COBOL: How to Use Occurs Clause to Define VB Files

Here’s the logic to define VB files using the OCCURS clause. When you want simplified code always better use OCCURS clause, I am giving here two usages. These two styles save your precious time.

USAGE 1:

FD  Varaiable-File.
01 Variable-rec.
   02 ACCT-NUMB       PIC X(8).
   02 PAYMENTS  OCCURS 1 TO 5 TIMES DEPENDING ON
                    NO-OF-PAYMENTS   INDEXED BY INX.
       03 DATE        PIC 9(6).
       03 AMOUNT      PIC 9(5)V99.

USAGE 2:

The other way of coding VB files:

FD  Variable-file-2.
01 rec-1.
  02  General-info   Pic x(6).
01 Rec-2
   02 Special-info    Pic X(8).

Key Points to Developers

1. The “depending on” clause can not be used to redefine other variables.
2. The values “NO-OF-PAYMENTS” and  “INX” must be equal, or, INX value less than NO-OF-PAYMENTS value (this applies to both Index and Subscript).

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