Because XML data is neither fixed length nor fixed format, you need to use special techniques when you move XML data to a COBOL data item.
For alphanumeric items, decide whether the XML data should go at the left (default) end, or at the right end, of the COBOL data item. If the data should go at the right end, specify the JUSTIFIED RIGHT clause in the declaration of the item.
Give special consideration to numeric XML values, particularly "decorated" monetary values such as '$1,234.00' or '$1234'. These two strings might mean the same thing in XML, but need quite different declarations if used as COBOL sending fields.
Use one of the following techniques when you move XML data to COBOL data items:
However, using these functions is at the expense of performance.