isCOBOL Evolve : Appendices : Library Routines : C$TRIM
C$TRIM
The C$TRIM library routine performs a trim operation on alphanumeric variables.
A trim operation consists in the removal of any leading and trailing character whose hex value is less than 0x21, so spaces, low-values and the other characters in that range are removed.
Note: Since TRIM, TRIML and TRIMR intrinsic functions are available, this routine is deprecated.
Syntax:
 CALL "C$TRIM" USING var
Parameters:
var
PIC X(n)
If var is defined as pic x any length, the variable may be resized. If var is defined as pic x(n), the variable is not resized and the trimmed text is left aligned in the variable area. Variables that are not alphanumeric produce undefined effects.
Examples:
Example - Remove leading spaces on a string
*> define str1 as pic x(n)
 
move " Hello COBOL World" to str1
call "c$trim" using str1
*> the first 3 spaces will be removed