IBM Mainframe Forum

I have to find the length of the data which is stored in a working storage variable. Suppose in the working storage varaible ws-example I have the value "Welcome" . The ws-example is declared as PICx(20). I want to find the length of the data stored.

I want the length as 7 ("WELCOME") and not 20.

I have used the FUNCTION LENGTH(ws-example) but it is giving the length as 20 but not 7.

Hello,

Using an array or reference modification, loop from the right side of the field counting the blanks until you reach a non-blank. (20 - the count) will be the data length.

INSPECT FUNCTION REVERSE(fieldname)
TALLYING WS-TALLY FOR LEADING SPACES

COMPUTE WS-TOTAL-BYTES = LENGTH OF fieldname - WS-TALLY

INSPECT <your string variable> TALLYING <variable to store length> FOR CHARACTERS BEFORE <delimitor>.

Note: give some delimitor at the end of the name like "WELCOME."

Hello riteshk.singh and welcome to the forums,

Note: give some delimitor at the end of the name like "WELCOME."

Is there some reason you prefer to require a delimiter/terminator character rather than use the INSPECT previously suggested?

the ispect previously suggested will also work fine.

INSPECT FUNCTION REVERSE(fieldname)
TALLYING WS-TALLY FOR LEADING SPACES

COMPUTE WS-TOTAL-BYTES = LENGTH OF fieldname - WS-TALLY

ddilts399 wrote:INSPECT FUNCTION REVERSE(fieldname)
TALLYING WS-TALLY FOR LEADING SPACES

COMPUTE WS-TOTAL-BYTES = LENGTH OF fieldname - WS-TALLY

Hi ddilts,

Here if we have trailing spaces as well can we write as

Can you please show the compile output for that, including the error messages? So, no, we can't. No such thing as INSPECT FOR TRAILING in Enterprise Cobol or any IBM Mainframe Cobol.

Hello,

Do Not post untested syntax that you Thought looked OK. You need to verify a clean compile as well as a successful test showing both the input and output.

All this does is introduce clutter and for inexperienced people causes confusion. . .

These users thanked the author dick scherrer for the post:

raghuvanshi (Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:14 am)

I think this analogy will work for spaces on either side of the required data field
move 1 to b
perform varying b from 1 by 1 until b>30(any +ve integer)
move a(b:1) to a1
display a1
if a1is not = " " then
display 'inside' a1
add 1 to c
end-if.
end-perform.
display 'c reached' c.