COBOL - What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the defaul

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What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the default?

INITIALIZE moves spaces to alphabetic fields and zeros to alphanumeric fields. The REPLACING option can be used to override these defaults.

Total Answers and Comments: 5

Last Update: March 06, 2008

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Submitted by: nnieland

If you use the INITIALIZE verb on a field that has a VALUE clause...does that field get initialized to that value?

Above answer was rated as good by the following members:
Shrabana Ghosh

October 04, 2006 16:54:05

mohan

RE: What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and...

Initialize sets zero for numerics and spaces for alphabetic.

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December 02, 2007 09:11:27

nnieland

Member Since: December 2007 Contribution: 1

RE: What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the default?

If you use the INITIALIZE verb on a field that has a VALUE clause...does that field get initialized to that value?

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1 0

Overall Rating: +1

February 14, 2008 02:24:31

dpg_25

Member Since: February 2008 Contribution: 2

RE: What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the default?

INITIALIZE verb will initialize 01 level variables to their definitions. For e.g
01 VAR-A      PIC X(2).
01 VAR-B      PIC 9(2).
01  VAR-C.
      05 VAR-D PIC X(2).
      05 VAR-E PIC 9(2).

If VAR-A VAR-B and VAR-C are initialized.
VAR-A will be spaces. VAR-B will be Zeroes. VAR-C will be spaces. So there will be spaces in VAR-D and VAR-E.
If you want VAR-D to be spaces and VAR-E to be Zeroes you must write
Initialize VAR-C REPLACING ALL NUMERIC BY ZEROES.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

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February 20, 2008 01:30:32

santhukumar

Member Since: February 2008 Contribution: 1

RE: What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the default?

Spaces for Alphanumeric and Zeroes for numeric fields.

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March 05, 2008 13:19:30

vivek_166008

Member Since: March 2008 Contribution: 1

RE: What is the default value(s) for an INITIALIZE and what keyword allows for an override of the default?

I think even for the follwing type
Â 01 Var-C.
Â Â Â Â Â Â 05 Var-dÂ Â PIC 9.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 05 Var-eÂ Â PIC X.
When we initialize the Var-C it will automatically move Zero to Var-d and Space to Var-e.
The REPLACING key word is helpful in updating these variables with characters other than zero and spaces. for example if we want to move * to Var-e the command will be INITIALIZE Var-e REPLACING ALPHANUMERIC BY '*'.

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