INSPECT statement

Remarks#

The INSPECT statement is a scan and replace verb in COBOL.

Where tallying-phrase is:

replacing-phrase is:

missing image

before-after-phrase is:

INSPECT reformatting a date line

GCobol identification division.
       program-id. inspecting.

       data division.
       working-storage section.
       01  ORIGINAL            pic XXXX/XX/XXBXX/XX/XXXXXXX/XX.
       01  DATEREC             pic XXXX/XX/XXBXX/XX/XXXXXXX/XX.

       procedure division.

       move function when-compiled to DATEREC ORIGINAL

       INSPECT DATEREC REPLACING ALL "/" BY ":" AFTER INITIAL SPACE

       display "Formatted function WHEN-COMPILED " ORIGINAL
       display " after INSPECT REPLACING         " DATEREC

       goback.
       end program inspecting.

Giving:

Formatted function WHEN-COMPILED 2010/03/25 23/05/0900-04/00
 after INSPECT REPLACING         2010/03/25 23:05:0900-04:00