Chapter 1

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To familiarize you with

Why COBOL is a popular business-oriented language. Programming practices and techniques History of COBOL Use of the current ANSI standard versions of COBOL Four divisions of a COBOL program

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Computer Programming: An Overview Applications Program Development Process Nature of COBOL History of COBOL and the ANS Versions

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Techniques for Improving Program Design Sample Programs Entering and Running a COBOL Program on Your Computer
This is particular to our system Well be using the Alpha which is a VAX Telnet into it, youll love the editor.

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Machine language Only language computer understands All programs executed on computer must be in machine language Machine language programs difficult to write

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Symbolic language (like COBOL) English-like languages used to write programs Easier than writing programs in machine language Must be translated or compiled into machine language to run on computer

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1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Determine Program Specifications Design Program Using Program Planning Tools Code and Enter Program Compile Program Test Program Document Program

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Systems analysts, users and programmers develop specifications Specifications include:

Description of input and output data Step-by-step processing required to convert input to output

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Record layout forms describe format of input and output data Data names of each data item in record Location of each data item in record Size of each data item Number of decimal positions (for numeric data items) Note that this is different than what you are used to in C++

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Printer spacing charts describe Spacing Layout of printed output Heading, detail, total lines Error messages

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Program planning tools used to map out structure and logic of program Flowcharts use block diagrams to represent logic Pseudocode uses English-like statements Hierarchy charts show relationships among sections of program

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Programmer writes and enters program into computer Program written in symbolic language (like COBOL) Called source program
You all already know this

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Compiler is program that Checks source program for rule violations Translates source program into object program Next class well try this out

Source program in symbolic language

Translated by compiler

Object program in machine language

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Test or debug program to ensure it contains no errors Check for two types of errors
Compile-Time Errors Execution Errors

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Errors detected by compiler during translation from COBOL to machine language Detects violations of programming rules
Misspelled reserved words Missing punctuation

Also called syntax errors

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Detected when program is run Logic error causes incorrect output

Sequence of instructions incorrect Wrong instruction coded

Run-time error if computer cannot execute instruction

Attempt to divide by zero Attempt to read a file that cannot be found

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Desk checking Correcting syntax errors Program walkthroughs Executing the program

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Documentation - formal set of procedures and instructions to specify how to use program Written for
Those working with output Computer operators who run program Maintenance programmers who make modifications to program

This was a big part of the design of COBOL, Self documenting code

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Business-oriented language Standard language English-like language Relatively easy to understand

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Distinct Features of COBOL The language is simple No pointers No user defined types No user defined functions Structure like data types File records are also described with great detail, as are lines to be output to a printer COBOL is self documenting

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Advantages -Simple -Portable -Maintainable Disadvantages -very wordy -very rigid format -not designed to handle scientific applications

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Developed in 1959 as standard language to meet needs of business Committee to develop language convened by Department of Defense Included representatives from academia, business, computer manufacturers

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1960s
1968

wide variations in COBOL compilers first COBOL standard set by American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

1974 1985

second ANSI standard to make COBOL more efficient, standardized

this ANSI standard incorporated structured programming techniques

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1985 currently the most widely used The book mentions 2008 as the latest standard but looks like 2002 may be So the book mentions 2008 conventions, seems they work on our compiler.

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Likely to remain important language Older COBOL programs need to be updated Still used by many for new program development Mostly maintaining existing code, thats why youre here.

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About 200 billion lines of COBOL source code in use New lines added each year Used by many application programmers in medium to large U.S. companies How about the Y2K Problem?

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Two techniques used to develop programs that are easier to understand, test, debug and modify

Structured Programming Top-Down Programming

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Eliminates use of GO TO statements

Allowed skipping to different sections of program without returning to starting point

Program logic easier to follow with "GOTO-less" programming

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Program divided into paragraphs Main paragraph or module controls logic flow using PERFORM statements Main module "performs" other modules when instructions in that module required Each module can be written and tested independently of others

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Another technique to make programs easier to understand, test, debug and modify Develop program like term paper
Develop outline first Add details for each of main steps Add further refinement for more complex steps Use of stubs

For COBOL program Code main modules or routines first Code intermediate modules next Details deferred to minor modules and coded last
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Cobol suited for developing both types of programs

Interactive programs Accept input data from keyboard Input data processed immediately Output (results) displayed on screen immediately

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Batch programs Process large volumes of input at periodic intervals Input data read in from files Output written to files

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Every COBOL program contains up to four separate divisions in the following order: IDENTIFICATION DIVISION ENVIRONMENT DIVISION DATA DIVISION PROCEDURE DIVISION Specific to COBOL

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
Identifies program to operating system Provides documentation about program

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Defines file-names Describes devices used to store them Not included in fully interactive programs

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DATA DIVISION
Describes input and output format of data in files Defines any constants and work areas

PROCEDURE DIVISION
Contains instructions to read input, process it and create output

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Purpose
to compute employee WAGES

Input from keyboard

HOURS and RATE

Processing
compute WAGES as HOURS x RATE

Output displayed on screen

WAGES

Sample on Page 17 of book

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. WAGES1. DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 HOURS PIC 99. 01 RATE PIC 99V99. 01 WAGES PIC 999.99. 01 MORE-DATA PIC XXX VALUE 'YES'. PROCEDURE DIVISION. 100-MAIN. PERFORM UNTIL MORE-DATA = 'NO' DISPLAY 'ENTER HOURS AS A TWO DIGIT NUMBER' ACCEPT HOURS DISPLAY 'ENTER RATE IN NN.NN FORMAT (2 DECIMAL DIGITS)' ACCEPT RATE MULTIPLY RATE BY HOURS GIVING WAGES DISPLAY 'WAGES ARE ', WAGES DISPLAY 'IS THER MORE DATA (YES OR NO)?' ACCEPT MORE-DATA END-PERFORM STOP RUN.

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
One required entry, PROGRAM-ID Names the program

DATA DIVISION
Describes and defines storage for all data Data defined in WORKING-STORAGE SECTION for interactive program

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Keyed input fields (HOURS, RATE) Output fields (WAGES) Other fields used for processing (MOREDATA)

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01 level begins definition of each field PICTURE or PIC clause describes

Type of data
Numeric (PIC 9) Nonnumeric (PIC X)

Size of field - determined by number of 9s or Xs

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RATE with PIC 99V99 includes V to show assumed decimal point position User enters data with decimal point WAGES includes actual decimal point
Shown when value displayed on screen Program uses V to align data

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MORE-DATA with PIC XXX is nonnumeric field Assigned initial contents of YES by use of VALUE clause Value must be in quotation marks since MORE-DATA is nonnumeric field

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Set of instructions to be executed by program Organization of instructions planned before coding begins Pseudocode, an English-like description of program instructions, used for planning Describes program logic and order in which instructions will be executed

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PROCEDURE DIVISION includes one paragraph 100-MAIN List of instructions that follow make up paragraph Period follows last statement in paragraph (STOP RUN.) Main processing controlled by PERFORM END-PERFORM loop

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Repeats set of instructions as long as user enters YES in response to prompt

"IS THERE MORE DATA (YES/NO)?"

MORE-DATA initially contains YES so instructions in loop executed first time

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When user enters NO as response

MORE-DATA set to "NO" and loop ends

After loop, STOP RUN is executed, ending program

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Statements in loop executed in order they are listed DISPLAY displays value in quotes or value of field on screen ACCEPT stores value user enters from keyboard in field MULTIPLY performs calculation to find WAGES

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In batch mode, data comes from input file instead of keyboard Data for each employee stored in a record in file on disk Employee name, hours and rate data called fields Page 30

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Calculated results (Wages) stored in file instead of displayed on screen For each input record
Record created and stored in output file Includes employee name, hours, rate and computed wages File intended for printing so spacing added between fields for readability

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All four divisions included for batch programs

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION first with required PROGRAM-ID paragraph ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION assigns input and output files to specific devices

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FILE SECTION describes format of input and output files Fields in records described using PICTURE clause Decimal point not stored in input records
Use V for implied decimal for alignment

Use actual decimal point for fields in output record so it is printed

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Contains instructions to be executed by computer Instructions executed in order they appear Includes two paragraphs with period at end of each

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OPENs files to be used by program Repeatedly READs in records (PERFORM END-PERFORM) until there are no more Calls second paragraph 200-WAGE-ROUTINE to process each record CLOSEs files after all records read Ends program (STOP RUN)

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Reads one record into program storage area Record must be in storage to use it Takes one of two actions depending on whether record was read

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PERFORM instruction after NOT AT END executed when record read

Statements in paragraph 200-WAGE-ROUTINE executed to process record

If no more records to be read, MOVE instruction after AT END executed

'NO ' moved to ARE-THERE-MORE-RECORDS, ends loop

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First MOVE initializes PRINT-REC to blanks Then MOVEs name, hours, wages to output fields Calculates WAGES with MULTIPLY statement, MOVES it to output field WRITEs data in employee output record to print file

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To type in and run a COBOL program on your computer system, you need to know how to:

Log on and off of the computer Name COBOL files on the computer Use a text editor to key in, modify and save files Compile a COBOL source program to translate it into machine language Link or load the object program Run the object program
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The Nature of COBOL

English-like language Used widely for business programming With new standard coming out soon, it is likely to remain important language

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COBOL programs divided into four divisions IDENTIFICATION DIVISION identifies program to operating system ENVIRONMENT DIVISION required for batch programs that operate on files DATA DIVISION defines formats for all input, output and work areas needed
FILE SECTION required for batch programs that operate on files WORKING-STORAGE SECTION for work fields or fields used in interactive programs
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PROCEDURE DIVISION
Contains instructions to process input and produce output Divided into paragraphs or modules

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