IBM Mainframe Forum

Is it possible to do that in some way?

Yes:

Yes but it would have worked if they had put the option in quotes like 'leading' 'trailing' instead of using "reserved" word(s)

Check the syntax diagram in the Enterprise COBOL Language Reference manual. You can use nothing, or you can use the literal 'LEADING' or you can use the literal 'TRAILING'. What you CANNOT do is to make up your own syntax and expect COBOL to recognize it. This is why your

move function trim(checkfield, option) to field

failed -- you made up your own syntax.

Topic locked as the original question has been answered and we're veering into irrelevant areas.