IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi,
How to find duplicate in variable length string in cobol.

Ex., ABCDEEFGGHII

I need to find duplicates in above string.

First, you need to understand that there isn't really a variable length string in COBOL. Alphanumeric variables (PIC X) have a length that is set at the time the program is compiled, and that length cannot be varied without editing the source code and recompiling it.

Second, your post is woefully inadequate in describing your problem. These duplicates -- are they always side-by-side in the variable? What if you have ABCDABC -- duplicates or not? How long is the variable? Is there a limit of 1 duplicate or could you have something like ABCDDDDEFF? What do you want to do when you find a duplicate? Print it out? Store it in another variable? Delete the duplicates from the variable?

Sorry for the less details. My input file has only one field and that is string declared as X(15). I need to find is there any duplicate alphabet in the string.

If it is duplicate i need to write that records alone in output-duplicate file. Rest i will Write in normal output file.

My sample/test records as follows:
ABCDEEFGGHIIEDH
TODAYISBESTDAYA
MAINFRAMEFILES

Based on your post, all three of the sample strings you provided have duplicates since you did NOT specify that duplicates have to be next to each other.

In my case duplicates can be anywhere in the string. As you said all three strings are duplicates. But I need a logic to figure out the string has duplicates in COBOL program. Once i figure out the string has duplicate, then i will write that record alone into my duplicate output file.

Appreciate your help.

google with shortest/longest repeated substring

to get the algorithm and the code snippets in python, java , c

you will have to port it to cobol yourself

ok. I will try. Thank you.

the suggestion posted was for an academically correct full approach

since you only need to know if there are duplicates and not determine their value
a simple scan for repeated chars would be more than enough

here is a smal proof of concept written in rexx

the script


the result

kanipriya2785 wrote:Hi,
How to find duplicate in variable length string in cobol.

Ex., ABCDEEFGGHII

I need to find duplicates in above string.

Try to learn at least something about string processing in COBOL. The statements like: INSPECT, UNSTRING, STRING…