MVSFORUMS.com

[ayush]

Hi,
I have to use a condition in my program where in
an input variable is compared with a list of values around 50 of them.

I can either have these values loaded in a table and search the table
for matches with this input variable, or
use a 88 level variable for these values and use an IF condition
for the input variable.

Condition 1:
Load the values of ABCD, EFGH,1234, PQRS, IKJH into a table reading from an input file.
Search the variable WS-SCREEN for matches in the table
and if any match found, perform LOGIC1 else LOGIC2.

Condition 2:
EG:
In working storage:
01 WS-HI-RISK PIC X(4) VALUE SPACES.
88 HI-RISK-YES VALUES 'ABCD' 'EFGH' '1234' 'PQRS' 'IJKH'

MOVE WS-SCREEN TO WS-HI-RISK
IF HI-RISK-YES
LOGIC 1
ELSE
LOGIC 2
END-IF.

My question:
What would be better, if I have 1400 such input variables WS-SCREEN for each record read in the program. So if there are 50 records, it'll be 40 *1400 * 50 (nbr of table variables),
or
Should I use the condition variables as I mentioned in option2.

Please suggest.
Thankyou.
Ayush

[Mervyn]

Ayush, make sure your table is in sequence, then use SEARCH ALL. This will perform a binary search, which is very efficient.

With only 1400 input records, of course, it may be difficult to detect a difference in run time!
_________________
The day you stop learning the dinosaur becomes extinct

[Cogito-Ergo-Sum]

There is another technique that I use sometimes. I do not know, how it looks on performance scale. But, here it is anyway.

[Mervyn]

That's a useful technique. I haven't used it in Cobol before, but I've found it very handy in Selcopy, for example.

I'll let someone else tell you why you put the commas in!
_________________
The day you stop learning the dinosaur becomes extinct

[Jaya]

[Cogito-Ergo-Sum]

Yes, Jaya. That is correct !
_________________
ALL opinions are welcome.

Debugging tip:
When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
-- Sherlock Holmes.