Course outline



This provides an overview of the content of the COBOL Programming Course - Part I.

There are 23 hands on exercises.


COBOL Programming Course - Part I - Synopsis

  1. - Documentation
    Not just the two COBOL manuals but some other manuals which may be useful, plus the relevance of COBOL today.
  2. - Syntax and Structure
    Statement structure, the four Divisions, plus the ACCEPT, DISPLAY and MOVE instructions, and how to end a program.
  3. - Compiling & Debugging
    The compilation process, the Address Space, plus compile and run-time errors and how to resolve them.
  4. - Define and Move Data
    WORKING-STORAGE Section in detail, LINKAGE SECTION, Literals, plus the MOVE instruction and COPY statement with pseudo-code.
  5. - Sequential File Processing
    All aspects of non-VSAM sequential file processing, including print files.
  6. - Structured Programming
    Structure DATA and PROCEDURE DIVISIONs, the PERFORM instruction, and an exercise in converting a non-structured program to structured.
  7. - Decision Making
    Relational expressions, Class Types, Figurative Constants, the IF and EVALUATE instructions, plus how to set a condition.
  8. - Arithmetic
    The ADD, COMPUTE, DIVIDE, MULTIPLY and SUBTRACT instructions.