Structured COBOL Workshop for Enterprise COBOL

Course Overview

I. Fundamentals

• A. Hardware and Software
• B. Instructions and Programs
• C. Compiling and Binding
• D. COBOL Basics
  • • Computer Exercise: Starting a COBOL Program

II. Describing Data

• A. Concepts
• B. Records and Files
• C. Fields
• D. Structures
• E. Introduction to PICTURE
• F. Working-Storage
• G. Tips in Defining Data
  • • Computer Exercise: Defining Working-Storage

III. Processing Data

• A. File Handling
• B. Record Building
• C. Loop Control
• D. The PROCEDURE Division
• E. Qualification of names
• F. OPEN, READ, WRITE, CLOSE
• G. Control Flow: GO TO, EXIT PROGRAM, STOP RUN, GOBACK
• H. Data Manipulation
• I. MOVE and MOVE CORRESPONDING
• J. Program Building Strategy
  • Computer Exercise: A Complete COBOL Program

IV. I/O Processing Options

• A. Buffers
• B. Move Mode and Locate Mode
• Processing
• C. End of File Processing
• D. Data Element Naming
  • • Computer Exercise: Variations on a Theme

V. More on Data Items

• A. Figurative Constants
• B. Data Editing
  • Computer Exercise: Editing

VI. PERFORM Statements

• A. Un-structured Programming
• B. Alternatives to "GO TO"
• C. Perform Procedure
• D. Perform ... Thru
• E. Perform Until
  • • Computer Exercise: Using Perform

VII. Program Design

• A. Program Execution Principles
• B. Program Design Paradigms and Techniques
• C. Pseudocode
  • • Computer Exercise: Using Pseudocode

VIII.Conditional Statements

• A. More PERFORM statements
• B. Conditions and Conditional Expressions
• C. IF / [THEN] / ELSE
• D. Scope Terminators
• E. CONTINUE
• F. In-Line PERFORM
• G. SET ... TO TRUE
  • • Computer Exercise: Conditional Statements

IX. Describing Numeric Data

• A. USAGE Clause
• B. Display data
• C. Packed decimal data
• D. Binary integer data
  • • Computer Exercise: Creating Numeric Fields

X. Data Alignment

• A. Slack Bytes and Sync
• B. Numeric Data Transmission Considerations
  • • Computer Exercise: Ensuring Proper Alignment 

XI. Arithmetic Instructions

• A. ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE
• B. Rounding
• C. Arithmetic expressions
• D. COMPUTE
• E. Planning calculation results
• F. SIZE ERROR Condition
  • • Computer Exercise: Using Arithmetic Verbs

XII. EVALUATE

• A. Syntax
• B. EVALUATE and conditions
• C. EVALUATE with ANY and ALSO
• D. EVALUATE and truth tables
• E. Points and Tips
  • • Computer Exercise: Using EVALUATE

XIII.Basic String Manipulation

• A. INITIALIZE, ACCEPT / DISPLAY
• B. Conceptual Data Items (DATE [YYYYMMDD], DAY [YYYYDDD],
• C. DAY-OF-WEEK, TIME)
• D. Reference Modification
• E. Hex Notation
  • • Computer Exercise: DATE, TIME, and DISPLAY

XIV. Introduction to Intrinsic Functions

• A. Concepts and Syntax
• B. Lists of Intrinsic Functions
• C. Date and Time Related Functions
• D. String Related Functions
• E. Arithmetic, Business, and
• Mathematical Functions
  • • Computer Exercise: Using Functions

XV. Working With Print Files

• A. Carriage Control
• B. Report Dates
• C. Report Components
• D. Line Counting
• E. Page Break Logic
• F. Report Break Logic

 

Prerequisites

A background in using text editor, experience submitting jobs and examining the output, as well as introduction to data processing concepts are required for this course. Students should have a basic familiarity with TSO/ISPF (or equivalent) for editing programs and submitting jobs. Knowledge of another programming language is helpful but not required.