Mital

• Aug 5th, 2006

 

well, generally it is not possible.

techie

• Sep 11th, 2006

 

Yes. I believe, the keyword REDEFINES is meant to define a new field with picture clause different from the old one. That is:1. The new field's length maybe greater than or less than the field being redefined:05 COMPANY-NAME PIC X(20).05 COMPANY-SHORT-NAME REDEFINES COMPANY-NAME PIC X(12).2. The new field's type is different from the field being redefined:05 REPORT-DATE PIC X(8).05 REPORT-DATE-N REDEFINES REPORT-DATE PIC 9(8).Hope this clarifies.

Kavitha

• Sep 25th, 2006

 

Yes it is possible only when the pic clause of variable to be redefined is less than or equal to the original variable.

AJAY

• Dec 19th, 2006

 

REDEFINES..... the word itself suggests tat u r redifining. u can tredefine it as per ur requirement. u can even redefine x( ) into 9( ) by followin t MOVE guidelines....... Regards AJAY

Rohit

• Feb 22nd, 2007

 

You can redifne with any other pic class and there is no limitation that it pc clause be greater then or equal to you can redifne a PIC X(10) with PIC X(20).

Gokul

• Jun 25th, 2007

 

Hi,

It is possible.

01 WS-VAR1 PIC X(5).
01 WS-VAR2 REDEFINES WS-VAR1 PIC 9(3).
.
.

MOVE "HELLO" TO WS-VAR1.
DISPLAY WS-VAR1.
DISPLAY WS-VAR2.
.
.

will give out
HELLO
HEL

sreenigacc

• Aug 26th, 2007

 

01 ws-var1 pic x(5)
we can redefine the above variable in different ways ............
when redefining a variable both should have the same level number.........
01 ws-var2 redefines ws-var1 pic x(5)
or
01 ws-var2 redefines ws-var1 pic x(2)
or
01 ws-var2 redefines ws-var1 pic x(15)

a small example for you...........

01 ws-var1 pic x(5)
01 ws-var2 redefines ws-var1 pic x(3)

move 'abcde' to ws-var1.
display ws-var1
display ws-var2.

ws-var1 is abcde
ws-var2 is abc

move 'abc' to ws-var2.
display ws-var1
display ws-var2.

ws-var1 is abc
ws-var2 is abc

move 'abcde' to ws-var1.
move '123' to ws-var2.
display ws-var1
display ws-var2.

ws-var1 is 123
ws-var2 is 123

Thanks & Regards,
Sreenivasulu G

lfrank

 Profile Answers by lfrank 

• Jan 8th, 2008

 

One of the main reasons for using a REDEFINES is to address storage areas with different picture clauses. Any field can be redefined as anything else. Having the program execute successfully with the redefined data is another matter.

The IBM COBOL Language Reference manual states the following:
"The use of a redefining data item need not be the same as that of a redefined item. This does not, however, cause any change in existing data. For example:
05  B                            PIC 99 USAGE DISPLAY  VALUE 8.

05  C REDEFINES B      PIC S99 USAGE BINARY.

05  A                            PIC S99 USAGE BINARY.

Redefining B does not change the bit configuration of the data in the storage area.

ragavprasanna

 Profile Answers by ragavprasanna 

• Aug 31st, 2008

 

Yes, it is possible, redefines means using (sharing) the same memory space. It is not necessary to share variables having same picture clause.

toton_tcs

 Profile Answers by toton_tcs 

• Mar 4th, 2010

 

YES  It's possible..but the level number should be same.