COBOL Pointer variable

How to define a pointer variable

Define a pointer variable in Working-Storage Section

01  SILLY-POINTER                USAGE IS POINTER.

or

01  POINTERS-AND-OTHER-STUFF.    05  SILLY-POINTER            USAGE IS POINTER.    05  SILLY-VALUE              REDEFINES        SILLY-POINTER            PIC S9(8) COMP.

Set pointer variable

Set from a regular variable

SET SILLY-POINTER TO ADDRESS OF RECORD-1.

RECORD-1 is a general variable in Working-Storage Section.

Set from another pointer

SET SILLY-POINTER TO SILLY-POINTER2.

SILLY-POINTER2 is another pointer type variable; so SILLY-POINTER and SILLY-POINTER2 point to same address.

Set to null

SET SILLY-POINTER TO NULL.