HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
GLOSSARY
The terms in this glossary are defined in accordance with their meaning
as used in this document describing this COBOL implementation and may not
have the same meaning in others.
These definitions are also intended to be either reference material or
introductory material to be reviewed prior to reading the detailed
language specifications that are contained in this manual. These
definitions are, in most instances, brief and do not include detailed
syntactic rules, or dialect indicators. Therefore, parts of the
information may or may not be relevant based on the dialect/reserved
words selected.
77 Level-description-entry
A data description entry that describes a noncontiguous data item with
the level-number 77.
78 Level-description-entry
A data description entry that describes a condition-name with the
level-number 78.
Abbreviated Combined Relation Condition
The combined condition that results from the 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 pointposition 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, D, E,
F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z and the
space. Also 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 and z.
Alphanumeric Character
Any letter or number in the computer's character set.
Alternate Record Key
A key, other than the prime record key, whose contents identify a record
within an indexed file.
Alphanumeric Function
A function whose value is composed of a string of one or more characters
from the computer's character set.
Argument
An identifier, a literal, or an arithmetic expression that specifies a
value to be used in the evaluation of a function.
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 Operator
A single character, or a fixed two-character combination, that belongs to
the following set:
Character Meaning
+ Addition
- Subtraction
* Multiplication
/ Division
** Exponentiation
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 comparison of the data items.
Assumed Decimal Point
A decimal pointposition 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 in one of three circumstances:
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 storagefiles, a block can 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 continued within the block or that
overlap the block. The term is equivalent to physical record.
Called Program
A program which is the object of a CALL statement combined at run 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.
Chained Program
A program which is the object of a CHAIN statement.
Chaining Program
A program which executes a CHAIN to another program.
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.
Character Set
The complete COBOL language character set consists of all characters
listed below:
Character Meaning
0,1,...,9 Numeric digit
A,B,...,Z Uppercase alphabetic
a,b,...,z Lowercase alphabetic
Space (blank)
+ Plus Sign
- Minus Sign
* Asterisk
/ Stroke (Virgule or Slash)
= Equal Sign
$ Currency Sign
, Comma
; Semicolon
. Period (Decimal Point, Fullstop)
" Quotation Mark
( Left Parenthesis
) Right Parenthesis
> Greater Than Symbol
< Less Than Symbol
: Colon
' Apostrophe
& Ampersand
NOTE When the computer character set includes lowercase letters, they
can be used in character strings and text words. Except when used
in nonnumeric literals, each lowercase letter is equivalent to the
corresponding uppercase letter.
Character-string
A sequence of contiguous characters which form a 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 an
operand is wholly alphabetic or is wholly numeric, or alphabetic-lower,
or alphabetic-upper, or contains only the characters in the set of
characters specified by the CLASS clause as defined in the SPECIAL-NAMES
paragraph of the Environment Division.
Clause
A clause is an ordered set of consecutive COBOL character-strings whose
purpose is to specify an attribute of an entry.
COBOL System Directing Statement
A statement, beginning with a directing verb, that causes your COBOL
system to take a specific action during creation of the intermediate
code.
COBOL Word
See Word.
Collating Sequence
The sequence in which the characters that are acceptable in a computer
are ordered for purposes of sorting, merging and or comparing.
Column
A character position within a print line. The columns are numbered from
one, by one, starting at the leftmost character position of the print
line and extending to the rightmost character 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 can 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 is
represented by a slash (/) 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 before printing the comment.
Common Program
A program which, despite being directly contained within another program,
can be called from any program directly or indirectly contained in that
other program.
Communication Description Entry
An entry in the Communication Section of the Data Division that is
composed of the level indicator CD, followed by a cd-name, and then
followed by a set of clauses as required. It describes the interface
between the MCS and the COBOL program.
Communication Device
A mechanism (hardware or hardware/software) capable of sending data to a
queue and/or receiving data from a queue. This mechanism can be a
computer or a peripheral device. One or more programs containing
communication description entries and residing within the same computer
define one or more of these mechanisms.
Communication Section
The section of the Data Division that describes the interface areas
between the MCS and the program, composed of one or more CD description
entries. See Message Control Systems.
Complex Condition
A condition in which one or more logical operators act upon one or more
conditions. See Negated Simple Condition, Combined Condition, Negated
Combined Condition.
Computer-name
A system-name that identifies the computer upon which the source program
is to be converted to object code, or the object code run.
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 assigned to a specific value, set of values, or range
of values, within the complete set of values that a conditional variable
can possess; or the user-defined word assigned to a status of an
implementor-defined switch or device.
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 set of values
attributed to a condition-name associated with the conditional variable.
Conditional Expression
A simple condition or a complex condition specified in an IF, PERFORM,
EVALUATE or SEARCH statement. See Simple Condition and Complex
Condition.
Conditional Statement
A conditional statement specifies that the truth value of a condition is
to be determined, and that the subsequent action of the run-time 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
specifications of source and run computers.
Constant-name
A user-defined word assigned as the name of a fixed value.
Contiguous Items
Items that are described by consecutive entries in the Data Division and
that bear a definite hierarchic relationship to one another.
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.
CRT
An output device by which an operator can receive visual data.
Currency Symbol
The character defined by the CURRENCY SIGNclause 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. See the
section The SPECIAL-NAMES Paragraph in the chapter The Nucleus.
Current Record
The record which is available in the record area associated with the
file.
Cursor
The indicator on a CRT screen that marks the line and character position
which the input/output control is currently referencing.
Data Clause
A clause that appears in a data description entry in 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 Dictionary
A table built by your COBOL system and held in memory, which contains
information on each user-defined name.
Data Item
A unit of data (excluding literals) defined by a COBOL program or by the
rules for function evaluation.
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
nor indexed unless specifically permitted by the rules for that format.
Debugging Line
A debugging line is any line with "D" or "d" in the indicator area of the
line.
Debugging Section
A debugging section is a section that contains a 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 key word
DECLARATIVES and the last of which is followed by the key words END
DECLARATIVES. A declarative is composed of a section header, followed by
a USE COBOL system-directing-sentence, followed by a set of associated
paragraphs (0 or more).
Declarative-sentence
A COBOL system 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 that includes its explicit scope terminator.
Delimiter
A character (or 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.
Destination
The symbolic identification of the receiver of a transmission from a
queue.
Digit Position
A digit position is the amount of physical storage required to store a
single digit. This amount varies depending on the usage of the data item
describing the digit position.
Division
A set of sections or paragraphs (0 or more) that are formed and combined
in accordance with a specific set of rules is called a division body.
There are four divisions in a COBOL program: Identification,
Environment, Data and Procedure.
Division Header
A combination of words followed by a period and a space that indicate the
beginning of a division. The division headers are:
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Dynamic Access
An access mode in which specific logical recordscan be obtained from or
placed into a disk file in a non-sequential 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
same set:
Character Meaning
B Space
0 Zero
+ Plus
- Minus
CR Credit
DB Debit
Z Zero Suppress
* Check Protect
$ Currency Sign
, Comma
. Period (Decimal Point)
/ Slash (Virgule, Stroke)
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.
End Program Header
A combination of words, followed by a separator period, that indicates
the end of a COBOL source program. The end program header is:
END PROGRAM program-name.
Entry
Any descriptive set of consecutive clauses terminated by a separator
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.
Explicit Attribute
Any attribute which has been explicitly specified.
Extend Mode
With the EXTEND phrase specified, the state of a file after execution of
an OPEN statement, and before the execution of a CLOSE statement for the
file.
External Data
The data described in a program as external data items and external file
connectors.
External File Connector
A file connector which is accessible to one or more object programs in
the run unit.
Figurative Constant
A value generated by your COBOL system which is 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 following Data Division
entries:
File Description (FD)
Sort-Merge File Description (SD)
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 which the data files for
a given source program are declared.
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 described in 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 established at the time that a file
is created.
File Position Indicator
A conceptual entity that is used in the selection of the next record to
be accessed within a given file during certain sequences of input-output
operations. This concept has no meaning for a file opened in output or
extend mode. The setting of the file position indicator is affected only
by the OPEN, READ and START statements.
File Section
The section of the Data Division that contains 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. Your COBOL system
defines which of the fixed file attributes are validated during execution
of the OPEN statement. See your file handling documentation for more
details.
Fixed Format Mode
The default manner in which data entry is made to numeric and
numeric-edited screen fields. This mode formats and echoes the entered
data and also moves the cursor in accordance with the requirements of the
field's picture specification, as each keystroke is received. Characters
other than "+", "-", and the decimal point character, are rejected;
insertion characters in edited fields are skipped over as the cursor
moves backwards and forwards; any sign indicator is modified in
accordance with its normal specification; floating symbols move left and
right in the field, and insertion symbols appear and disappear as digits
are inserted or deleted.
Floating-point Data Item
A number representation in which:
1. Each number is represented by two sequences of digits, the
mantissa and the exponent, and
2. Each number equals one of those sequences of digits, the mantissa,
multiplied by the value obtained by raising ten to the power
represented by the other sequence of digits, the exponent.
Floating-point Literal
A quantity, in floating point representation, that has a base of ten and
is written as a signed fixed-point numeric literal that must have a
decimal point in any character position (the mantissa), immediately
followed by the letter "E", which is, in turn, immediately followed by a
signed fixed-point numeric literal that does not contain a decimal point
(the exponent).
Format
A specific arrangement of a set of data.
Free Format Mode
An alternative manner in which data entry can be made to numeric and
numeric-edited screen fields. The default mode is fixed format mode (see
above entry). This configurable mode allows data to be keyed into a PIC
X field of appropriate length, and it is only when the operator leaves
the field that the data is reformatted to comply with the picture
specification. Once the operator moves the cursor from the field, your
COBOL system disregards all characters other than digits and the sign and
decimal point symbols. It then extracts, stores, or reformats the
numeric value in accordance with the normal COBOL rules for a MOVE to an
item with the same picture as the screen or working-storage item. The
numeric value is then usually echoed to the screen.
Function
A temporary data item whose value is determined by invoking a mechanism
provided by the implementor 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 can include a reference-modifier. A
function-identifier that references an alphanumeric function can be
specified anywhere in the general formats that an identifier can be
specified, subject to certain restrictions. A function-identifier that
references an integer or numeric function can be referenced anywhere in
the general formats that an arithmetic expression can be specified.
Function-name
A word that names a mechanism provided by the implementor to determine
the value of a function.
Group Item
A named contiguous set of elementary items.
High Order End
The leftmost character of a string of characters.
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 Mode
The state of a file after execution of an OPEN statement, with the
I-Ophrase specified for that file, and before the execution of a CLOSE
statement for that file.
Identifier
A syntactically correct combination of character-strings and separators
that names a data item. When referencing a data item which is not a
function, an identifier consists of a data-name, together with its
qualifiers, subscripts, and reference-modifier, as required for
uniqueness of reference. When referencing a data item which is a
function, a function-identifier is used. The rules for "identifier"
associated with general formats can, however, specifically prohibit
reference to functions, qualification, subscripting, or reference
modification.
Imperative Statement
A statement that begins with an imperative verb and specifies an
unconditional action to be taken. An imperative statement can consist of
a sequence of imperative statements.
Implicit Attribute
Any attribute which has not been explicitly specified.
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
within the preceding phrase.
Implicit Segment
A segment created by your COBOL system to control the size of code
segments.
Index
A computer storage position or register, the contents of which 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.
Index-name
A user-defined word that names an index associated with 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.
Indicator Area
The leftmost parameter position of a COBOL source record that indicates
the use of the record.
Input Field
A screen item whose description contains a TO phrase.
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 used by a program and which provides information required
for transmission and handling of data during execution of the run-time
program.
Input Procedure
A set of statements that is executed each time a record is released to
the sort file.
Integer
1. A numeric literal that does not include any digit positions to the
right of the decimal point.
2. A numeric data item defined in the Data Division that does not
include any digit positions to the right of the decimal point.
Where the term "integer" appears in the general formats, integer must be
a numeric literal which is an integer, and must be neither signed nor
zero unless explicitly allowed by the rules of that format.
Integer Function
A function whose category is numeric and 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.
Internal Data
The data described in a program excluding all external data items and
external file connectors. Items described in the linkage section of a
program are treated as internal data.
Internal File Connector
A file connector which is accessible only to one object program in a run
unit.
Invalid Key Condition
A condition, at object time, caused when a specified 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 a set of data
items which serve to identify the ordering of data.
Key of Reference
The key currently being used to access records within an indexed file.
Key Word
A reserved word or function-name 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.
Level Indicator
Two alphabetic characters that identify a specific type of file or a
position in hierarchy.
Level-number
A user-defined word which indicates the position of a 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 can be written
either as a single digit or as a zero followed by a significant digit.
Level-numbers 66, 77, 78 and 88 identify special properties of a data
description entry.
Library-name
A user-defined word that names a COBOL library source file that is to be
used by your COBOL system during creation of the object code.
Library-text
A sequence of character-strings and/or separators in a COBOL library.
Line Sequential File Organization
A type of sequential file containing variable length records in the
format of text files produced by the host operating system.
Linkage Section
The section in the Data Division of the called program that describes
data items available from the calling program. These data items can be
referred to by both the calling and the called programs.
Literal
A character-string whose value is implied by the ordered set of
characters comprising the string.
Literal Field
An elementary screen item whose description contains no PICTURE clause.
Logical Operator
One of the reserved words AND, OR or NOT. In the formation of a
condition, both or either of ANDand ORcan be used as logical connections.
NOT can be used for logical negation.
Logical Record
The most inclusive data item. The level-number for a record is 01.
Low Order End
The rightmost character of a string of characters.
MCS
See Message Control System.
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 end of group
indicator. (See Message Indicators.)
Message Control System (MCS)
A communication control system that supports the processing of messages
to and from terminal devices.
Message Count
The count of the number of complete messages that exist in the designated
queue of messages.
Message Indicators
EGI (end of group indicator), EMI (end of message indicator), and ESI
(end of segment indicator) are conceptual indications that serve to
notify the MCS that a specific condition exists (end of group, end of
message, end of segment). Within the hierarchy of EGI, EMI, and ESI, an
EGI is conceptually equivalent to an ESI, EMI, and EGI. An EMI is
conceptually equivalent to an ESI and EMI. Thus, a segment can be
terminated by an ESI, EMI, or EGI. A message can be terminated by an EMI
or EGI.
Message Segment
Data that forms a logical subdivision of a message normally associated
with an end of segment indicator. See Message Indicators.
Mixed Literal
A nonnumeric literal that includes DBCS characters.
Mnemonic-name
A user-defined word that is associated in the Environment Division with a
specified implementor-name.
Native Character Set
The implementor-defined character set
associated with the computer specified in the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph.
Native Collating Sequence
The default collating sequenceassociated 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.
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 of a file.
Noncontiguous Items
Elementary data items, in the Working-Storage, Local-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 non-numeric items can be formed from more
restricted character sets.
Nonnumeric Literal
A character-string bounded by quotation marks. The string of characters
can 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.
Numeric Function
A function whose class and category are numeric but which for some
possible evaluation does not satisfy the requirements of an integer
function.
Numeric Item
A data item whose description restricts its contents to a value
represented by characters chosen from the digits 0 through 9; if signed,
the item can also contain a "+", "-" , or other representation of an
operational sign.
Numeric Literal
A literal composed of one or more numeric characters that also can
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 in which the computer
environment, within which the run-time program is executed, is described.
Object Time
The time at which an object program is executed. The term is synonymous
with execution time.
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 can 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 Word
A reserved word that is included in a specified format only to improve
the readability of the language and whose presence is optional to the
user when the format in which the word appears is used in a source
program.
Output Field
A screen item whose description contains a FROM phrase.
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 sort function is completed, or during execution of a
MERGE statement after the merge function has selected the next record in
merged order.
Paragraph
In the Identification and Environment Divisions, a paragraph header
followed by zero, one, or more entries. In the Procedure Division, a
paragraph-name followed by a period and a space and optionally by one or
more sentences.
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.
REMARKS.
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 a paragraph in the
Procedure Division.
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 Record
See Block.
Pointer Item
An elementary data item to which a USAGE IS POINTERor
PROCEDURE-POINTERclause applies.
Prime Record Key
A key whose contents uniquely identify a record within an indexed file.
Procedure
A paragraph or group of logically successive paragraphs, or a section or
group of logically successive sections, within the Procedure Division.
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 or a section-name.
Program-name
A user-defined word that identifies a COBOL source program.
Prompt Character
The character used to mark empty character positions in a screen item.
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 used 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
' Apostrophe
: Colon
& Ampersand
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-namewhich is used in a reference together with another data
name at a lower level in the same hierarchy.
2. A section-namewhich is used in a reference together with a
paragraph-name specified in that section.
3. A library-namewhich is used in a reference together with a
text-name associated with that library.
Queue
A logical collection of messages, processes, print jobs, and so on,
awaiting transmission or processing.
Queue Name
A symbolic name that indicates to the MCS the logical path by which a
message or a portion of a completed message can be accessible in a queue.
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.
Receiving Item
A data item referenced in a TO or USING phrase in a PICTURE clause in the
Screen Section.
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 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.
Reference-format
A format that provides a standard method for describing COBOL source
programs.
Reference Modification
A definition of a data item by specifying a leftmost character and length
for the data item.
Relation
See Relational Operator.
Relation Character
A character that belongs to the following set:
Character Meaning
> Greater than
< Less than
= Equal to
>= Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
!= Unequal 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 specified
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 meanings are:
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Relative File
A file with relative organization.
Relative Key
A key whose contents identify a logical record in a relative file.
Relative Organization
The permanent logical file structure in which each record is uniquely
identified by an integer value greater than zero, which specifies the
record's logical ordinal position in the file.
Reserved Word
A COBOL word specified in the list of words which can be used in COBOL
source programs, but which 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-time
The time at which the code produced by your COBOL system is executed.
Run-time System (RTS)
The software that interprets the code produced by your COBOL system and
enables it to be executed by providing interfaces to the operating system
and CRT.
Run Unit
A set of one or more programs which function, at run time, as a unit to
provide problem solutions.
Screen Description Entry
An entry in the Screen Section of the Data Division that is composed of a
level number, followed by an optional screen-name, and then by a set of
screen clauses as required. This entry is very similar in structure to a
data description entry, but while a data description entry declares areas
in memory, a screen description entry declares areas on the screen.
Screen Item
A field on the screen to which the screen description entry assigns
properties.
Screen Section
The last section in the Data Division in which the layouts of the screen
areas accessed in Format 4 of the ACCEPT and Format 2 of the DISPLAY
statements are defined.
Section
A set of none, 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.
Local-Storage Section.
Linkage Section.
Communication Section.
Report Section
Screen Section.
In the Procedure Division, a section header is composed of a
section-name, followed by the reserved word SECTION, followed by a
segment-number (optional), followed by a period and a space.
Section-name
A user-defined word which names a section in the Procedure Division.
Segment-number
A user-defined word which classifies sections in the Procedure Division
for purposes of segmentation. Segment-numbers can contain only the
characters "0", "1",..., "9". A segment-number can be expressed either
as a one- or two-digit number.
Sending Item
A data item referenced in a FROM or USING phrase in a PICTURE clause in
the Screen Section.
Sentence
A sequence of one or more statements, the last of which is terminated by
a period followed by a space.
Separate Program
A program which, together with its contained programs, is processed
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 switch-status condition condition-name
condition sign condition (simple-condition)
Sort File
A collection of records to be sorted by a SORT statement. 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 definition of the originator of a transmission to a queue.
Source-Computer
The name of an Environment Division paragraph in which the computer
environment, within which the intermediate code is created, is described.
Source Program
Although it is recognized that a source program can be represented by
other forms and symbols, in this document it always refers to a
syntactically correct set of COBOL statements beginning with an
Identification Division and ending with the end of the Procedure
Division. In contexts where there is no danger of ambiguity, the word
"program" alone can be used in place of the phrase "source program".
Special Character
A character that belongs to the following set:
Character Meaning
+ Plus Sign
- Minus Sign
* Asterisk
/ Slash (Virgule, Stroke)
= Equal Sign
$ Currency Sign
, Comma (Decimal Point)
; Semicolon
. Period (Decimal Point)
' Quotation Mark
( Left Parenthesis
) Right Parenthesis
> Greater Than Symbol
< Less Than Symbol
' Apostrophe
: Colon
& Ampersand
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 Registers
Storage areas created by your COBOL system whose primary use is to store
information produced in conjunction with the user of specified COBOL
features.
Split Key
A concatenation of one or more data items within a record associated with
that file-name. It can be referenced only in START and READ statements.
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.
Sub-queue
A logical hierarchical division of a queue.
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
See Called Program.
Subscript
An occurrence number represented by either an integer, 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. A subscript can be the
word ALLwhen the subscripted identifier is used as a function argument.
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 specified status.
Symbol Function
The use of specified characters in the PICTURE clause to represent data
types.
Syntax
The order in which elements must be put together to form a program.
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
An interactive input/output device consisting of a screen display or
printing device and a keyboard by which an operator can enter and receive
visual data.
Text-name
A user-defined word which identifies library text.
Text-word
A character or a sequence of contiguous characters between margin A and
margin R in a COBOL library, source program, or in pseudo-text which is:
1. A separator, except for: space; a pseudo text delimiter; and the
opening and closing delimiters for nonnumeric literals. The
right-parenthesis and left-parenthesis characters, regardless of
context within the library, source program, or pseudo-text, are
always considered text words.
2. A literal including, in the case of nonnumeric literals, the
opening quotation mark and the closing quotation mark which bound
the literal.
3. Any other sequence of contiguous COBOL characters except comment
lines and the word "COPY", bounded by separators, which is neither
a separator nor a literal. One or both of the bounding separators
can be a pseudo-text delimiter.
Truth Value
The representation of the result of the evaluation of a condition in
terms of one of two values:
true
false
Unary Operator
A plus (+) or a minus (-) sign, which precedes a variable or a left
parenthesis in an arithmetic expression and which has the effect of
multiplying the expression by +1 or -1, respectively.
Update Field
A screen item whose description contains a USING phrase.
User-defined Word
A COBOL wordthat must be supplied by the user to satisfy the format of a
clause or statement.
Variable
A data item whose value can be changed by execution of the object
program. A variable used in an arithmetic expression must be a numeric
elementary item.
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 your COBOL program at
object time, during creation of native code, or at run time.
Word
A character-string of not more than 30 characters which forms a
user-defined word, a system-name, a reserved word, or a function-name.
Working-Storage Section
The section of the Data Division that describes working storage data
items, composed either of noncontiguous items or of working storage
records, or of both.