICS SEND
    FROM(OUTPUT-MESSAGE)
    LENGTH(MSG-LENGTH)
    ERASE
    FREEKB
END-EXEC.

SEND in CICS environment.

Best Practices

Understanding best practices ensures effective use of the SEND statement.

Best Practices

  • Use appropriate options - Choose relevant SEND options
  • Handle errors - Include error handling for SEND operations
  • Specify length - Use LENGTH when sending variable-length data
  • Consider timing - Use WAIT when synchronization is needed
  • Test thoroughly - Test SEND operations in target environment

Test Your Knowledge

1. What is the primary purpose of the SEND statement in COBOL?

  • To send data to files
  • To send messages in communication programs
  • To send data to printers
  • To send data to databases

2. In which COBOL division is the SEND statement typically used?

  • IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
  • ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
  • DATA DIVISION
  • PROCEDURE DIVISION

3. What types of data can be sent using the SEND statement?

  • Only numeric data
  • Only character data
  • Any type of data including records and literals
  • Only file records

4. Is the SEND statement commonly used in modern COBOL applications?

  • Yes, in all applications
  • No, it is obsolete
  • Yes, in communication and CICS applications
  • Only in batch processing

5. What is the relationship between SEND and RECEIVE statements?

  • They are the same thing
  • SEND transmits data, RECEIVE accepts data
  • SEND is for files, RECEIVE is for communication
  • They cannot be used together

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

Communication Section

Communication handling in COBOL.

Screen Handling

Screen handling techniques in COBOL.

CICS Programming

CICS programming concepts.

SELECT StatementSENTENCE Clause