IBM Mainframe Forum

hello experts,

can you please give me a hint on how to make a 5x5 two-dimensional array, with DISPLAY and ACCEPT commands, and with sorting too.
this is the output i'd like to have..

Year----------Salesman----------Salesman----------Salesman----------Salesman----------Salesman----------Total
-----------------name1-------------name2--------------name3-------------name4--------------name5


2005----------(integer inputs for sales of each salesman, 5 times)-------------------------------------------(total sales of the year)
2006
2007
2008
2009

Total----------(total sales for each salesman)

Highest sales of salesman _________ is ______.
Lowest sales of salesman _________ is ______.
Year with the lowest sales:
Year with the highest sales:


i finished the 1 dimensional array for name, but i have no idea on how to add the two-dimensional arrays, and then sort it just to find the highest and lowest values for the inputs of each salesman and for each year..

i dont intend to make this your homework, i just need some help to know how to declare and perform the two-dimensional array and the SORTING part..

THnx in advance..

Professional programs almost never use ACCEPT statements -- READ is the preferred way to get input into a program.

thanks! but umm, im still new to COBOL, can i ask what 'INDEXED BY' does?

sorry to bother you sir..

The IBM web site has all the COBOL manuals on it: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/cobol/zos/library/ and you need to bookmark this site so you can read up on things like INDEXED BY.

The INDEXED BY variable allows you to access table entries without requiring a subscript variable.

thanks again sir Robert, i might have to read this first, ahaha, but with a little pressure 'coz this will be passed on wednesday O_O

In that case, just forget the INDEXED BY -- the data structure I provided will still accomplish your goals if you use subscript variables.

umm, sir, but how do i perform this in the procedure division? im still missing that, sorry T_T

Create two variables, call them WS-ROW and WS-COL, outside the table.

You'll need to add counter variables to accumulate the sales totals as your post indicated -- but you have to do some of the work yourself; you've been given 75% of what you need -- surely you can figure out the rest. If not, you may want to reconsider your career choice as logical thinking is a very important part of IT.

sorry sir, T_T i kinda though of what you said, and im just not sure if its right and my mistake was not trying it..
sorry, maybe the effect of pressure, and thanks a lot, i learned a lot sir