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COBOL SEPARATE Clause - Quick Reference

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Overview

The SEPARATE clause is used to split data items and perform string manipulation operations in COBOL. It provides a simple way to separate data based on delimiters and is commonly used for parsing structured text data.

Purpose and Usage

  • String splitting - Split strings based on delimiters
  • Data parsing - Parse structured text data
  • Field extraction - Extract specific fields from data
  • Data validation - Validate and format data
  • Text processing - Process text-based data

Syntax

The SEPARATE clause is used in the PROCEDURE DIVISION for string manipulation.

Basic Syntax

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* Basic SEPARATE syntax
SEPARATE source-item DELIMITER delimiter-character
    INTO target-item-1 target-item-2 [target-item-3...].
 
* Complete example
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. SEPARATE-EXAMPLE.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  FULL-NAME        PIC X(30).
01  FIRST-NAME       PIC X(15).
01  LAST-NAME        PIC X(15).
01  DELIMITER-CHAR   PIC X VALUE ','.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    MOVE "John,Doe" TO FULL-NAME
    SEPARATE FULL-NAME DELIMITER DELIMITER-CHAR
        INTO FIRST-NAME LAST-NAME
    DISPLAY "First Name: " FIRST-NAME
    DISPLAY "Last Name: " LAST-NAME
    STOP RUN.

SEPARATE splits data based on delimiters.

Practical Examples

Examples of using the SEPARATE clause in different scenarios.

Name Separation

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* Separate full name into components
01  FULL-NAME        PIC X(40).
01  FIRST-NAME       PIC X(20).
01  LAST-NAME        PIC X(20).
 
MOVE "Jane,Smith" TO FULL-NAME
SEPARATE FULL-NAME DELIMITER ','
    INTO FIRST-NAME LAST-NAME.

SEPARATE for name parsing.

Address Parsing

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* Parse address components
01  ADDRESS-LINE     PIC X(60).
01  STREET           PIC X(30).
01  CITY             PIC X(20).
01  STATE            PIC X(2).
 
MOVE "123 Main St,New York,NY" TO ADDRESS-LINE
SEPARATE ADDRESS-LINE DELIMITER ','
    INTO STREET CITY STATE.

SEPARATE for address parsing.

Data Validation

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* Validate and separate data
01  INPUT-DATA       PIC X(50).
01  FIELD-1          PIC X(20).
01  FIELD-2          PIC X(20).
01  FIELD-3          PIC X(10).
 
MOVE "Value1|Value2|Value3" TO INPUT-DATA
SEPARATE INPUT-DATA DELIMITER '|'
    INTO FIELD-1 FIELD-2 FIELD-3.

SEPARATE for data validation.

Best Practices

Understanding best practices ensures effective use of the SEPARATE clause.

Best Practices

  • Choose appropriate delimiters - Use clear, unique delimiters
  • Validate input data - Check data before separation
  • Handle edge cases - Consider missing or extra delimiters
  • Size target fields appropriately - Ensure sufficient field sizes
  • Test thoroughly - Test with various input formats

Test Your Knowledge

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

  • To separate files
  • To separate data items and manipulate strings
  • To separate programs
  • To separate memory

2. In which COBOL division is the SEPARATE clause typically used?

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

3. What types of data can be processed using the SEPARATE clause?

  • Only numeric data
  • Only character data
  • Character and alphanumeric data
  • Only file records

4. How does SEPARATE differ from UNSTRING?

  • They are the same thing
  • SEPARATE is simpler, UNSTRING is more complex
  • SEPARATE is for output, UNSTRING is for input
  • SEPARATE is obsolete, UNSTRING is modern

5. What is the relationship between SEPARATE and DELIMITER?

  • They are unrelated
  • SEPARATE uses DELIMITER to identify separation points
  • DELIMITER is obsolete, SEPARATE is modern
  • They cannot be used together

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

String and Unstring Operations

String manipulation operations in COBOL.

Data Manipulation

Data manipulation techniques in COBOL.

Data Validation

Data validation methods in COBOL.

SENTENCE ClauseSEQUENCE Clause