Table of Contents

Part 1: Fundamentals - Background concepts: a review * COBOL essentials * The arithmetic verbs * Transfer of control * The DATA DIVISION * Further data division entries * File handling and moving data in memory * Redefinition, subscripts * More about conditions and the PERFORM statements * IDENTIFICATION and ENVIRONMENT DIVISIONS * Part 2: Programming in COBOL - Structured programming constructs * Structured program design * Documentation * Program testing * String handling techniques * Programming interactive dialogues * Table manipulation * Part 3: Further COBOL - Further general features * The report writer * Direct access files * Subprograms and nested programs * SORTing * Intrinsic functions * Part 4: Appendices - Example program * A selection of practical exercises * COBOL 85 reserved words * ANS COBOL 85 language formats * Index.

Reviews

"...quite refreshing. The standard of coding and layout in the examples is good and both the exercises and answers are made to work very positively for the book." --Computer Bulletin