COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Programming Language, which is one of the oldest and first high-level programming languages. It is mostly used for the defense and insurance domains which require huge data processing.
Features of COBOL:
- It is a business-oriented and robust language
- Provide good file handling methods
- Excellent self-documenting capabilities
- Structured Programming language
A COBOL program basically divided into the following four divisions:
- Identification division
- Environment division
- Data division
- Procedure division
Identification Division:
- This is the first and the compulsory division of every COBOL program.
- In this division, the details like author name, date of execution, date of writing the code, installation, etc. can be mentioned.
Syntax:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PGM-NAME.
[AUTHOR. Comment Entry]
[INSTALLATION. Comment Entry]
[DATE-COMPILED. Comment Entry]
[DATE-COMPILED. Comment Entry]
Environment division:
- Using this environment division we can specify the program features which are dependent on the system running it.
- Environment division is used to specify, the computer environment in which the program is written and executed.
- Environment division is further divided into two types:
- Configuration Section: Identifies the computer used for compiling programs.
- Input- Output Section: Identifies the files and the input-output resources used by the program.
Syntax:
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
[FILE-CONTROL. ]
[ File control entries ]
[ I – O CONTROL. ]
[ I- O Control entries ]
Data Division:
- The data division is used to declare variables and parameters in the COBOL program.
- In Data division we declare the variables, their data type, size, usage type, etc.
- Data division is optional unless the program manipulates any constant and user-defined data.
- DATA DIVISION has three different sections, which is mentioned below:
- FILE SECTION: describe most of the data that is sent to, or coming from, the computer’s peripherals.
- WORKING-STORAGE SECTION: Describes the general variables used in the program
- LINKAGE SECTION: Establishes a link between two programs
Procedure Division:
- This is the main division in the COBOL programming language, where business logic has to be written.
- Procedure Division contains user-defined Sections, Paragraphs, Sentences, Statements, Clauses, and Verbs.
- Statements and sentences are necessary for reading input, processing it, and writing the output.
- All the data described in the DATA DIVISION are processed here and desired results are produced.
- Should contain at least one paragraph, sentence, and statement
- only the Section is an option.
Example 1:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. DIVISION-REPRESENTATION.
AUTHOR. RUPA KUMARI.
INSTALLATION. MF.
DATE-WRITTEN. 18 AUG 2022.
DATE-COMPILED. 18 AUG 2022.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
SOURCE-COMPUTER.
OBJECT-COMPUTER.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-VAR PIC X(50).
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-PARA. DISPLAY 'ROW 1-6 COMES UNDER IDENTIFICATION DIVISION'.
DISPLAY 'ROW 7-12 COMES UNDER ENVIRONMENT DIVISION'.
DISPLAY 'ROW 13-15 COMES UNDER DATA DIVISION'.
DISPLAY 'ROW AFTER 16 WILL COMES UNDER PROCEDURE DIVISION'.
STOP RUN.
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Output:
Explanation:
- In this program, we are displaying the uses and performance of the 4 different kinds of COBOL division. Which we discussed in this article.
- Identification division is used to display author details.
- Environment division is used to display, source computer details, and object computer details. As well as input-output files details we have to mention under this division only.
- Data division is used to introduce all the variables before using them in the procedure division
- Procedure division is used to write the main part of the program and its functionality.