While not exactly what you asked for, this may spark some ideas.

From an RCEN in our database...

A1375391
COBOL - right justify and fill with leading zeros

Problem Description

In COBOL, how can I take a X(6) field, ACCEPTed from the screen,
move it to another X(6) field, right justify the input, and fill
with leading zeros?

Solution

COBOL'85 has a feature called "REFERENCE MODIFICATION", COBOLII
Manual (part number 32233-90001) p. 8-39.  This feature is a SUBSTRING
type function which allows referencing pieces of a string field.  Use
the following example:

    IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
    ...
    WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
    01  FIELDS.
        05  INPUT-FIELD               PIC X(6).
        05  OUTPUT-FIELD              PIC X(6)   VALUE ZEROS JUST.
    ...
    PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    MAIN-CONTROL.
        ACCEPT INPUT-FIELD FREE.
        EXAMINE INPUT-FIELD REPLACING LEADING " " BY "0".
        EXAMINE INPUT-FIELD TALLYING UNTIL FIRST " ".
        MOVE INPUT-FIELD(1:TALLY) TO OUTPUT-FIELD.
        EXAMINE OUTPUT-FIELD REPLACING ALL " " BY "0".
    ...


TAWNY TRAN wrote:
>
> Dear Listers,
> I haven't code COBOL for a while, so I wonder if there is other way to do
> right justify for an alphanumeric field from input?
>
> The input is from 12 to 16 digits.  If there are 12 digits, I must discard
> all trailing spaces, so only I can think of is PERFORM
> ...VARYING  indexed FROM 16 BY -1 UNTIL...... to do the job.
>
> Or is something new I don't know...?
>
> Thanks,