Function
The COLUMN clause defines a data item as a printable field by specifying its column number (integer) to indicate the starting position of that item with respect to the print line.
Format
COLUMN integer
Syntax rules
integer must be an unsigned integer in the range of 1 <= integer <= 251.
The column number (integer) specifies the position in which the first (leftmost) character position of the printable item is to appear on the print line. The first printable character position of the print line is considered to be column 1. The highest column number depends on the type of printer being used.
General rules
The presence of the COLUMN clause in the description entry for a data item containing the mandatory PICTURE clause as well as either a SOURCE, SUM, or VALUE clause constitutes a printable item.
Every entry that defines a printable item must either contain, or be preceded by (in the same report group description), a LINE clause. The printable item will be printed on the print line specified by the LINE clause.
Within the scope of a LINE clause (that is, before the next LINE clause occurs or until the report the report entry ends), the printable items must be defined in ascending column number sequence. The printable items are printed on the line in the order in which they were defined.
Printable items on a print line must not be so defined that they overlap each other (concerning the COLUMN and PICTURE clauses).
Immediately before the printable items in a line are printed, i.e. before the print line is written to the report file, the information is automatically moved to these items by implicit MOVE statements. Depending on whether the description of the receiving item (=printable item) includes the SOURCE, VALUE, or SUM clause, the sending item will be the identifier from the SOURCE clause, the literal from the VALUE clause, or the internal sum counter which was established for the SUM clause.
The Report Writer supplies space characters for all positions of a print line that are not occupied by printable items.
Example 10-2
Assume the following description of an elementary item in a report group entry:
02 LINE 3 COLUMN 30 PIC A(12) VALUE IS "EXPENDITURES"
When this report group is produced, the character-string EXPENDITURES will be printed on line 3 of the current report page, starting at column 30.