Easiest way to right-adjust

[TedHolt]

Anybody got an easy way to right-adjust a character variable with zero fill? I have been using perform-until loops, but wondered if there is easier or better method that I'm overlooking.

Here's an example. Some-var is defined as PIC X(6).

perform until Some-var (6:1) not equal space
    move Some-var (1:5)  to Some-var (2:5)    
    move zero to Some-var (1:1)    
end-perform

[tomliotta]

Re: Easiest way to right-adjust

It took a minute to see what your code was doing. Not bad, though a little misleading (to me) at first glance.

Here are a couple alternatives. The example using INSPECT is perhaps more recognized by COBOL developers.

       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

       77  szChars                     pic  9(9) comp-4.
       77  offset                      pic  9(9) comp-4.

       77  base0                       pic  x(20) value zero.

       77  target1 like base0.
       77  target2 like base0          justified.

       01  myChars                     pic  x(20) value 'ABCDE'.

       Procedure Division.
       00-Main-driver.

      *  Use reference modification...
           move    base0       to  target1

           compute szChars     =
                   FUNCTION LENGTH( FUNCTION TRIM( myChars ))
           compute offset      =   LENGTH OF target1 - szChars + 1

           move    myChars ( 1 : szChars )
                               to  target1 ( offset : szChars )

      *  Use JUSTIFIED/INSPECT
           move    FUNCTION TRIM( myChars )
                               to  target2
           inspect target2 REPLACING LEADING space BY zero

           goback.

Unusual request. I'd normally think we'd be working with numeric values so that leading zeros were automatic. I used VALUE 'ABCDE' to show that leading zeros might be generated whether for numerics or non-numerics.

[TedHolt]

Re: Easiest way to right-adjust

Unusual request. I'd normally think we'd be working with numeric values so that leading zeros were automatic.

These are old mainframe programs. All input fields are defined as alphanumeric and have to be converted to numeric. With the increasing use of XML, JSON, etc., I see more and more need to convert character values to numeric.