COBOL Debugging Programs › Inspect and Modify Main Storage › Modify the Value of a Data Item Using the MOVE Statement

Modify the Value of a Data Item Using the MOVE Statement

Overtyping the main storage display is the easiest way to change the value of a data item. However, you want to use the CA InterTest COBOL‑like MOVE statement to modify a data item when you do not know the type of data (binary, packed, and so on) or its length. The MOVE statement takes care of all the details for you. Use the MOVE statement as follows:

1. To modify a data item where it is defined, type an m to the left of the statement defining it and press Enter. For example, to modify the value of TASKNUM, you would type in m instead of d.
2. If you type an m to the left of multiple lines, CA InterTest generates multiple MOVE statements.
3. To modify a data item where it is referenced, type an m to the left of the statement referencing it, place the cursor under any character in the data item, and press Enter.

   CA InterTest generates and displays a fill‑in‑the‑blanks MOVE statement, as shown in the following screen:

      CA InterTest for CICS V9.1   - PROTSYM FILE  UNCOND  BEFORE BREAKPOINT      
   COMMAND ===>                                                                    
   Program= COBDEMO  Option #       Stmt #                             Margin= 01  
                                           Search=                                 
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    _____ TASKNUM                         | ?00000.                                
   ---------+--------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                   
   MOVE ________________________________________________________________           
                                                                                   
    to                                                                             
                                                                                   
        TASKNUM                                                                    
                                                                                   
   Overtype Underscores with a Data-Name, Figurative Constant,                     
   Alphanumeric Literal, or Numeric Literal                                       
   

4. Type one of the following items in the MOVE field:
   • A variable name, such as NEXT‑TASKNUM
   • One of the following COBOL‑like keywords: ZEROS, SPACES, LOW‑VALUES, HIGH‑VALUES, QUOTES
   • An alphanumeric literal enclosed in single quotes, such as 'YES'
   • A numeric literal, with or without a leading plus, +, or minus sign, ‑, such as ‑8.
5. Press Enter to execute the MOVE statement. CA InterTest displays a main storage display showing the new value of the data item. If you execute several MOVE statements, CA InterTest shows the main storage displays one at a time. Press Clear to see the next one.
6. From the main storage display, press Clear or PF3 to return to the source listing.