Cobol Samples

Short sample programs that illustrate how to carry out various programming tasks in Cobol.

How to run the sample programs

On z/OS, compile-link-go. HEX2TEXT is a subprogram. The other samples are main programs.

On Linux, Unix, Windows, or OS X, install a Cobol compiler that offers source-level compatibility with IBM Enterprise Cobol. Compile HEX2TEXT as a subprogram (.so or .dll), and the other sample programs as main programs.

Assuming Linux and GnuCOBOL, you can use these Bash scripts to compile and run the sample programs. Use -s for a subprogram (e.g., HEX2TEXT). Script compile-all compiles all the programs in src/main/cobol.

• compile [-s] programname
• compile-all
• run programname

Using basic Cobol statements

How can I...

• MOVEME ...assign values to Data Division items?

Conditional logic

How can I...

• IFEVAL ...use IF/ELSE and EVALUATE for conditional logic?
• COND88 ...work with condition names (or 88-level data items)?
• NOTBOOL ...work with legacy workarounds for boolean values?

Working with datasets

How can I...

• CPSEQFR ...read and write sequential (QSAM) files with fixed-length records?
• CPSEQVR ...read and write sequential (QSAM) files with variable-length records ?

Working with text data

How can I...

• STRINGIT ...use INSPECT, STRING, and reference modification to manipulate text data?
• HELLO ...eliminate trailing spaces in variable-length text data?
• REFORMER ...use various Cobol statements to reformat records?

Working with numeric data

How can I...

• INVCALC ...code business calculations in Cobol?
• BRAKES ...code engineering calculations in Cobol?
• ATTRACT ...code scientific calculations in Cobol?

Working with dates and times

How can I...

• DATE1 ...get the current date and time using the CURRENT-DATE intrinsic function?
• DATE2 ...get the current date and time using the Cobol ACCEPT statement?
• HourGlass ...set a date and time for the duration of a job or job step?