Programming in
COBOL
Evolution and Features of COBOL.
General Coding and Format rules.
Language Fundamentals.
Input and Output verbs.
Arithmetic verbs.
Design and development of simple COBOL programs
Early years.
ANS Versions of COBOL.
Future of COBOL.
History of COBOL
1960 COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language)
initial specifications presented by CODASYL (Conference
on Data System Languages)
1964 revised to make COBOL more flexible
1968 ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
developed American National Standard (ANS) COBOL
Standardized form
Attempted to overcome incompatibilities of different
versions of COBOL
1974 ANSI published revised version of (ANS) COBOL
Business applications needed to manipulate character as
well as numeric data
String operations added
History of COBOL
1985 ANSI published another revised
version of COBOL
Designed to take advantage of structured
programming techniques
Logic errors reduced with END statements
Case statement reduced nested IFs
Less English-like
Maintained readability and business orientation
Compatible with previous versions
History of COBOL
COBOL
COBOL is an acronym which stands for
COmmon Business Oriented Language.
The name indicates the target area of COBOL
applications.
COBOL is used for developing business,
typically file-oriented, applications.
It is not designed for writing systems programs.
You would not develop an operating system or a
compiler using COBOL.
COBOL is one of the oldest computer languages
in use (it was developed in late 1950s).
Nature of COBOL
Business Oriented Language.
Standard Language.
Robust Language.
Structured Programming Language.
English-like Language.
Structure of a COBOL program
PROGRAM
DIVISIONS
SECTIONS
PARAGRAPHS
SENTENCES
STATEMENTS
RESERVED
WORDS
USER DEFINED
WORDS
CHARACTERS
COBOL Character set
Alphabets (Both upper and lower case)
Digits (0 to 9)
Special characters
b - + *
/ = $ ,
; .
< > ( )
The COBOL DIVISIONs
DIVISIONS are used to identify the principal
components of the program text. There are four
DIVISIONS in all.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. // Optional
DATA DIVISION. // Optional
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
The purpose of the IDENTIFICATION
DIVISION is to provide information
about the program to the programmer
and to the compiler.
Most of the entries in the
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION are
directed at the programmer and are
treated by the compiler as comments.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION...
An exception to this is the PROGRAM-
ID clause. Every COBOL program must
have a PROGRAM-ID. It is used to
enable the compiler to identify the
program.
There are several other informational
paragraphs in the IDENTIFICATION
DIVISION but we will ignore them for
the moment.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION...
The IDENTIFICATION DIVISION has
the following structure
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PGM-NAME.
[AUTHOR. YourName.]
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. FIRSTPGM.
AUTHOR. Michael Coughlan.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION...
The keywords IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
represent the division header and signal the
commencement of the program text.
The paragraph name PROGRAM-ID is a
keyword. It must be specified immediately after the
division header.
The program name can be up to 8 characters long
on MF(30 in case of windows).
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION...
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. Member-name. ( Max 8 chars, letters & digits only )
AUTHOR. / Optional entry
INSTALLATION. / Optional entry
DATE-WRITTEN. / Optional entry
DATE-COMPILED. / Optional entry
Is used to identify the program to the computer.
Is the least significant DIVISION of a COBOL
program.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
The ENVIRONMENT DIVISION is totally
optional unless you want to use files /
specify special devices to the compiler in
your program.
Is used to indicate the Specific Computers
used to develop and execute the program.
The general format of ED is
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
SOURCE-COMPUTER. VAX-6410.
OBJECT-COMPUTER. IBM-ES9000.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
SELECT EMPL-FILE ASSIGN TO
DISC.
...
The DATA DIVISION
The DATA DIVISION is used to describe most
of the data that a program processes.
The DATA DIVISION has two main sections-
FILE SECTION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
The FILE SECTION is used to describe most of
the data that is sent to, or comes from, the
computers peripherals.
The WORKING-STORAGE SECTION is used
to describe the general variables used in the
program.
DATA DIVISION
DATA DIVISION. / Optional entry
FILE SECTION.
FD filename
. . . . . . .
SD sortfile
. . . . . . .
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
. . . . . . .
Is used to describe the structure of the fields,
records, files and temporary variables used for
calculations.
PROCEDURE DIVISION
Is the most significant DIVISION of a
COBOL program.
Includes statements and sentences
necessary for reading input, processing it
and writing the output. These are the
instructions that are executed by the
computer at the RUN TIME.
PROCEDURE DIVISION
The PROCEDURE DIVISION is where
all the data described in the DATA
DIVISION is processed and produced
desired results. It is here that the
programmer describes his algorithm.
The PROCEDURE DIVISION is
hierarchical in structure and consists of
Sections, Paragraphs, Sentences and
Statements.
PROCEDURE DIVISION...
Only the Section is optional. There must
be at least one paragraph, sentence and
statement in the PROCEDURE
DIVISION .
In the PROCEDURE DIVISION,
paragraph and section names are chosen
by the programmer.
The names used should reflect the
processing being done in the paragraph or
section.
Sections
A SECTION is a block of code made up of one
or more paragraphs.
A SECTION begins with the section-name and
ends where next section name is encountered or
where the program text ends.
A SECTION name consists of a name devised
by the programmer or defined by the language
followed by the word SECTION followed by a
full stop.
U0000-SELECT-USER-RECORDS SECTION.
FILE SECTION.
Paragraphs
Each section consists of one or more paragraphs.
A PARAGRAPH is a block of code made up of
one or more sentences.
A PARAGRAPH begins with the paragraph-
name and ends with the next paragraph or section
name or the end of the program text.
The paragraph-name consists of a name devised
by the programmer or defined by the language
followed by a full stop.
P0000-PRINT-FINAL-TOTALS.
PROGRAM-ID.
Sentences and Statements
A PARAGRAPH consists of one or more sentences.
A SENTENCE consists of one or more statements and is terminated by
a full stop.
MOVE .21 TO VAT-RATE
COMPUTE VAT-AMOUNT = PRODUCT-COST * VAT-
RATE.
DISPLAY "Enter Name " WITH NO ADVANCING
ACCEPT STUDENT-NAME
DISPLAY "Name Entered was " STUDENT-NAME.
A STATEMENT consists of a COBOL verb and an operand or
operands.
SUBTRACT T-TAX FROM GROSS-PAY GIVING NET-PAY
READ STUDENT-FILE
AT END SET END-OF-FILE TO TRUE
END-READ
First COBOL program
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID.FIRSTPGM.
AUTHOR. Michael Coughlan.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-NUM-1 PIC 9(001) VALUE ZEROS.
01 WS-NUM-2 PIC 9(001) VALUE ZEROS.
01 WS-RESULT-1 PIC 9(002) VALUE ZEROS.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
A0000-MAIN-PARA.
ACCEPT WS-NUM-1
ACCEPT WS-NUM-2
MULTIPLY WS-NUM-1 BY WS-NUM-2 GIVING
WS-RESULT-1
DISPLAY "Result is = ", WS-RESULT-1
STOP RUN
.
The minimum COBOL program
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. SMALLPGM.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
A0000-DISPLAY-PARA.
DISPLAY "I did it."
STOP RUN
.
What is the model we have used to
describe the
COBOL program structure?
TOP-DOWN
COBOL coding rules
Almost all COBOL compilers treat a line of
COBOL code as if it contained two distinct areas.
These are known as; Area A and Area B
When a COBOL compiler recognizes these two
areas, all division, section, paragraph names, FD
entries and 01 level entries must start in Area A.
All other sentences/statements must start in Area
B.
Area A is four characters wide and is followed by
Area B.
COBOL coding rules...
In some COBOL compilers these coding
restrictions are removed.
For example In Microfocus COBOL compiler
directive
$ SET SOURCEFORMAT"FREE" frees us
from all formatting restrictions.
$ SET SOURCEFORMAT"FREE"
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. ProgramFragment.
* This is a comment. It starts
* with an asterisk in column 1
COBOL coding sheet
Column numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 72 80
Column
numbers
* Area A Area B
I
D
E
N
T
I
F
I
C
A
T
I
O
N
A
R
E
A
-
/
COBOL coding rules
Each line is considered to be made up of 80
columns.
Columns 1 to 6 are reserved for line numbers.
Column 7 is an indicator column and has special
meaning to the compiler.
Asterisk ( * ) indicates comments
Hyphen ( - ) indicates continuation
Slash ( / ) indicates form feed
COBOL coding rules
Columns 8 to 11 are called Area A. All
COBOL DIVISIONs, SECTIONs,
paragraphs and some special entries must
begin in Area A.
Columns 12 to 72 are called Area B. All
COBOL statements must begin in Area B.
Columns 73 to 80 are identification area.
COBOL data description
COBOL uses what could be described as a
declaration by example strategy.
In effect, the programmer provides the
system with an example, or template, or
PICTURE of what the data item looks like.
From the picture the system derives the
information necessary to allocate it.
Basic data types
Alphabetic
Numeric
Alphanumeric
Edited numeric
Edited alphanumeric
Literals
Literals are symbols whose value does not
change
in a program.
There are 3 types of literals namely
(1) Numeric literals.
(2) Non-numeric literals.
(3) Figurative constants.
Literals
Are formed using digits only.
May include a sign which must be the extreme
left character.
There must not be any blank between the sign
and
the first digit.
May include a decimal point which can not be
the
right most character.
Can have at most 18 digits.
Numeric literals
Literals
Are used display headings or messages.
Are a sequence of characters (except quotes)
from
the COBOL character set enclosed within
quotes.
May contain up to 160 characters including
spaces.
Non-numeric literals
Literals
Figurative constants Meaning
ZERO(S) or ZEROES Represents the value 0, one or
more depending on the context
SPACE(S) Represents one or more spaces
HIGH-VALUE(S) Represents the highest value
LOW-VALUE(S) Represents the lowest value
QUOTE(S) Represents single or double
quotes
Figurative constants
Data names
Are named memory locations.
Must be described in the DATA
DIVISION before they can be used in the
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
Can be of elementary or group type.
Can be subscripted.
Are user defined words.
Rules for forming User-defined
words
Are used to form section, paragraph and data
names.
Can be at most 30 characters in length.
Only alphabets, digits and hyphen are allowed.
Blanks are not allowed.
May not begin or end with a hyphen.
Should not be a COBOL reserved word.
Description of data names
All the data names used in the PROCEDURE
DIVISION must be described in the DATA
DIVISION.
The description of a data name is done with the
aid of
(1) Level number
(2) PICTURE clause
(3) VALUE clause
Description of data names
Is used to specify the the data hierarchy.
Level number
Level Number Purpose
01 Record description and independent items
02 to 49 Fields within records and sub items
66 RENAMES clause
77 Independent items
88 Condition names
Description of data names
Is used to specify the following
(1) The data type
(2) The storage requirement.
Can be abbreviated as PIC.
Can be abbreviated in case of recurring
symbols.
Is used only elementary items.
PICTURE clause
Description of data names
PICTURE clause
Code Meaning
9 Numeric
A Alphabetic
X Alphanumeric
V Decimal Point
S Sign bit
Description of data names
VALUE clause
Is used to assign an initial value to a
elementary data item.
The initial value can be numeric literal,
non- numeric literal or figurative constant.
Is an optional clause.
Group and elementary items
In COBOL the term group item is used to
describe a data item which has been further
subdivided.
A Group item is declared using a level
number and a data name. It cannot have
a picture clause.
Where a group item is the highest item in
a data hierarchy it is referred to as a
record and uses the level number 01.
Group and elementary items..
The term elementary item is used to describe
data items which are atomic, that is, not further
subdivided.
An elementary item declaration consists of;
a level number,
a data name
picture clause.
An elementary item must have a picture clause.
Every group or elementary item declaration must
be followed by a full stop.
PICTURE Clauses for Group Items
Picture clauses are NOT specified for group
data items because the size of a group item is
the sum of the sizes of its subordinate,
elementary items and its type is always
assumed to be PIC X.
The type of a group items is always assumed to
be PIC X, because group items may have
several different data items and types
subordinate to them.
An X picture is the only one which could
support such collections.
H E N N E S S Y R M 9 2 3 0 1 6 5 L M 5 1 0 5 5 0 F
Group Items/Records - Example
STUDENT-DETAILS
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 STUDENT-DETAILS PIC X(026).
H E N N E S S Y R M 9 2 3 0 1 6 5 L M 5 1 0 5 5 0 F
STUDENT-DETAILS
STUDENT-NAME STUDENT-ID COURSE-CODE GRANT GENDER
Group Items/Records - Example
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 STUDENT-DETAILS.
02 STUDENT-NAME PIC X(010).
02 STUDENT-ID PIC 9(007).
02 COURSE-CODE PIC X(004).
02 GRANT PIC 9(004).
02 GENDER PIC X(001).
H E N N E S S Y R M 9 2 3 0 1 6 5 L M 5 1 0 5 5 0 F
STUDENT-DETAILS
SURNAME INITIALS
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 STUDENT-DETAILS.
02 STUDENT-NAME.
03 SURNAME PIC X(008).
03 INITIALS PIC X(002).
02 STUDENT-ID PIC 9(007).
02 COURSE-CODE PIC X(004).
02 GRANT PIC 9(004).
02 GENDER PIC X(001).
STUDENT-NAME STUDENT-ID COURSE-CODE GRANT GENDER
Group Items/Records
LEVEL Numbers & DATA
hierarchy
In COBOL, level numbers are used to decompose
a structure into its constituent parts.
In this hierarchical structure the higher the level
number, the lower the item is in the hierarchy. At
the lowest level the data is completely atomic.
The level numbers 01 through 49 are general level
numbers, but there are also special level numbers
such as 66, 77 and 88.
In a hierarchical data description what is important
is the relationship of the level numbers to one
another, not the actual level numbers used.
01 STUDENT-DETAILS.
02 STUDENT-NAME.
03 SURNAME PIC X(008).
03 INITIALS PIC X(002).
02 STUDENT-ID PIC 9(007).
02 COURSE-CODE PIC X(004).
02 GRANT PIC 9(004).
02 GENDER PIC X(001).
01 STUDENT-DETAILS.
05 STUDENT-NAME.
10 SURNAME PIC X(008).
10 INITIALS PIC X(002).
05 STUDENT-ID PIC 9(007).
05 COURSE-CODE PIC X(004).
05 GRANT PIC 9(004).
05 GENDER PIC X(001).
Description of data names
Example
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-REGNO PIC X(5).
01 WS-NAME.
05 WS-FIRST-NAME PIC A(15).
05 WS-MID-NAME PIC A(15).
05 WS-LAST-NAME PIC A(10).
01 WS-AGE PIC 99V99.
01 WS-SCHOLARSHIP PIC 9(4) VALUE 1000.
Edited picture symbols
Edit symbol Meaning
Z Zero suppression
* Check protection
, Comma insertion
- Minus sign insertion
+ Plus or minus sign insertion
Edited picture symbols
Edit symbol Meaning
$ Dollar sign insertion
CR Credit symbol
DB Debit symbol
B Blank insertion
/ Slash insertion
. Decimal point insertion
BLANK WHEN ZERO Blank insertion when
the value is zero.
Data movement verb.
Arithmetic Verbs.
Input / Output Verbs.
Sequence control verbs.
File handling verbs.
PROCEDURE DIVISION Verbs
ACCEPT Verb
Syntax
ACCEPT identifier [ FROM {
DATE, DAY, TIME, mnemonic-name }].
Examples
(1) ACCEPT NUMBER-1.
(2) ACCEPT TODAY-DATE FROM
DATE.
Input / Output Verbs
DISPLAY Verb
Syntax
DISPLAY { identifier-1, literal-1 } , . . .
Examples
(1) DISPLAY The sum is SUM.
Input / Output Verbs
Arithmetic Verbs
ADD
SUBTRACT
MULTIPLY
DIVIDE
COMPUTE
ADD Verb
Syntax-1
ADD { identifier-1, literal-1 } [ , identifier-2,
literal-2 ] . . . TO identifier-3 [ , identifier-4 ] . . .
Syntax-2
ADD { identifier-1, literal-1 } { identifier-2, literal-2
} [ identifier-3, literal-3 ] GIVING identifier-4 . . .
ADD Verb
Examples
(1) ADD NUM-1 TO NUM-2.
(2) ADD NUM-1, NUM-2 TO NUM-3.
(3) ADD 12, NUM-1, NUM-2 TO NUM-3, NUM-4.
(4) ADD NUM-1, NUM-2 GIVING NUM-3.
(5) ADD 12, NUM-1 GIVING NUM-2, NUM-3.
ADD Examples
ADD Cash TO Total.
Before 3 1000
After
ADD Cash, 20 TO Total, Wage.
Before 3 1000 100
After
ADD Cash, Total GIVING Result.
Before 3 1000 0015
After
ADD Males TO Females GIVING TotalStudents.
Before 1500 0625 1234
After
3 1003
3 1023 123
3 1000 1003
1500 0625 2125
SUBTRACT Verb
Syntax
SUBTRACT { identifier-1, literal-1 } [ identifier-2,
literal-2 ] . . . FROM identifier-3 [ , identifier-4 ]
[ , GIVING identifier-5 [ , identifier-6 ] . . . ]
SUBTRACT Verb
Examples
(1) SUBTRACT NUM-1 FROM NUM-2.
(2) SUBTRACT NUM-1, NUM-2 FROM NUM-3.
(3) SUBTRACT 5, NUM-1 FROM NUM-2, NUM-3.
(4) SUBTRACT 12 FROM NUM-1 GIVING NUM-
2.
(5) SUBTRACT NUM-1 FROM NUM-2 GIVING
NUM-3.
SUBTRACT Examples
SUBTRACT Tax FROM GrossPay, Total.
Before 120 4000 9120
After
SUBTRACT Tax, 80 FROM Total.
Before 100 480
After
SUBTRACT Tax FROM GrossPay GIVING NetPay.
Before 750 1000 0012
After
120 3880 9000
100 300
750 1000 0250
MULTIPLY Verb
Syntax
MULTIPLY { identifier-1, literal-1 } BY identifier-2
[ identifier-3 ] . . . [ , GIVING identifier-4
[ , identifier-5 ] . . . ]
MULTIPLY Verb
Examples
(1) MULTIPLY NUM-1 BY NUM-2.
(2) MULTIPLY NUM-1 BY NUM-2 GIVING
NUM-3.
(3) MULTIPLY 5 BY NUM-1 GIVING NUM-2.
(4) MULTIPLY NUM-1 BY NUM-2 GIVING
NUM-4, NUM-5.
DIVIDE Verb
Syntax-1
DIVIDE { identifier-1, literal-1 } INTO identifier-2
[ , identifier-2 ] . . . [ GIVING identifier-4
[ , identifier-5 ] . . . ] ..
Syntax-2
DIVIDE { identifier-1, literal-1 } BY { identifier-2,
literal-2 } GIVING identifier-3 [ , identifier-4 ].
DIVIDE Verb
Syntax-3
DIVIDE { identifier-1, literal-1 } { INTO , BY }
{ identifier-2, literal-2 } GIVING identifier-3
REMAINDER identifier-4 .
DIVIDE Verb
Examples
(1) DIVIDE 5 INTO NUM-1.
(2) DIVIDE 6 INTO NUM-1 GIVING NUM-2,
NUM-3.
(3) DIVIDE NUM-1 BY 3 GIVING NUM-2, NUM-3.
(4) DIVIDE NUM-1 BY NUM-2 GIVING NUM-3.
(5) DIVIDE NUM-1 BY NUM-2 GIVING NUM-3
REMAINDER NUM-4.
MULTIPLY and DIVIDE
MULTIPLY Subs BY Members GIVING TotalSubs
ON SIZE ERROR DISPLAY "TotalSubs too small"
END-MULTIPLY.
Subs Members TotalSubs
Before 15.50 100 0123.45
After
MULTIPLY 10 BY Magnitude, Size.
Before 355 125
After
DIVIDE Total BY Members GIVING Average ROUNDED.
Before 9234.55 100 1234.56
After
15.50 100 1550.00
3550 1250
9234.55 100 92.35
ROUNDED Option
Syntax
Arithmetic statement [ ROUNDED ].
Examples
(1) ADD NUM-1, NUM-2, NUM-3 GIVING NUM-4
ROUNDED.
(2) DIVIDE NUM-1 BY NUM-2 GIVING NUM-3
ROUNDED.
The ROUNDED
option
Receiving Field Actual Result Truncated Result Rounded Result
PIC 9(3)V9. 123.25
PIC 9(3). 123.25
123.2 123.3
123 123
The ROUNDED option takes effect when, after
decimal point alignment, the result calculated must
be truncated on the right hand side.
The option adds 1 to the receiving item when the
leftmost truncated digit has an absolute value of 5
or greater.
ON SIZE ERROR Option
Syntax
Arithmetic statement [ON SIZE ERROR imperative
statement . . .]
Examples
(1) ADD NUM-1, NUM-2, NUM-3 TO NUM-4 ON SIZE
ERROR PERFORM 900-EXIT-PARA.
(2). DIVIDE NUM-1 BY NUM-2 ON SIZE ERROR
PERFORM 800-ERROR-PARA.
A size error condition exists when, after decimal
point alignment, the result is truncated on either
the left or the right hand side.
If an arithmetic statement has a rounded phrase
then a size error only occurs if there is truncation
on the left hand side (most significant digits).
Receiving Field Actual Result SIZE ERROR
PIC 9(3)V9. 245.96
PIC 9(3)V9. 1245.9
PIC 9(3). 124
PIC 9(3). 1246
PIC 9(3)V9 Not Rounded 124.45
PIC 9(3)V9 Rounded 124.45
PIC 9(3)V9 Rounded 3124.45
On size error option
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
COMPUTE Verb
Syntax
COMPUTE identifier-1 . . . [ ROUNDED ]
= algebraic expression [ ON SIZE ERROR ]
imperative statement.
Example
COMPUTE VOLUME = ( 4 / 3) * ( 22 / 7 ) * R ** 3.
Note: If the ROUNDED and ON SIZE ERROR both
appear, then the ROUNDED option should precede the
ON SIZE ERROR.
Compute IrishPrice = SterlingPrice / Rate * 100.
Before 1000.50 156.25 87
After
179.59 156.25 87
The COMPUTE
{ } COMPUTE Identifier [ ROUNDED ] . . . = ArithmeticExpression
ON SIZE ERROR
NOT ON SIZE ERROR
StatementBlock END- COMPUTE
`
)
(
Precedence Rules.
1. ** = POWER N
N
2. * = MULTIPLY x
/ = DIVIDE
3. + = ADD +
- = SUBTRACT -
Review
Features of COBOL.
General Coding and Format rules.
Language Fundamentals.
Input and Output verbs.
Arithmetic verbs.
Review questions
If an entry must begin in area A ,it must begin in
If an entry must begin in area B,it must begin in position
Program-id is the paragraph name that appears in the
The word rounded (precedes, follows) the ON SIZE
ERROR clause in an arithmetic statement
Column number 8,9,10,11
12 to 72 any where;
identification division
precedes
Review questions
A numeric literal in COBOL can have at most
A Non numeric literal can have maximum
Indicate True or False
A 01 level entry cannot have a picture class
In COBOL a data name must contain at least 8
characters
A COBOL sentence consists of one or more than one
statement the last of which is terminated by a period
18 digits
160 characters including spaces
False
False
True
Any Questions
????
Thank you
