Problem:

Currently the field value is erased, is there a way to keep the old value and allow an overwrite using adis and the accept statement with screen sections?

Resolution:

Use the WITH UPDATE option in the Accept statement-

From the on-line docs for Format 5 of the Accept statement-

If the UPDATE option is not specified, a data item for data entry is displayed initially as spaces, if you set the MS Compiler directive when you submit your source code to your COBOL system. (If the MS directive is not set, the display of initial data is a configuration option.)

If the UPDATE option is specified, initial data of the data item for data entry is displayed.