COLUMN Clause

General Format

{COLUMN  } [ NUMBER IS  [PLUS] col-no ]
{COL     }              [ +  ]
{POSITION}              [ -  ]
{POS     }

Syntax Rules

1. col-no is a numeric literal or data item.
2. col-no may not be subscripted or reference modified.
3. COLUMN, COL, POSITION, and POS are equivalent.

General Rules

1. The COLUMN clause specifies the screen column on which to place the screen entry. Column number 1 is the column number specified in the AT phrase of the ACCEPT or DISPLAY statement. If the AT phrase is not specified, then column number 1 is the first column of the current screen window.
2. The COLUMN clause without the PLUS option specifies an absolute column number.
3. The COLUMN clause with the PLUS option specifies a column number relative to the end of the previous screen entry in the group. If the PLUS or "+" option is used, col-no is added to the previous column number. If the "-" option is used, col-no is subtracted from the previous column number.
4. If relative positioning is specified for a level 01 screen entry, the position is relative to COLUMN ZERO (in other words, COLUMN PLUS 1 is the same as COLUMN 1).
5. If col-no is not specified, then COLUMN PLUS 1 is implied.
6. If the COLUMN clause is omitted:
   • If a LINE clause is specified, COLUMN 1 is implied.
   • If the LINE clause is omitted, COLUMN PLUS 1 is implied.
7. In ICOBOL compatibility mode, the COLUMN phrase is interpreted slightly differently. Relative positioning is based from the character just to the right of the previous data item. This causes COLUMN PLUS 1 to place a space between the end of the last data item and the beginning of the next one. Also, if the COLUMN phrase is omitted and would normally default to COLUMN PLUS 1, then COLUMN PLUS ZERO is used instead.