COBOL Programming Part 1 - Foundation Level

Virtual Classroom Environment dates - click to book!

UK Start Times

What do I need?

• webcam
• headphones with microphone
• sufficient bandwidth, at least 1.5 Mb/s in each direction.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• describe the structure and purpose of COBOL programs
• write, compile and test structured COBOL batch programs
• code both IDENTIFICATION and ENVIRONMENT DIVISIONS
• code data descriptions within the DATA DIVISIONS
• access sequential files from COBOL programs
• perform arithmetic operations in COBOL programs.

Who Should Attend

Trainee or junior programmers who will be writing or maintaining COBOL programs.

Prerequisites

An understanding of basic computing terms and techniques. For those who will be working in an IBM mainframe environment, a conceptual-level understanding of that environment and the ability to use TSO/ISPF is also expected.

Duration

5 days

Fee (per attendee)

£2415 (ex VAT)

This includes free online 24/7 access to course notes.

Hard copy course notes are available on request from rsmshop@rsm.co.uk

at £50.00 plus carriage per set.

Course Code

CBF

Contents

Introduction to COBOL Programming

Programming concepts; low and high level programming; development; compiling; COBOL history; Program design; Preparing a program.

COBOL Programming Basics

Syntax descriptions; COBOL divisions; COBOL program structure; Words; Word examples; Literal examples; Figurative constants; User-defined words; Standard COBOL program format.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION; IDENTIFICATION DIVISION sentences; Use of comments.

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION; CONFIGURATION SECTION; INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION; Relationship with JCL.

DATA DIVISION

DATA DIVISION; Data record structure and levels; Data records - example; FILE SECTION; Coding rules & recommendations; WORKING-STORAGE SECTION; Describing data; PICTURE clause; Alphanumeric & alphabetic data; Numeric data; Setting initial values.

PROCEDURE DIVISION - File Handling

PROCEDURE DIVISION; I/O statements; OPEN /CLOSE statements; OPEN /CLOSE examples; READ / WRITE statements; READ / WRITE examples; Writing print headings and lines; MOVE statement; MOVE examples; Group MOVE; DISPLAY; Terminating a program; RETURN-CODE.

PROCEDURE DIVISION - Program Logic

Paragraphs; GO TO statement; Structured programming; In-line PERFORM; Paragraphs & sections; Using sections; PERFORMing a section; PERFORM example; PERFORM . . THROUGH; PERFORM UNTIL; PERFORM VARYING...UNTIL.

Editing Data

VALUE clause; INITIALIZE clause; INITIALIZE examples; BLANK WHEN ZERO clause; JUSTIFIED clause; SIGN IS clause; USAGE IS clause; Edited data.

ACCEPT and Date Intrinsic Functions

ACCEPT; Using ACCEPT for input data; ACCEPT date data format; Intrinsic functions; CURRENT-DATE function; Other date functions - YYYYMMDD date format; Other date functions - YYYYDDD date format.

Arithmetic Operations

Arithmetic operations; Other common options; The ADD statement; The SUBTRACT statement; CORRESPONDING statement; MULTIPLY statement; DIVIDE statement; COMPUTE statement; Size errors; ON SIZE ERROR option; Arithmetic functions; Arithmetic functions examples.

Conditional Processing

Conditional processing; IF statement format; Relational conditions; Class conditions; Sign condition; Multiple conditions; Nested IF statements; 88 level identifiers; Setting 88 levels; The EVALUATE statement; EVALUATE and multiple fields; EVALUATE using TRUE & FALSE; Using ANY.

Program Compilation

The COBOL compiler; Compiler-directive statements - COPY; Compiler listing - COPY; Compiler options.

COBOL Errors & Abends

Error messages; Abend codes; Abend information; CEEDUMP.