COBOL - Renames Clause

Renames clause is used to give different names to existing data items. It is used to re-group the data names and give a new name to them. The new data names can rename across groups or elementary items. Level number 66 is reserved for renames.

Following is the syntax for Renames clause.

01 WS-OLD.
   10 WS-A PIC 9(12).
   10 WS-B PIC X(20).
   10 WS-C PIC A(25).
   10 WS-D PIC X(12).
   66 WS-NEW RENAMES WS-A THRU WS-C.

Explanantion:

• Renaming is possible at same level only. In the above example, WS-A, WS-B, and WS-C are at the same level.

• Renames definition must be the next data description you want to rename.

• Do not use Renames with the level numbers 01 or, 77.

• The data names used for renames must come in sequence.

• Data items with occur clause cannot be renamed.

Example:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. CBLRNAME.

DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-DESCRIPTION.
   05 WS-NUM.
      10 WS-NUM1  PIC 9(2) VALUE 11.
      10 WS-NUM2  PIC 9(2) VALUE 22.
   05 WS-CHAR.
      10 WS-CHAR1 PIC X(2) VALUE 'XX'.
      10 WS-CHAR2 PIC X(2) VALUE 'YY'.
   66 WS-RENAME RENAMES WS-NUM2 THRU WS-CHAR2.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   DISPLAY "WS-RENAME : " WS-RENAME.
   GOBACK.

When you compile and execute the above program, it produces the following result.

WS-RENAME : 22XXYY

Interview Question:

Difference between REDEFINES and RENAMES?

RENAMES clause is used for regrouping elementary data items and gives one name to it. REDEFINES clause allow you to use different data descriptions entries to describe same memory area.

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