HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Definitions
Abbreviated Combined Relation Condition. The combined condition that
results from the explicit omission of a common subject or a common
subject and common relational operator in a consecutive sequence of
relation conditions.
Access Mode. The manner in which records are to be operated upon within
a file.
Actual Decimal Point. The physical representation, using either of the
decimal point characters period (.) or comma (,), of the decimal point
position in a data item.
Alphabet Name. A user-defined word, in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph of
the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION, that assigns a name to a specific character set
and/or collating sequence.
Alphabetic Character. A character that belongs to the following set of
letters: A,B,C,...X,Y,Z, a,b,c...x,y,z and the space character.
Alphanumeric Character. Any character in the computer's character.
[REV BEG]
Alphanumeric Function. A function whose value is composed of a string of
one or more characters from the computer's character set.[REV END]
Alternate Record Key. A key, other than the prime record key, whose
contents identify a record within an indexed file.
[REV BEG]
Argument See Parameter.[REV END]
Arithmetic Expression. An arithmetic expression can be an identifier or
a numeric elementary item, a numeric literal, such identifiers and
literals separated by arithmetic operators, two arithmetic expressions
separated by an arithmetic operator, or an arithmetic expression enclosed
in parentheses.
Arithmetic Operation. The process caused by the execution of an
arithmetic statement, or the evaluation of an arithmetic expression, that
results in a mathematically correct solution to the arguments presented.
Arithmetic Operator. A single character, or a fixed two-character
combination, that belongs to the following set:
Character Meaning
+ addition
- subtraction
* multiplication
/ division
** exponentiation
Arithmetic Statement. A statement that causes an arithmetic operation to
be executed. The arithmetic statements are the ADD, COMPUTE, DIVIDE,
MULTIPLY, and SUBTRACT statements.
Ascending Key. A key upon the values of which data is ordered starting
with the lowest value of key up to the highest value of key in accordance
with the rules for comparing data items.
Assumed Decimal Point. A decimal point position which does not involve
the existence of an actual character in a data item. The assumed decimal
point has logical meaning but no physical representation.
AT END Condition. A condition caused:
1. During the execution of a READ statement for a sequentially
accessed file.
2. During the execution of a RETURN statement, when no next logical
record exists for the associated sort or merge file.
3. During the execution of a SEARCH statement, when the search
operation terminates without satisfying the condition specified in
any of the associated WHEN phrases.
Block. A physical unit of data that is normally composed of one or more
logical records. For mass storage files, a block may contain a portion
of a logical record. The size of a block has no direct relationship to
the size of the file within which the block is contained or to the size
of the logical record(s) that are either contained within the block or
that overlap the block. The term is synonymous with physical record.
Body Group. Generic name for a report group of TYPE DETAIL, CONTROL
HEADING, or CONTROL FOOTING. This term has no meaning in HP COBOL II.
Bottom Margin. An empty area which follows the page body.
Called Program. A program which is the object of a CALL statement
combined at object time with the calling program to produce a run unit.
Calling Program. A program which executes a CALL to another program.
Cd-Name. A user-defined word that names an MCS interface area described
in a communication description entry within the COMMUNICATION SECTION of
the DATA DIVISION. This term has no meaning in HP COBOL II.
Character. The basic indivisible unit of the language.
Character Position. A character position is the amount of physical
storage required to store a single standard data format character
described as usage is DISPLAY. Further characteristics of the physical
storage are defined by the implementor.
Character String. A sequence of contiguous characters which for COBOL
word, a literal, a PICTURE character string, or a comment entry.
Class Condition. The proposition, for which a truth value can be
determined, that the content of an item is wholly alphabetic or is wholly
numeric, or consists exclusively of those characters listed in the
definition of the class name.
Class Name. A user-defined word defined in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph
of the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION that assigns a name to the proposition for
which a truth value can be defined that the content of a data item
consists exclusively of those characters listed in the definition of the
class name.
Clause. A clause is an ordered set of consecutive COBOL character
strings whose purpose is to specify an attribute of an entry.
COBOL Character Set. The complete COBOL character set consists 79
characters listed below:
Character Meaning
0,1,...,9 digit
A,B,...,a,b...,z letter
space
+ plus sign
- minus sign (hyphen)
* asterisk
/ stroke (virgule, slash)
= equal sign
$ currency sign
, comma (decimal point)
; semicolon
. period (decimal point)
" quotation mark
( left parenthesis
) right parenthesis
> greater than symbol
< less than symbol
: colon
NOTE The HP extended COBOL character set includes the @ (at), \ (back
slash), and % (percent) characters.
COBOL Word. A character string of not more than 30 characters which
forms a user-defined word, a system name, or a reserved word.
Collating Sequence. The sequence in which the characters that are
acceptable in a computer are ordered for purposes of sorting, merging,
and comparing.
Column. A character position within a print line. The columns are
numbered from 1, by 1, starting at the leftmost character position of the
print line and extending to the rightmost position of the print line.
Combined Condition. A condition that is the result of connecting two or
more conditions with the 'AND' or the 'OR' logical operator.
Comment Entry. An entry in the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION that may be any
combination of characters from the computer character set.
Comment Line. A source program line represented by an asterisk in the
indicator area of the line and any characters from the computer's
character set in area A and area B of that line. The comment line serves
only for documentation in a program. A special form of comment line
represented by a stroke (/) in the indicator area of the line and any
characters from the computer's character set in area A and area B of that
line causes page ejection prior to printing the comment.
Common Program. A program which, despite being directly contained within
another program, may be called from any program directly or indirectly
contained in that other program.
Compile Time. The time at which a COBOL source program is translated, by
a COBOL compiler, to a COBOL object program.
Compiler Directing Statement. A statement, beginning with a compiler
directing verb, that causes the compiler to take a specific action during
compilation. The compiler directing statements are the COPY, ENTER,
REPLACE, and USE statements.
Complex Condition. A condition in which one or more logical operators
act upon one or more conditions.
Computer Name. A system name that identifies the computer upon which the
program is to be compiled or run.
Concatenated Programs. A source file that contains more than one COBOL
program appended to the previous program, of which at least one program
is not a nested program. The previous program must be terminated with
END PROGRAM statement. In the following example, PROGRAM-1 and PROGRAM-2
are concatenated programs. PROGRAM-3 is a nested program.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-1.
:
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-1.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-2.
:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-3.
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-3.
:
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-2.
Condition. A status of a program at execution time for which a truth
value can be determined. Where the term 'condition' (condition-1,
condition-2,...) appears in these language specifications in or in
reference to 'condition' (condition-1, condition-2,...) of a general
format, it is a conditional expression consisting of either a simple
condition optionally parenthesized, or a combined condition consisting of
the syntactically correct combination of simple conditions, logical
operators, and parentheses, for which a truth value can be determined.
Condition Name. A user-defined word that assigns a name to a subset of
values that a conditional variable may assume; or a user-defined word
assigned to a status of an implementor defined switch or device. When
'condition name' is used in the general formats, it represents a unique
data item reference consisting of a syntactically correct combination of
a condition name, together with qualifiers and subscripts, as required
for uniqueness of reference.
Condition Name Condition. The proposition, for which a truth value can
be determined, that the value of a conditional variable is a member of
the sets of values attributed to a condition name associated with the
conditional variable.
Conditional Expression. A simple condition or a complex condition
specified in an EVALUATE, IF, PERFORM, or SEARCH statement.
Conditional Phrase. A conditional phrase specifies the action to be
taken upon determination of the truth value of a condition resulting from
the execution of a conditional statement.
Conditional Statement. A conditional statement specifies that the truth
value of a condition is to be determined and that the subsequent action
of the object program is dependent on this truth value.
Conditional Variable. A data item one or more values of which has a
condition name assigned to it.
CONFIGURATION SECTION. A section of the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION that
describes overall specification of source and object programs.
Containing and Contained Programs. Programs that are nested. For
example, in the program below, PROGRAM-1 and PROGRAM-2 are containing
programs because PROGRAM-1 contains PROGRAM-2 and PROGRAM-3, and
PROGRAM-2 contains PROGRAM-3. PROGRAM-2 and PROGRAM-3 are contained
programs.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-1.
:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-2.
:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. PROGRAM-3.
:
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-3.
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-2.
END PROGRAM PROGRAM-1.
Contiguous Items. Items that are described by consecutive entries in the
DATA DIVISION, and that bear a definite hierarchic relationship to each
other.
Counter. A data item used for storing numbers or number representations
in a manner that permits these numbers to be increased or decreased by
the value of another number, or to be changed or reset to zero or to an
arbitrary positive or negative value.
Currency Sign. The character '$' of the COBOL character set.
Currency Symbol. The character defined by the CURRENCY SIGN clause in
the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph. If no CURRENCY SIGN clause is present in a
COBOL source program, the currency symbol is identical to the currency
sign.
Current Record. The record which is available in the record are
associated with the file.
Current Record Pointer. A conceptual entity that is used in the
selection of the next record.
Data Clause. A clause that appears in a data description entry the DATA
DIVISION and provides information describing a particular attribute of a
data item.
Data Description Entry. An entry in the DATA DIVISION that is composed
of a level number followed by a data name, if required, and then followed
by a set of data clauses, as required.
Data Item. A character or a set of contiguous characters (excluding in
either case literals) defined as a unit of data by the COBOL
Data Name. A user-defined word that names a data item described in a
data description entry in the DATA DIVISION. When used in the general
formats, 'data name' represents a word which can neither be subscripted,
indexed, nor qualified unless specifically permitted by the rules for
that format.
Debugging Line. A debugging line is any line with 'D' in the indicator
area of the line.
Debugging Section. A debugging section is a section that contains USE
FOR DEBUGGING statement.
Declaratives. A set of one or more special purpose sections, written at
the beginning of the PROCEDURE DIVISION, the first of which is preceded
by the keyword DECLARATIVES and the last of which is followed by the
keywords END DECLARATIVES. A declarative is composed of a section header,
followed by a USE compiler directing sentence, followed by a set of zero,
one or more associated paragraphs.
Declarative Sentence. A compiler-directing sentence consisting of a
single USE statement terminated by the separator period.
De-Edit. The logical removal of all editing characters from a
numeric-edited data item in order to determine that item's unedited
numeric value.
Delimited Scope Statement. Any statement which includes its explicit
scope terminator.
Delimiter. A character or a sequence of contiguous characters that
identifies the end of a string of characters and separates that string of
characters from the following string of characters. A delimiter is not
part of the string of characters that it delimits.
Descending Key. A key upon the values of which data is ordered starting
with the highest value of key down to the lowest value of key, in
accordance with the rules for comparing data items.
Digit Position. A digit position is the amount of physical storage
required to store a single digit. This amount may vary depending on the
usage of the data item describing the digit position. Further
characteristics of the physical storage are defined by the implementor.
Division. A set of zero, one or more sections or paragraphs, called the
division body, that are formed and combined in accordance with a specific
set of rules. There are four (4) divisions in a COBOL program:
IDENTIFICATION, ENVIRONMENT, DATA, and PROCEDURE.
Division Header. A combination of words followed by a period an space
that indicates the beginning of a division. The division headers are:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
DATA DIVISION.
PROCEDURE DIVISION [ USING data-name-1 [data-name-2]... ] .
Dynamic Access. An access mode in which specific logical records can be
obtained from or placed into a mass storage file in a nonsequential
manner (see Random Access) and obtained from a file in a sequential
manner (see Sequential Access), during the scope of the same OPEN
statement.
Editing Character. A single character or a fixed two -character
combination belonging to the following set:
Character Meaning
B space
0 zero
+ plus
- minus
CR credit
DB debit
Z zero suppress
* check protect
$ currency-sign
, comma (decimal-point)
. period (decimal-point)
/ stroke (virgule, slash)
Elementary Item. A data item that is described as not being further
logically subdivided.
End of PROCEDURE DIVISION. The physical position in a COBOL source
program after which no further procedures appear.
Entry. Any descriptive set of consecutive clauses terminated by a period
and written in the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION, ENVIRONMENT DIVISION, or DATA
DIVISION of a COBOL source program.
Environment Clause. A clause that appears as part of an ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION entry.
Execution Time. (See Object Time)
Explicit Scope Terminator. A reserved word that terminates the scope of
a particular PROCEDURE DIVISION statement.
Expression. An arithmetic or conditional expression.
Extend Mode. The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement,
with the EXTEND phrase specified for that file, and before the execution
of a CLOSE statement for that file.
External Name. An external name is a name that is visible to other
programs. It is visible "outside" your program. External names are
generated by the compiler using names in the source program. The
compiler generates external names for ENTRY literals, PROGRAM-ID
literals, and program names specified in CALL and CANCEL statements.
External Naming Convention. These are the rules used by the compiler to
convert the name in the source program to the external name.
External Switch. A hardware or software device, defined and name by the
implementor, which is used to indicate that one of two alternate states
exists.
Figurative Constant. A compiler-generated value referenced through the
use of certain reserved words.
File. A collection of records.
File Clause. A clause that appears as part of any of the follow DATA
DIVISION entries:
File description (FD)
Sort-merge file Description (SD)
Communication description (CD) Not used in HP COBOL II.
File Connector. A storage area which contains information about a file
and is used as the linkage between a file name and a physical file and
between a file name and its associated record area.
FILE-CONTROL. The name of an ENVIRONMENT DIVISION paragraph in the data
files for a given source program are declared.
File Control Entry. A SELECT clause and all its subordinate clauses that
declare the relevant physical attributes of a file.
File Description Entry. An entry in the FILE SECTION of the DATA
DIVISION that is composed of the level indicator FD, followed by a file
name, and then followed by a set of file clauses as required.
File Name. A user-defined word that names a file description entry or a
sort-merge file description entry within the FILE SECTION of the DATA
DIVISION.
File Organization. The permanent logical file structure establish at the
time that a file is created.
File Position Indicator. A conceptual entity that contains the value of
the current key within the key of reference for an indexed file, or the
record number of the current record for a sequential file, or the
relative record number of the current record for a relative file, or
indicates that no next logical record exists, or that the number of
significant digits in the relative record number is larger than the size
of the relative key data item, or that an optional input file is not
present, or that the at end condition already exists, or that no valid
next record has been established.
FILE SECTION. The section of the DATA DIVISION that contains file
description entries and sort-merge file description entries together with
their associated record descriptions.
Fixed File Attributes. Information about a file which is established
when a file is created and cannot subsequently be changed during the
existence of the file. These attributes include the organization of the
file (sequential, relative, or indexed), the prime record key, the
alternate record keys, the code-set, the minimum and maximum record size,
the record type (fixed or variable), the collating sequence of the keys
for indexed files, the blocking factor, the padding character, and the
record delimiter.
Fixed Length Record. A record associated with a file whose file
description or sort-merge description entry requires that all records
contain the same number of character positions.
Footing Area. The position of the page body adjacent to the bottom
margin.
Format. A specific arrangement of a set of data.
[REV BEG]
Function. A temporary data item whose value is determined at the time
the function is referenced during the execution of a statement.
Function-Identifier. A syntactically correct combination of
character-strings and separators that references a function. The data
item represented by a function is uniquely identified by a function name
with its arguments, if any. A function-identifier may include a
reference-modifier. A function-identifier that references an
alphanumeric function may be specified anywhere that an identifier may be
specified, subject to certain restrictions. A function-identifier that
references an integer or numeric function may be referenced anywhere an
arithmetic expression may be specified.[REV END]
Group Item. A named contiguous set of elementary or group items.
High Order End. The leftmost character of a string of character.
I-O-CONTROL. The name of an ENVIRONMENT DIVISION paragraph in which
object program requirements for specific input-output techniques, rerun
points, sharing of same areas by several data files, and multiple file
storage on a single input-output device are specified.
I-O-CONTROL Entry. An entry in the I-O-CONTROL paragraph of the
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION which contains clauses which provide information
required for the transmission and handling of data on named files during
the execution of a program.
I-O Mode. The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement with
the I-O phrase specified, for that file and before the execution of a
CLOSE statement for that file.
I-O Status. A conceptual entity which contains the two-character value
indicating the resulting status of an input-output operation. This value
is made available to the program through the use of the FILE STATUS
clause in the file control entry for the file.
Identifier. A data name, followed as required by the syntactically
correct combination of qualifiers, subscripts, indices, and
reference-modifiers necessary to make unique reference to a data item.
When referencing a data item that is a function, a function-identifier is
used. The rules for identifier associated with general formats may,
however, specifically prohibit reference to functions, qualification,
subscription, or reference modification.
Imperative Statement. A statement that begins with an imperative and
specifies an unconditional action to be taken. An imperative-statement
may consist of a sequence of imperative statements.
Implementor-Name. A system-name that refers to a particular feature
available on that implementor's computing system.
Implicit Scope Terminator. A separator period which terminates the scope
of any preceding unterminated statement, or a phrase of a statement,
which by its occurrence, indicates the end of the scope of any statement
contained with the preceding phrase.
Index. A computer storage position or register, the contents of
represent the identification of a particular element in a table.
Index Data Item. A data item in which the value associated with an index
name can be stored in a form specified by the implementor.
Index Name. A user-defined word that names an index associated a
specific table.
Indexed Data Name. An identifier that is composed of a data name
followed by one or more index names enclosed in parentheses.
Indexed File. A file with indexed organization.
Indexed Organization. The permanent logical file structure in which each
record is identified by the value of one or more keys within that record.
Initial Program. A program that is placed into an state every time the
program is called in a run unit.
Initial State. The state of a program when it is first called in a run
unit.
Input File. A file that is opened in the input mode.
Input Mode. The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement,
with the INPUT phrase specified, for that file and before the execution
of a CLOSE statement for that file.
Input-Output File. A file that is opened in the I-O mode.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION. The section of the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION that names
the files and the external media required by an object program and which
provides information required for transmission and handling of data
during execution of the object program.
Input-Output Statement. A statement that causes files to be processed by
performing operations upon individual records or upon the file as a unit.
The input-output statements are: ACCEPT (with the identifier phrase),
CLOSE, DELETE, DISABLE, DISPLAY, ENABLE, OPEN, PURGE, READ, RECEIVE,
REWRITE, SEND, SET (with the TO ON or TO OFF phrase), START, and WRITE.
Input Procedure. A set of statements that is executed each time a record
is released to the sort-file.
Integer. A numeric literal or a numeric data item that does not include
any character positions to the right of the assumed decimal-point.[REV
BEG] Or, a numeric function whose definition provides that all digits to
the right of the decimal point are zero in the returned value for any
possible evaluation of the function.[REV END] Where the term 'integer'
appears in general formats, integer must not be a numeric data item, must
not be signed, nor must not be zero unless explicitly allowed by the
rules of the format.
[REV BEG]
Integer Function. A function of the category numeric whose definition
provides that all digits to the right of the decimal point are zero in
the returned value for any possible evaluation of the function.[REV END]
Intra-Record Data Structure. The entire collection of groups and
elementary data items from a logical record which is defined by a
contiguous subset of the data description entries which describe that
record. These data description entries include all entries whose level
number is greater than the level number of the first data description
entry describing the intra-record data structure.
Invalid Key Condition. A condition, at object time, caused when specific
value of the key associated with an indexed or relative file is
determined to be invalid.
Key. A data item which identifies the location of a record, or of data
items which serve to identify the ordering of data.
Key of Reference. The key, either prime or alternate, currently being
used to access records within an indexed file.
Keyword. A reserved word[REV BEG] or function-name[REV END] whose
presence is required when the format in which the word appears is used in
a source program.
Language Name. A system name that specifies a particular programming
language.
Letter. A character belonging to one of the following two sets: (1)
uppercase letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R,
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z; (2) lowercase letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h,
i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z.
77 Level Description Entry. A data description entry that describes a
noncontiguous data item with the level number 77.
Level Indicator. Two alphabetic characters that identify a specific file
type or a position in hierarchy.
Level Number. A user-defined word which indicates the position data item
in the hierarchical structure of a logical record or which indicates
special properties of a data description entry. A level number is
expressed as a one or two digit number. Level numbers in the range 1
through 49 indicate the position of a data item in the hierarchical
structure of a logical record. Level numbers in the range 1 through 9
may be written either as a single digit or as a zero followed by a
significant digit. Level number 66, 77, and 88 identify special
properties of a data description entry.
Library Name. A user-defined word that names a COBOL library that is to
be used by the compiler for a given source program compilation.
Library Text. A sequence of character strings and/or separators COBOL
library.
LINAGE-COUNTER. A special register whose value points to the current
position within the page body.
Line. (See Report Line) Not used in HP COBOL II.
Line Number. An integer that denotes the vertical position of a line on
a page. Not used for HP COBOL II.
LINKAGE SECTION. The section in the DATA DIVISION of the called program
that describes data items available from the calling program. These data
items may be referred to by both the calling and called program.
Literal. A character string whose value is implied by the order set of
characters comprising the string.
Logical Operator. One of the reserved words AND, OR, or NOT. I formation
of a condition, both or either of AND and OR can be used as logical
connectives. NOT can be used for logical negation.
Logical Page. A conceptual entity consisting of the top margin the page
body, and the bottom margin.
Logical Record. The most inclusive data item. The level number a record
is 01. (See Report Writer Logical Record)
Low Order End. The rightmost character of a string of characters.
Mass Storage. A storage medium on which data may be organized a
maintained in both a sequential and nonsequential manner.
Mass Storage Control System (MSCS). An input-output control system that
directs, or controls, the processing of mass storage files.
Mass Storage File. A collection of records that is assigned to mass
storage medium.
Merge File. A collection of records to be merged by a MERGE statement.
The merge file is created and can be used only by the merge function.
Message. Data associated with an end of message indicator or an of group
indicator. Not used in HP COBOL II. (See Message Indicators)
Mnemonic Name. A user-defined word that is associated in the ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION with a specified implementor name.
MSCS. (See Mass Storage Control System)
Native Character Set. The ASCII character set associated with the
computer specified in the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph.
Native Collating Sequence. The ASCII collating sequence associated with
the computer specified in the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph.
Negated Combined Condition. The 'NOT' logical operator immediately
followed by a parenthesized combined condition.
Negated Simple Condition. The 'NOT' logical operator immediately
followed by a simple condition.
Nested Programs. A COBOL program that contains another COBOL program.
In the following example, TEST1 is a nested program. TEST contains
TEST1.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. TEST.
:
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. TEST1.
END PROGRAM TEST1.
:
END PROGRAM TEST.
See "Containing and Contained Programs" in this glossary.
Next Executable Sentence. The next sentence to which control will be
transferred after execution of the current statement is complete.
Next Executable Statement. The next statement to which control will be
transferred after execution of the current statement is complete.
Next Record. The record which logically follows the current record a
file.
Noncontiguous Items. Elementary data items, in the WORKING-STORAGE and
LINKAGE SECTIONs, which bear no hierarchic relationship to other data
items.
Nonnumeric Item. A data item whose description permits its contents to
be composed of any combination of characters taken from the computer's
character set. Certain categories of nonnumeric items may be formed from
more restricted character sets.
Nonnumeric Literal. A character-string bounded by quotation marks. The
string of characters may include any character in the computer's
character set. To represent a single quotation mark character within a
nonnumeric literal, two contiguous quotation marks must be used.
Numeric Character. A character that belongs to the following set of
digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
[REV BEG]
Numeric Function. A function of the class and category numeric but which
for some possible evaluation does not satisfy the requirements of an
integer function.[REV END]
Numeric Item. A data item whose description restricts its contents a
value represented by characters chosen from the digits '0' through '9';
if signed, the item may also contains a '+', '-', or an operational sign.
Numeric Literal. A literal composed of one or more numeric characters
that also may contain either a decimal point, or an algebraic sign, or
both. The decimal point must not be the rightmost character. The
algebraic sign, if present, must be the leftmost character.
OBJECT-COMPUTER. The name of an ENVIRONMENT DIVISION paragraph the
computer environment, within which the object program is executed, is
described.
Object Computer Entry. An entry in the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph of the
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION which contains clauses which describe the computer
environment in which the object program is to be executed.
Object of Entry. A set of operands and reserved words, within a DIVISION
entry, that immediately follows the subject of the entry.
Object Program. A set or group of executable machine language
instructions and other material designed to interact with data to provide
problem solution. In this context, an object program is generally the
machine language result of the operation of a COBOL compiler on a source
program. Where there is no danger of ambiguity, the word 'program' alone
may be used in place of the phrase 'object program'.
Object Time. The time at which an object program is executed. The term
is synonymous with execution time.
Obsolete Element. A COBOL language element in the 1985 revision of ANSI
standard COBOL that is to be deleted from the next revision of standard
COBOL.
Octal Literal. A literal composed of a "%" followed by between 11 octal
digits with a maximum value of 37777777777. No algebraic sign nor
decimal point may appear in the literal. Octal Literals may appear as
numeric literals and in VALUE clauses.
Open Mode. The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement for
that file and before the execution of a CLOSE statement for that file.
The particular open mode is specified in the OPEN statement as either
INPUT, OUTPUT, I-O or EXTEND.
Operand. Whereas the general definition of operand is 'that component
which is operated upon', for the purposes of this publication, any
lowercase word (or words) that appears in a statement or entry format may
be considered to be an operand and, as such, is an implied reference to
the data indicated by the operand.
Operational Sign. An algebraic sign, associated with a numeric data item
or a numeric literal, to indicate whether its value is positive or
negative.
Optional File. A file which is declared as being not necessarily present
each time the object program is executed. The object program causes an
interrogation for the presence or absence of the file.
Optional Word. A reserved word that is included in a specific format
only to improve the readability of the language and whose presence is
optional when the format in which the word appears is used in a source
program.
Output File. A file that is opened in either the output mode or extend
mode.
Output Mode. The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement
with the OUTPUT or EXTEND phrase specified, for that file and before the
execution of a CLOSE statement for that file.
Output Procedure. A set of statements to which control is given during
execution of a SORT statement after the function is completed, or during
execution of a MERGE statement after the merge function has selected the
next record in merged order.
Page. A vertical division of a report representing a physical separation
of report data, the separation being based on internal reporting
requirements and/or external characteristics of the reporting medium.
Page Body. That part of the logical page in which lines can be written
and/or spaced.
Page Footing. A report group that is presented at the end of a report
page as determined by the Report Writer Control System.
Page Heading. A report group that is presented at the beginning a report
page and determined by the Report Writer Control System.
Paragraph. In the PROCEDURE DIVISION, a paragraph name followed by a
period and a space and by zero, one, or more sentences. In the
IDENTIFICATION and ENVIRONMENT divisions, a paragraph header followed by
zero, one, or more entries.
Paragraph Header. A reserved word, followed by a period and a space that
indicates the beginning of a paragraph in the IDENTIFICATION and
ENVIRONMENT divisions. The permissible paragraph headers are:
In the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION:
PROGRAM-ID.
AUTHOR.
INSTALLATION.
DATE-WRITTEN.
DATE-COMPILED.
SECURITY.
In the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION:
SOURCE-COMPUTER.
OBJECT-COMPUTER.
SPECIAL-NAMES.
FILE-CONTROL.
I-O CONTROL.
Paragraph Name. A user-defined word that identifies and begins paragraph
in the PROCEDURE DIVISION.
[REV BEG]
Parameter. An identifier, a literal, or an arithmetic expression that
specifies a value to be used in the evaluation of a function.[REV END]
Phrase. A phrase is an ordered set of one or more consecutive COBOL
character strings that form a portion of a COBOL procedural statement or
of a COBOL clause.
Physical Page. A device dependent concept defined by the implementor.
Physical Record. (See Block)
Prime Record Key. A key whose contents uniquely identify a record within
an indexed file.
Printable Group. A report group that contains at least one print. Not
used in HP COBOL II.
Printable Item. A data item, the extent and contents of which a
specified by an elementary report entry. This elementary report entry
contains a COLUMN NUMBER clause, a PICTURE clause, and a SOURCE, SUM or
VALUE clause.
Procedure. A paragraph or group of logically successive paragraphs, or a
section or group of logically successive sections, within the PROCEDURE
DIVISION.
Procedure Branching Statement. A statement that causes the explicit
transfer of control to a statement other than the next executable
statement in the sequence in which the statements are written in the
source program. The procedure branching statements are: ALTER, CALL,
EXIT, EXIT PROGRAM, GO TO, MERGE (with the OUTPUT PROCEDURE phrase),
PERFORM and SORT (with the INPUT PROCEDURE or OUTPUT PROCEDURE phrase).
Procedure Name. A user-defined word which is used to name a paragraph or
section in the PROCEDURE DIVISION. It consists of a paragraph name (which
may be qualified), or a section name.
Program Name. A user-defined word that identifies a COBOL source
program.
Program Name Entry. An entry in the PROGRAM-ID paragraph of the
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION which contains clauses that specify the program
name and assign selected program attributes to the program.
Pseudo-Text. A sequence of character strings and/or separators bounded
by, but not including, pseudo-text delimiters.
Pseudo-Text Delimiter. Two contiguous equal sign (=) characters to
delimit pseudo-text.
Punctuation Character. A character that belongs to the following set:
Character Meaning
, comma
; semicolon
. period
" quotation mark
( left parenthesis
) right parenthesis
space
= equal sign
: colon
Qualified Data Name. An identifier that is composed of a data name
followed by one or more sets of either of the connectives OF and IN,
followed by a data name qualifier.
Qualifier.
1. A data name which is used in a reference together with another
data name at a lower level in the same hierarchy.
2. A section name which is used in a reference together with a
paragraph name specified in that section.
3. A library name which is used in a reference together with a text
name associated with that library.
Queue. A logical collection of messages awaiting transmission or
processing. Not used in HP COBOL II.
Queue Name. A symbolic name that indicates to the MCS the logic path by
which a message or a portion of a completed message may be accessible in
a queue. Not used in HP COBOL II.
Random access. An access mode in which the program-specified value of a
key data item identifies the logical record that is obtained from,
deleted from or placed into a relative or indexed file.
Record. (See Logical Record)
Record Area. A storage area allocated for the purpose of processing the
record described in a record description entry in the FILE SECTION.
Record Description. (See Record Description Entry)
Record Description Entry. The total set of data description entries
associated with a particular record.
Record Key. A key, either the prime record key or an alternate record
key, whose contents identify a record within an indexed file.
Record Name. A user-defined word that names a record described in a
record description entry in the DATA DIVISION.
Record Number. The ordinal number of a record in the file whose
organization is sequential.
Reel. A discrete portion of a storage medium, the dimensions of which
are determined by each implementor, that contains part of a file, all of
a file, or any number of files. The term is synonymous with unit and
volume.
Reference Format. A format that provides a standard method for
describing COBOL source programs.
[REV BEG]
Reference-Modifier. A syntactically correct combination of
character-strings and separators that defines a unique data item. It
includes a delimiting left parenthesis separator, the leftmost character
position, a colon separator, optionally a length, and a delimiting right
parenthesis separator.[REV END]
Relation. (See Relational Operator)
Relation Character. A character that belongs to the following set:
Character Meaning
> greater than
< less than
= equal to
Relation Condition. The proposition, for which a truth value can be
determined, that the value of an arithmetic expression or data item has a
specific relationship to the value of another arithmetic expression or
data item. (See Relational Operator)
Relational Operator. A reserved word, a relation character, a group of
consecutive reserved words, or a group of consecutive reserved words and
relation characters used in the construction of a relation condition.
The permissible operators and their meaning are:
Relational Operators Meaning
IS (NOT) GREATER THAN Greater than or not greater than
IS (NOT) >
IS (NOT) LESS THAN Less than or not less than
IS (NOT) <
IS (NOT) EQUAL TO Equal to or not equal to
IS (NOT) =
IS GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO Greater than or equal to
IS >=
IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO Less than or equal to
IS <=
Relative File. A file with relative organization.
Relative Key. A key whose contents identify a logical record in relative
file.
Relative Organization. The permanent logical file structure in each
record is uniquely identified by an integer value greater than zero,
which specifies the record's logical ordinal position in the file.
Relative Record Number. The ordinal number of a record in a file whose
organization is relative. This number is treated as a numeric literal
which is an integer.
Reserved Word. A COBOL word specified in the list of words that may be
used in COBOL source programs, but must not appear in the programs as
user-defined words or system names.
Routine Name. A user-defined word that identifies a procedure written in
a language other than COBOL.
Run Unit. A set of one or more object programs which function, object
time, as a unit to provide problem solutions.
Static Storage. Static storage is storage that is allocated and
initialized once at the beginning of the run unit. It remains fixed
throughout the run unit. Working-storage data of subroutines with static
storage retain their value from call to call.
Section. A set of zero, one, or more paragraphs or entries, called a
section body, the first of which is preceded by a section header. Each
section consists of the section header and the related section body.
Section Header. A combination of words followed by a period and a space
that indicates the beginning of a section in the ENVIRONMENT, DATA and
PROCEDURE divisions.
In the ENVIRONMENT and DATA divisions, a section header is composed of
reserved words followed by a period and a space. The permissible section
headers are:
In the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION:
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
In the DATA DIVISION:
FILE SECTION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
LINKAGE SECTION.
COMMUNICATION SECTION.
REPORT SECTION.
In the PROCEDURE DIVISION, a section header is composed of a section
name, followed by reserved word SECTION, followed by a segment number
(optional) followed by a period and a space.
Section Name. A user-defined word that names a section in the PROCEDURE
DIVISION.
Segment Number. A user-defined word that classifies sections in the
PROCEDURE DIVISION for purposes of segmentation. Segment numbers may
contain only the characters '0', '1',..., '9'. A segment number may be
expressed either as a one or two digit number.
Sentence. A sequence of one or more statement, the last of which is
terminated by a period followed by a space.
Separately Compiled Program. A program which, together with its
contained programs, is compiled separately from all other programs.
Separator. A punctuation character used to delimit character strings.
Sequential Access. An access mode in which logical records are obtained
from or placed into a file in a consecutive predecessor-to-successor
logical record sequence determined by the order of records in the file.
Sequential File. A file with sequential organization.
Sequential Organization. The permanent logical file structure in which a
record is identified by a predecessor-successor relationship established
when the record is placed into the file.
Sign Condition. The proposition, for which a truth value can be
determined, that the algebraic value of a data item or an arithmetic
expression is either less than, greater than, or equal to zero.
Simple Condition. Any single condition chosen from the set:
relation condition
class condition
condition name condition
switch-status condition
sign condition
(simple-condition)
Sort File. A collection of records to be sorted by a SORT state. The
sort-file is created and can be used by the sort function only.
Sort-Merge File Description Entry. An entry in the FILE SECTION of the
DATA DIVISION that is composed of the level indicator SD, followed by a
file name, and then followed by a set of file clauses as required.
Source. The symbolic identification of the originator of a transmission
to a queue.
SOURCE-COMPUTER. The name of an ENVIRONMENT DIVISION paragraph which the
computer environment, within which the source program is compiled, is
described.
Source Computer Entry. An entry in the SOURCE-COMPUTER paragraph of the
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION which contains clauses which describe the computer
environment in which the source program is to be compiled.
Source Item. An identifier designated by a SOURCE clause that provides
the value of a printable item.
Source Program. Although it is recognized that a source program may be
represented by other forms and symbols, in this document it always refers
to a syntactically correct set of COBOL statements beginning with the
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. In contexts where there is no danger of
ambiguity, the word 'program' alone may be used in place of the phrase '
source program'.
Special Character. A character that belong to the following set:
Character Meaning
+ plus sign
- minus sign
* asterisk
/ stroke (virgule, slash)
= equal sign
$ currency sign
, comma (decimal point)
; semicolon
. period (decimal point)
" quotation mark
( left parenthesis
) right parenthesis
> greater than symbol
< less than symbol
: colon
Special Character Word. A reserved word which is an arithmetic operator
or a relation character.
SPECIAL-NAMES. The name of an ENVIRONMENT DIVISION paragraph in which
implementor names are related to user-specified mnemonic names.
Special Names Entry. An entry in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph of the
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION which provides means for specifying the currency
sign; choosing the decimal point; specifying symbolic characters;
relating implementor names to user-specified mnemonic names; relating
alphabet names to character sets or collating sequences; and relating
class-names to sets of characters.
Special Registers. Compiler generated storage areas whose primary use is
to store information produced in conjunction with the use of specific
COBOL features.
Standard Data Format. The concept used in describing the characteristics
of data in a COBOL DATA DIVISION under which the characteristics or
properties of the data are expressed in a form oriented to the appearance
of the data on a printed page of infinite length and breadth, rather than
a form oriented to the manner in which the data is stored internally in
the computer, or on a particular external medium.
Statement. A syntactically valid combination of words and symbols
written in the PROCEDURE DIVISION beginning with a verb.
Subject of Entry. An operand or reserved word that appears immediately
following the level indicator or the level number in a DATA DIVISION
entry.
Subprogram. There are three types of subprograms, dynamic, nondynamic,
or combined.
Subscript. An integer, or a data-name optionally followed by an integer
with the operator + or -, or an index-name optionally followed by an
integer with the operator + or -, that identifies a particular element in
a table.[REV BEG] A subscript may be the word ALL when the subscripted
identifier is used as a function argument.[REV END]
Subscripted Data Name. An identifier that is composed of a data name
followed by one or more subscripts enclosed in parentheses.
Switch-Status Condition. The proposition, for which a truth value can be
determined, that an implementor defined switch, capable of being set to
an 'on' or 'off' status, has been set to a specific status.
Symbolic-Character. A user-defined word that specifies a user defined
figurative constant.
System-Name. A COBOL word which is used to communicate with the
operating environment.
Table. A set of logically consecutive items of data that are defined in
the DATA DIVISION by means of the OCCURS clause.
Table Element. A data item that belongs to the set of repeated items
comprising a table.
Terminal. The originator of a transmission to a queue, or the receiver
of a transmission from a queue. Not used in HP COBOL II.
Text Name. A user-defined word which identifies library text.
[REV BEG]
Text-Word. A character or a sequence of contiguous characters within
area A and/or area B in a COBOL library, source program, or in
pseudo-text that is:
* A separator (except for: a space, a pseudo-text delimiter, the
opening and closing delimiters for nonnumeric literals.) The
right and left parentheses are always considered text-words.
* A literal (including, in the case of nonnumeric literals, the
opening quotation mark and the closing quotation mark that bound
the literal.)
* Any other sequence of contiguous COBOL characters except comment
lines and the word 'COPY', bounded by separators.
[REV END]
Truth Value. The representation of the result of the evaluation
condition in terms of one of two values:
true
false
Unary Operator. A plus (+) or a minus (-) sign, which precedes variable
or left parenthesis in an arithmetic expression and which has the effect
of multiplying the expression by +1 or -1 respectively.
Unit. A module of mass storage the dimensions of which are determined by
each implementor.
Unsuccessful Execution. The attempted execution of a statement that does
not result in the execution of all the operations specified by that
statement. The unsuccessful execution of a statement does not affect any
data referenced by that statement, but may affect status indicators.
User-Defined Word. A COBOL word that must be supplied by you to satisfy
the format of a clause or statement.
Variable. A data item whose value may be changed by execution of the
object program. A variable used in an arithmetic expression must be a
numeric elementary item.
Variable Length Record. A record associated with a file whose file
description or sort-merge description entry permits records to contain a
varying number of character positions.
Variable Occurrence Data Item. A variable occurrence data item is a
table element which is repeated a variable number of times. Such an item
must contain an OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause in its data description entry,
or be subordinate to such an item.
Verb. A word that expresses an action to be taken by a COBOL compiler or
object program.
Volume. A discrete portion of a storage medium, the dimensions of which
are determined by each implementor, that contains part of a file, all of
a file, or any number of files. The term is synonymous with reel and
unit.
Word. A character-string of not more than 30 characters that forms a
user-defined word, a system name, a reserved word,[REV BEG] or a
function-name.[REV END]
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. The section of the DATA DIVISION that describes
working-storage data items, composed of noncontiguous items or
working-storage records or of both.