COBOL VERBS - MOVE













MOVE Verb


     MOVE  literal-1/sending-data-item-1   TO   receiving-data-item-1.


MOVE is a Cobol verb, when there is a need for transfering value from 
one dataitem to another data item, using MOVE verb we can achieve that 
task.  

In above syntax, value from sending-field-1  will be moved to 
receiving-field-1. Sending-filed-1 can a data item  OR  a literal (string). 


Example for move a literal to a numeric data item.

01  WS-A    PIC   999 VALUE 000.
....
MOVE   345     TO   WS-A.




Before execution of above statement WS-A contains 000 as a value. After 
execution of above statement WS-A contains 345.

Example - Move a  alphanumeric literal to alpha numeric data item.

01 WS-NAME  PIC   X(4)  VALUE  'JOHN'.
...
MOVE  'JACOB'   TO   WS-NAME.



Before execution WS-NAME contains value JOHN
Afer execution of MOVE statement, WS-NAME contains JACO.
If you observe only 4 letters from the string JACOB got transfered to WS-NAME 
because WS-NAME defined with length of 4 bytes.In alphabetic OR alphanumeric 
moves, Receiving fields receive the letters from left to right as shown below. 
That is the reason WS-NAME contains JACO


If the receiving field is a numeric data item, data transfer happens from 
right to left.

01 WS-A    PIC  999  VALUE  890.
01 WS-B    PIC  99   VALUE  22.
...
MOVE WS-A TO WS-B.



If numeric data item has any decimal part in it.  numeric value after the decimal 
will be moved to receiving field from left right. i.e, 1st digist after decimal 
movement happens first, then 2nd byte, etc...