The Report Writer

RD and REPORT

The Report Writer builds paginated output from declarations. RD defines the report in DATA DIVISION, and the file is declared like any other file with REPORT IS:

FILE SECTION. FD REPORT-FILE REPORT IS PAYROLL-REPORT. RD PAYROLL-REPORT CONTROL IS FINAL WS-DEPT.

Report groups

Report groups describe the lines: PAGE HEADING at the top of each page, DETAIL for every row, and CONTROL FOOTING when a control field changes. LINE, COLUMN, and SUM do the layout and the math:

01 DETAIL-LINE TYPE DE. 02 LINE +1 COLUMN 1 PIC X(10) SOURCE WS-DEPT. 02 COLUMN 12 PIC $$$,$$9.99 SUM WS-PAY.

GENERATE

In PROCEDURE DIVISION, GENERATE emits a group. GENERATE DETAIL-LINE prints one row, and the Report Writer automatically inserts headings, page breaks, and control footings as it goes.

Next: Sorting with the SORT verb

Article author: Arthur Isaev