Question

FUNCTION CONTENT-OF returns an alphanumeric field given a pointer and optional length:

Data from pointer is returned as a COBOL field either by scanning for a NUL byte or using the optional length. Reference modification of result allowed.

       identification division.
       program-id. contents.
       data division.
       working-storage section.
       01 ptr   usage pointer.
       01 str   pic x(4) value z"abc".

      *> Testing CONTENT-OF
       procedure division.

       set ptr to address of str
       display content-of(ptr)
       display content-of(ptr, 2)
       display content-of(ptr)(2:2)

       goback.
       end program hosted.