# Sequential to csv **URL:** \ **Category:** COBOL technical questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137 "2023-02-28T10:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cbol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@cbol](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/cbol)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137/1 "2023-02-28T10:02:15Z")
Hello, im a cobol beginner here is my code to delete space from a sequential file ,but if try to replace with a coma it replaces all the spaces , is there a way to only replace the first space and delete the others ? IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. CPYFILES. AUTHOR. M. ``` ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION. FILE-CONTROL. SELECT MY-INPUT-FILE ASSIGN TO "C:\Users\Hp\Documents\my_input.txt" ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL. SELECT MY-OUTPUT-FILE ASSIGN TO "C:\Users\Hp\Documents\my_output.txt" ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL. DATA DIVISION. FILE SECTION. FD MY-INPUT-FILE. 01 MY-INPUT-LINE PIC X(380). FD MY-OUTPUT-FILE. 01 MY-OUTPUT-LINE PIC X(381). WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 END-OF-FILE PIC X VALUE SPACE. 88 END-OF-INPUT-FILE VALUE 'T'. 88 NOT-END-OF-INPUT-FILE VALUE 'F'. 01 i pic 9(3) value zero . 01 j pic 9(3) value 1 . PROCEDURE DIVISION. OPEN INPUT MY-INPUT-FILE OPEN EXTEND MY-OUTPUT-FILE SET NOT-END-OF-INPUT-FILE TO TRUE PERFORM UNTIL END-OF-INPUT-FILE READ MY-INPUT-FILE NOT AT END PERFORM VARYING i from 1 by 1 until i>80 If MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1)= SPACE continue ELSE MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) END-IF END-PERFORM WRITE MY-OUTPUT-LINE AT END SET END-OF-INPUT-FILE TO TRUE END-READ END-PERFORM CLOSE MY-INPUT-FILE CLOSE MY-OUTPUT-FILE STOP RUN. ``` sample input : 000000002300 Wilsonten Wileyie 23232MainVStreet,e# 000000002400 Xrayonten Xaviere 2424224THVStreet,e# 000000002500 Youngnten Yannire 25252YongeSStreete# 000000002600 Zenithten Zebulon 2626226THeStreette# 000000123456 Doeithten Johnlon 1236MainHStreettte# 000000999999 Smithhten Johnlon 12399aEnStreetttte# sample outputs : 000000000100AndersonAdrian1113PeachtreePlaz 000000000100AndersonAdrian1113PeachtreePlaz ---
**Author:** ![gbu12345](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openmainframeproject.org/gbu12345/32/774_2.png) [@gbu12345](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/gbu12345)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137/2 "2023-02-28T10:39:47Z")
try this: ```auto PERFORM UNTIL END-OF-INPUT-FILE READ MY-INPUT-FILE NOT AT END J = 1 space-found = 0 PERFORM VARYING i from 1 by 1 until i>80 If MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) not = SPACE MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 ELSE if space-found = 0 space-found = 1 else MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 end-if END-IF END-PERFORM WRITE MY-OUTPUT-LINE AT END SET END-OF-INPUT-FILE TO TRUE END-READ END-PERFORM ``` ---
**Author:** ![cbol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@cbol](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/cbol)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137/3 "2023-02-28T11:35:35Z")
Thank you , is there a way to replace the first space with a coma and delete the others. ---
**Author:** ![gbu12345](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openmainframeproject.org/gbu12345/32/774_2.png) [@gbu12345](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/gbu12345)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137/4 "2023-02-28T14:00:41Z")
```auto PERFORM UNTIL END-OF-INPUT-FILE READ MY-INPUT-FILE NOT AT END J = 1 space-found = 0 PERFORM VARYING i from 1 by 1 until i>80 If MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) not = SPACE MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 ELSE if space-found = 0 space-found = 1 MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 else MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 end-if END-IF END-PERFORM WRITE MY-OUTPUT-LINE AT END SET END-OF-INPUT-FILE TO TRUE END-READ END-PERFORM ``` ---
**Author:** ![gbu12345](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openmainframeproject.org/gbu12345/32/774_2.png) [@gbu12345](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/gbu12345)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sequential-to-csv/7137/5 "2023-02-28T14:06:33Z")
```auto PERFORM UNTIL END-OF-INPUT-FILE READ MY-INPUT-FILE NOT AT END J = 1 space-found = 0 PERFORM VARYING i from 1 by 1 until i>80 If MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) not = SPACE MOVE MY-INPUT-LINE(i:1) to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 ELSE if space-found = 0 space-found = 1 MOVE ‘,’ to MY-OUTPUT-LINE (j:1) j = j + 1 end-if END-IF END-PERFORM WRITE MY-OUTPUT-LINE AT END SET END-OF-INPUT-FILE TO TRUE END-READ END-PERFORM ```