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gildan2020 · Beginner Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 17 Topics: 8

Hi guys,

I have a character field that looks like this:

1x3xx2xxxx

Take note that the numbers above are randomly placed within the field. Their positions might change. (The numbers are also random)

How do I check the position of "2" in the string above?

I'm trying to extract the string into as follows:
1x3xx2

Thanks.

kolusu · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:23 am Post subject:

gildan2020,

1. Click on the "Quick manuals" link on top of this page
2. Click on "Enterprise COBOL Language Reference" which is the first link on the right
3. Click

4. In the search box type UNSTRING and press Search
5. Read up the documentation for UNSTRING

Kolusu
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Kolusu
www.linkedin.com/in/kolusu

jsharon1248 · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:01 am Post subject:

UNSTRING writes the delimiter to a separate field. To get the delimiter in the result field, you'll need to use 2 steps. UNSTRING to split the text, and then STRING to add back the delimiter. When working with UNSTRING and STRING, don't forget to initialize variables used by the commands.

kolusu · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:

jsharon1248 · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:30 am Post subject:

Kolusu

True. If the actual requirements utilize a single character delimiter, the MOVE will suffice. I was anticipating that the actual requirements might utilize a multi-character delimiter of varying length and used the STRING to handle that. Looking at the code I posted, I'd need to add the ALL keyword to the DELIMITED BY option.

gildan2020 · Beginner Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 17 Topics: 8

Hi guys,
Thanks for all ur replies.

However, there's a slight problem. The number "2" is just an example. In reality, the last digit can be random (ranging from 1 to 9).

I'm not sure if I can use the "DELIMITED BY" like this. Any ideas?

vivek1983 · Intermediate Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 222 Topics: 24

gildan2020,

Can you provide the outputs for the following inputs? Also check if the following are valid inputs.

1. 1xxxxx2xx9
2. 1x59xxx5
3. 1xxxxxxxx3x4
4. 1xyaa4gggx3
_________________
Vivek G
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jsharon1248 · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:44 am Post subject:

The UNSTRING syntax allows you to specify a variable or a literal in the DELIMITED BY clause. For simplicity, I just used the literal in the example I posted. Just define an additional variable for the delimiter, populate it with whatever you need, and reference that in the UNSTRING. I don't know if you need it, but you can also specify multiple delimiters by using OR in the DELIMITED BY clause.

gildan2020 · Beginner Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 17 Topics: 8

jsharon1248 · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:19 am Post subject:

gildan2020

You're only giving us little bits and pieces of what you're trying to do. First you told us you're trying to split a field based on a varying delimiter, but your last post looks like you're trying to eliminate trailing characters after splitting out the first 5 characters. Help us out. Give us a full description of the requirements and several examples of the input and results.