COBOL- RENAMES clause (Level 66)

• It is used to regroup the elementary data items of same or different groups and assign them a new name. This way a new group can be formed keeping the original groups intact.
• In other words, it used to form a logical group from the elementary data items of different or same group.
• For example,
  01 EMPL-DEPT-RECORD. 05 EMP-DETAILS. 10 EMP-NAME PIC X(15). 10 EMP-SALARY PIC 9(06). 05 DEPT-DETAILS. 10 DPET-NAME PIC X(10). 10 DPET-MANAGER PIC X(15). 10 DEPT-LOCATION PIC X(10). 66 EMP-DEPT-INFO RENAMES EMP-NAME THRU DEPT-NAME.

• In above example, EMP-DEPT-INFO will become a new group consisting of EMP-NAME, EMP-SALARY, DEPT-NAME. Note that the new group overlaps the two original groups, namely whole EMP-DETAILS and part of DEPT-DETAILS. Such overlapping is permitted provided the elementary items are all contiguous.
• Basic syntax of the RENAMES clause:-
  66 data-name-1 RENAMES data-name-2 [{THRU|THROUGH} data-name-3]

• Important rules to be considered while using RENAMES clause:-
  • It must be declared at special level number 66.
  • The level number must begin in Margin A or any position after it. data-name-1 must begin from Margin B or any position after it.
  • RENAMES clause must be coded at the end of group
  • Entries to be grouped and renamed can be elementary data items or group data items. They, however, cannot be items of level 01, 77, 88 or another 66 entry.
  • Entries to be grouped and renamed must be in a sequential order
  • data-name-1 cannot be used as a qualifier (in OF clause).
  • The entries (and the entries from which they have subordinated) having OCCURS clause cannot be renamed