Structured COBOL

Programming “Copyright @ 2000 John Wiley & Sons, In. All rights
reserved. Reproduction or translation of this work
beyond that permitted in Section 117 of the 1976
United States Copyright Act without the express

Nancy Stern permission of the copyright owner is unlawful.

Request for further information should be addressed
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these programs or from the use of the information

Robert A. Stern contained herein.”

Nassau Community
College 9th Edition

PowerPoint Presentation:
Richard H. Baum, Ph.D.
DeVry Institute of Technology
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO
STRUCTURED PROGRAM
DESIGN IN COBOL

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CHAPTER 1 OBJECTIVES
• To familiarize you with:
1. The reasons for COBOL’s popularity as a
business-oriented language.
2. Some general programming practices and
techniques.
3. A history of COBOL’s evolution and its current
ANS version.
4. An overview of the four divisions of a COBOL
program.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CONTENTS
• COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: AN
OVERVIEW
– Types of Computer Programs
– Applications Programs
– Machine Language Programs
– Symbolic Programs

• COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: AN
OVERVIEW
– Types of Computer Programs
– Applications Programs

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CONTENTS
– Machine Language Programs
– Symbolic Programs

• THE APPLICATIONS PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
– Determine Program Specifications
– Design the Program Using Program Planning
Tools
– Code and Enter the Program
– Compile the Source Program
– Test the Program
– Document the Program

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CONTENTS
• THE NATURE OF COBOL
– COBOL Is a Business-Oriented
Language
– COBOL Is a Standard Language
– COBOL Is an English-like Language
– COBOL Is a User-friendly Language
• A HISTORY OF COBOL AND THE ANS
VERSIONS
– When it Began
– The American National Standards
(ANS) Versions of COBOL
Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi
tion
CONTENTS
– The Future of COBOL and the Year 2000 Problem
• TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING PROGRAM
DESIGN
– Structured Programming Using Modular Design
for Coding Paragraphs
– The Top-Down for Approach Coding Modules
• ENTERING & RUNNING A COBOL PROGRAM
ON YOUR COMPUTER
– Mainframe
– Minicomputer
– PC COBOL

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING:
AN OVERVIEW

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Types of Computer Programs

• A program is a set of instructions

that enable a computer to process
data.
• Software is the term used to
describe all types of programs.
• An application program converts
input data to output information.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Two types of computer
programs:
1. Operating Systems Programs
– Control the overall operations of the
computer

2. Applications Programs
– Written by Programmers or Software
Developers
– Programs that perform tasks required
by users

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Types of Computer Programs

• COBOL is one of the many

languages used to write
customized applications
programs.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Applications Programs
Interactive vs. Batch Processing
• Interactive applications typically accept
input data from a PC, workstation, or
terminal.
• Batch Processing applications process
large volumes of input at periodic
intervals.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Applications Programs

• Applications programs that are

written for a specific user are called
customized programs.
• Programs that are relatively
standard are application packages
that might be purchased.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Machine Language Programs

• All programs executed by the

computer must be in machine
language.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Symbolic Programs

• Symbolic Programs use English-

like or symbolic instructions.
– These programs must be translated
or compiled into machine language.
– COBOL is a symbolic programming
language used for commercial
applications.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
THE APPLICATIONS
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS

1. Determine Program
Specifications
– Program Specifications consist of
the following:
• Record layout forms to describe
the input and output
• Printer spacing charts for printed
output

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
2. Design the Program Using Program Planning
Tools using Common Tools:
– Flowcharts
• A block diagram providing a pictorial representation of the
logic to be used in a program
– Pseudocode
• English-like expressions to depict the logic of the program
– Hierarchy Charts
• Charts showing relationships among sections in a
program

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
3. Code and Enter the Program
– The programmer writes and then keys or
enters the source program into the
computer system using a keyboard.

4. Compile the Program

– The COBOL compiler checks the source
code to insure there are no rule violations.
– A syntax error is a type of error that is
found if a programming rule is violated.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
5. Test the Program
– Programs are tested or debugged to
ensure they have no errors.
– A logic error is a type of error that the
programmer may find only when the
program is tested with sample or test
data.
6. Document the Program
– Procedure manuals for users and
computer operators, called
documentation, is prepared for use by
the operating staff for regular
production.
Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi
tion
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
• Remember, coding is undertaken
only after the program requirements
have been fully specified and the
logic has been carefully planned.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
DEBUGGING TECHNIQUES
• Desk Checking
– Reviewing the program before and
after keying

• Correcting Syntax Errors

– Using the printed source list of the
diagnostic messages to find and correct
the errors

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
DEBUGGING TECHNIQUES
• Program Walkthroughs
– Manually stepping through the program
with test data.

• Detecting Logic Errors by Executing

the Program
– Often the most difficult part of
debugging.
– The preparation of test data is an
extremely critical aspect of debugging.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
THE NATURE OF COBOL
• COBOL is a Business-Oriented
Language
– COBOL, is one of the most widespread
commercial applications languages in use today.
– COBOL is an abbreviation for COmmon Business
Oriented Language,

• COBOL is a Standard Language

– COBOL is a common programming language
available on most computers.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
THE NATURE OF COBOL
• COBOL is an English-like Language
– All instructions can be coded using English
words.
– The rules conform to many rules for writing in
English

• COBOL is a User-Friendly Language

– Because users are able to understand the
English-like instructions it is considered a user-
friendly language.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
A HISTORY OF COBOL AND
THE ANS VERSIONS

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
WHEN IT BEGAN
• Developed in 1959 by the CODASYL Committee.
– A committee consisting of representatives members
from academia, user groups, and computer
manufacturers.

• Developed as a standard business-oriented

language for which all major manufacturers
would provide compilers.
• ANS established the first standards version in
1968.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
WEB SITE

The Internet site

http://www.ansi.org
includes COBOL 2000+ updates

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
THE FUTURE OF COBOL
• COBOL is likely to remain an
important language in the years
ahead for two reasons:
1. Older, mainframe-based “legacy”
systems will need to be maintained by
maintenance programmers who know
COBOL.
2. COBOL is still being used by many
organizations for new application
development.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
The Year 2000 Problem: the
Y2K “Millenium Bug”
• Traditional two-digit coded dates will
not work for the year 2000.
• Billions of lines of code will need to be
changed.
• Y2K adjustment coding will increase
the need for COBOL programmers
– An estimated $600 billion, or more,
dollars will be invested to fix this problem.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
QUESTIONS?!

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
1. A program must be in _________
language to be executed or run.

Solution: machine

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
2. Programs are typically written in a
_______ language rather than in
machine language because
__________.

Solution: symbolic;
machine languages are very complex

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

3. Programs written in a language

other than machine language must
be _______ before execution can
occur.

Solution: translated or compiled

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

4. The process of converting a source

program into machine language is
called ___________.

Solution: compilation or translation

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

5. The program written in a

programming language such as
COBOL is called the ________
program.

Solution: source or applications

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

6. The object program is the

_______.

Solution: set of instructions that has

been converted into machine
language

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

7. A ______ converts a source

program into a(n)_____ program.

Solution: compiler or translator

program: object or machine
language

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

8. The errors that are detected during

compilation denote ______; they are
usually referred to as ________
errors.

Solution: any violation of programming

rules in the use of the symbolic
programming language; syntax

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

9. Before executing a program with

test data, the logic of the program
can be checked manually using a
technique called a ____________.

Solution: program walkthrough

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

10. COBOL is an abbreviation

for _________.

Solution: Common Business Oriented

Language

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

11. COBOL is a common language in

the sense that ______.

Solution: it can be used on many

computers

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

12. (T or F) COBOL is ideally suited

for scientific as well as business
problems.

Solution: F--it is ideally suited for

business applications

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

13. Y2K is an abbreviation for the

__________ Problem.

Solution: the Year 2000

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

14. True or False

In recent years, more COBOL
programmers have been hired to
help resolve the Millenium bug.

Solution: True

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
15. True or False
The Y2K Problem has occurred
because older programs used two-
digit year codes rather than four-digit
year codes in order to save space on
files (e.g., 98 was used for 1998).

Solution: True

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
TECHNIQUES FOR
IMPROVING PROGRAM
DESIGN

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Structured Programming Using
Modular Design for Coding
Paragraphs
• The most important technique for
improving the design of a program in
any language is called structured
programming.
• Structured Programming is a
technique using logical control
constructs that make programs
easier to read, debug, and modify if
changes are required.
Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi
tion
Structured Programming Using
Modular Design for Coding
Paragraphs

• Structured programming is often

called GO-TO-less programming
since programmatic branches do not
use GO TO statements.
• In COBOL this means writing
programs using PERFORM
statements

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
Structured Programming Using
Modular Design for Coding
Paragraphs

• The typical structured program is divided

into paragraphs or modules, where a main
module calls in other modules as needed.
– Each module can be tested independently.
• Paragraph, routine, module are used
interchangeably

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
The Top-Down Approach for
Coding Modules
• Proper design is best achieved by
developing major modules before
minor ones.
• Main routines are coded first and are
followed by intermediate routines
and then minor ones.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
The Top-Down Approach

• Coding using the top-down manner

gives the primary attention to the
origination of the program.
• Details are deferred or saved for
minor modules, which are coded
last.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
PROGRAM PLANNING
TOOLS

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
GENERAL RULES FOR FLOW
CHARTS
1. Each flowchart symbol denotes a
specific operation.
2. Each symbol contains a note
describing a particular function.
3. Flowcharts are read top to bottom.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
RULES FOR INTERPRETING
PSEUDOCODE
1. A pseudocode begins with a START and
ends with a STOP.
2. All instructions are read in sequence.
3. The instructions between the:
PERFORM...END-PERFORM are executed
repeatedly UNTIL there are no more
records to process.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
HIERARCHY OR STRUCTURE CHART
• Structure charts illustrate the logic flow
in a program.
– The following chart shows the relationships
among modules in a program:

100-MAIN
MODULE

200-WAGE
ROUTINE

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CHAPTER SLIDES END HERE

CHAPTER SUMMARY
COMES NEXT

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
CHAPTER SUMMARY
A. The Nature of COBOL
1. It is the most widespread commercial
programming language in use today.
2. COBOL is the abbreviation for
Common Business Oriented Language.
3. It is an English-like language.
4. The American National Standards
(ANS) versions of COBOL are 1968,
1974, and 1985. COBOL 2000+ is
expected.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
B. Program Preparation and Debugging
1. Get program specifications from the analyst
or prepare them yourself.
2. Use planning tools--flowcharts, pseudocode,
hierarchy charts--for program design.
3. Compile the program and fix syntax errors.
4. Code the program.
5. Test the program using debugging
techniques.
6. Document the program.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
C. Techniques for Improving Program
Design
1. Structured Programming
a. Referred to as GO-TO-less programming
b. Structured programs are subdivided into
modules or paragraphs.
2. Top-Down Programming
a. Major modules are coded before minor
ones.
B. Similar to developing an outline before
writing a report.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
D. The COBOL Divisions
Identification Division
a. Identifies the program to the computer
system.
b. May provide some documentation as well.
c. PROGRAM-ID is the only required entry.

Environment Division
– Assigns a file-name to each file used.
– Specifies the device that the file will use.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
Data Division
a. Defines & describes all input, output & work
area
b. File-Section
(1) Each file-name is described in an FD.
(2) Each record format within every file is an 01
entry.
(3) Record fields are described with a PICTURE
clause that specifies the size & type.
c. Working-Storage Section
(1) Defines work areas
(2) An end-of-file indicator is coded here.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
COBOL DIVISIONS

Procedure Division
a. Subdivided into paragraphs or modules.
b. Includes all instructions to process
input and produce output.
c. All instructions are executed sequence.
PERFORM...UNTIL... END-PERFORM is a
loop.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
d. Main-module entries:
– The following are typical entries in
a main module:
(1) Files are either INPUT or OUTPUT
and activated in an OPEN
statement.
(2) A PERFORM...END-PERFORM is a
loop that is executed until there are
no more records.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
Main-module entries (continued):
(3) Within the PERFORM we code a
READ...AT END...NOT AT END…
END-READ.
(4) A CLOSE statement deactivates
all files.
(5) STOP RUN ends processing.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion
SUMMARY
e. Calculation or processing paragraphs
(1) These paragraphs are executed when
a statement in the main module specifies
a PERFORM paragraph name.
(2) These paragraphs are required to
process each input record.

Structured COBOL Programming, Stern & Stern, 9th edi

tion