PICTURE clause

The PICTURE clause specifies the general characteristics and editing requirements of an elementary item.

Format

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramPICTUREPICIScharacter-string

PICTURE or PIC
The PICTURE clause must be specified for every elementary item except the following ones:
  • Index data items
  • The subject of the RENAMES clause
  • Items described with USAGE POINTER, USAGE FUNCTION-POINTER, USAGE PROCEDURE-POINTER, or USAGE OBJECT REFERENCE
  • Internal floating-point data items

In these cases, use of the PICTURE clause is prohibited.

The PICTURE clause can be specified only at the elementary level.

PIC is an abbreviation for PICTURE and has the same meaning.

character-string
character-string is made up of certain COBOL characters used as picture symbols. The allowable combinations determine the category of the elementary data item.

character-string can contain a maximum of 50 characters.