Cobol Reading Record with a Table

Question

I'm trying to display some data that I'm reading into a table. However, I keep getting the error:

IN-FUND-NBR was not a uniquely defined name...Expected a reference-modification specification but found ")".

***EDIT: Okay, so I found the root of the problem. However, can't I still access IN-FUND-NBR as it sits? I tried the following, but it does not work:

DISPLAY "IN-FUND-NBR = " IN-FUND-NBR (MF-SALE-SUB) OF IN-MF-SALE

***END EDIT

I have the following record defined as follows:

 01  SALES-RECORD.                          
     05  IN-CITY-NAME           PIC X(20).  
     05  IN-CUSTOMER-NAME       PIC X(20).  
     05  IN-MF-SALE             OCCURS 4.   
         10  IN-FUND-NBR        PIC 9(2).   
         10  IN-PRICE-FLAG      PIC 9.      
         10  IN-PURCH-AMT       PIC 9(5)V99.

I'm trying to extract the first instance of IN-FUND-NBR by doing the following in a paragrah:

 PERFORM                                          
   VARYING MF-SALE-SUB FROM 1 BY 1                
     UNTIL MF-SALE-SUB > 4                        

       DISPLAY "Fund Number: " IN-FUND-NBR(MF-SALE-SUB)

 END-PERFORM.

Answer 1

In your program you have IN-FUND-NBR defined more than once. The other definition(s) may be in a copybook, or something you have coded yourself without realising. The compiler discards the reference to the field.

The second diagnostic message about the reference-modification is because having discarded the reference to your data-name the compiler then encounters the opening parenthesis and your subscript. This message will disappear when you correct the problem.

Either, ensure that the data-names are unique. Or, in the nutty situation that this is not possible, you have to use qualification. You do this by using IN or OF and referencing a higher level data-name.

From what you have shown:

DISPLAY "Fund Number: " IN-FUND-NBR OF SALES-RECORD (MF-SALE-SUB)

should work.

Although you can use qualificationto get around the problem, many are like me and find it a complete waste of time and patience, and others, especially beginners, find it a source of confusion. Try your best to always have unique data-names.