Each delegate will acquire a working knowledge of COBOL and will gain a solid foundation in the fundamentals of COBOL coding including program structure, design, execution and debugging. The concepts of structured programming are introduced with examples and explanation. Good programming practice is encouraged throughout. The course starts with the basics and furthers learning with hands on assignments until delegates are capable of complex programming logic and design.

Application Programmers with little or no previous experience in COBOL who require formal training in the basic language features and programming techniques.

An understanding of computer concepts is assumed. A working knowledge of ISPF Edit, if z/OS TSO/ISPF is the entry vehicle for programmers.

Introduction

Divisions of a COBOL program.

COBOL character set.

Words.

Constants.

Rules for continuation.

Punctuation rules.

COBOL coding format.

Format notation.

Identification Division

Environment division.

Configuration section.

Input-Output section.

Data Division (pt. 1)

File description.

Data description.

Level number.

Data-name / FILLER clause.

REDEFINES clause.

BLANK WHEN ZERO clause.

PICTURE clause.

Data types (Alphabetic, Alphanumeric and Numeric).

Procedure Division (pt. 1)

OPEN statement.

CLOSE statement.

READ statement.

WRITE statement (disks, cartridges and tapes).

MOVE statement.

Program Control

GO TO statement.

PERFORM statement.

PERFORM with TIMES.

PERFORM with UNTIL.

EXIT statement.

STOP statement.

Data Division (pt. 2)

VALUE clause.

SIGN IS clause.

USAGE clause (DISPLAY, COMP, COMP-3).

Data Types - Numeric.

Procedure Division (pt. 2)

Conditional Expressions.

Relation condition.

Class condition.

Sign condition.

Condition - Name condition.

Complex condition.

Order of evaluation of conditional statements.

IF statement.

Data Division (pt. 3)

88 levels.

Procedure Division (pt. 3)

EVALUATE statement.

SET statement.

DISPLAY statement.

ACCEPT statement.

Arithmetic Statements

ADD statement.

SUBTRACT statement.

MULTIPLY statement.

DIVIDE statement.

COMPUTE statement.

Procedure Division (pt. 4)

WRITE statement (printing).

Data Division (pt. 4)

Edited Data.

Alphanumeric Edited.

Numeric Edited.

Simple Insertion.

Special Insertion.

Fixed Insertion.

Floating Insertion.

Suppression and Replacement.

Workshops

Workshops in this class are conducted in a hands on IBM z/OS environment.

Delegates will code execute and debug a series of programs serving as an excellent example for future programming in COBOL.