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Sample cobol program with copybook: Best practices and tips



A COBOL copybook is a selection of code that defines data structures. If a particular data structure is used in many programs, then instead of writing the same data structure again, we can use copybooks. We use the COPY statement to include a copybook in a program. COPY statement is used in the WorkingStorage Section.


The COPY statement is a library statement that places prewritten text in a COBOL compilation unit. In otherwords, COPY provides the facility to include the layouts (copybooks) to the program in a very simple manner by using COPY command.




Sample cobol program with copybook




Prewritten source code entries can be included in a compilation unit at compile time. Thus, an installation can use standard file descriptions, record descriptions, or procedures without recoding them. These entries and procedures can then be saved in user-created libraries; they can then be included in programs and class definitions by means of the COPY statement.


The program is well documented (IMHO) and you should find it fairly easy to follow. The GCic.cbl program was written to work with a native Windows or Windows/MinGW build of GnuCOBOL as well as a Windows/Cygwin, UNIX or OS X build.


Source listings generated by GCic will show the original source code of your programs, with all indentation and comments preserved. Additionally, any COPYed code will be included in the listing immediately (in compressed form) following the COPY statement that triggered its inclusion into your program.


We have designed this License in order to use it for manuals for freesoftware, because free software needs free documentation: a freeprogram should come with manuals providing the same freedoms that thesoftware does. But this License is not limited to software manuals;it can be used for any textual work, regardless of subject matter orwhether it is published as a printed book. We recommend this Licenseprincipally for works whose purpose is instruction or reference.


This suite of sample programs describes how to use a the REPLACING function with a COPY file statement within a COBOL program. The REPLACING function allows a programmer to use a single copy file to define multiple data structures of identical format with different field names.


The following is a sample listing produced by the Micro Focus COBOL compiler. The listing will show the substitution based on the "REPLACING" value on the "COPY" statements. This program was tested using Micro Focus Net Express, version 5.1 and Mainframe Express running on Windows/7.


The purpose of this program is to provide an example of using the "REPLACING" function within a copy file used within a COBOL program. This document may be used as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers.


Preparing the application programs will require the transfer of source members that will be compiled and deployed on the target platform. The data will need to be transferred between the systems and may need to be converted and validated at various stages within the process. SimoTime has the technology, services and experience to assist in the application and data management tasks involved with doing business in a multi-system environment.


I am trying to read a EBCDIC file and convert it to ASCII format in Java, with a help of copybook. I am using JRecord to read the copybook. So now, how do I get the field level from the copybook using JRecord?


In attached copybook, the field in line 1 can have values from line 2 to line 4. If the EXTRA-TYPE is 01, then I have to read fields in line 6 to line 11. Similarly, if the EXTRA-TYPE is 02, then I have to read fields in line 12 to line 16. I am trying to split the Transaction type and its respective fields dynamically.(I need to get the start and end position of the fields with respect to the transaction type in line 1)How do I achieve this in Java?


A COBOL copybook is a code selection specifying the structures of the data. If we use a specific data structure in many applications, we can use copybooks instead of writing the same data structure over and over again. To add a copybook to a program, we use the COPY statement. In the Working Storage Section, we can only use the COPY statement.


I am assuming that you are familiar with the clause and its function so we wont delve into detailed explanation and COBOL syntax but rather explain the use of occurs depending on and creating a VB file using a sample program.


After the CONNX TCP/IP listener program is started as a batch job, the next step is to use the CONNX Data Dictionary Manager program to import metadata from COBOL copybooks into a CONNX Data Dictionary file. The following steps show how to import metadata for the CONNX sample VSAM customer KSDS (Key Sequenced Data Set) file:


An EBCDIC input file and its corresponding common business-oriented language (COBOL) copybook. A sample EBCDIC file and COBOL copybook are included in the mainframe-data-utilities GitHub repository. For more information about COBOL copybooks, see Enterprise COBOL for z/OS 6.3 Programming Guide on the IBM website.


COB2SAS is a free sample program that can assist you with converting COBOL data description entries (also known as FDs, copybooks, or copylibs) into equivalent SAS language INPUT and LABEL statements. COB2SAS reads, as its input, your COBOL program (or copybook). It parses the COBOL program, searching for FILE DESCRIPTOR sections. When COB2SAS finds a FILE DESCRIPTOR section, it parses this section to produce an equivalent SAS INPUT statement. A SAS LABEL statement is also produced to associate the SAS variable names with the COBOL data names. These INPUT and LABEL statements then can be used in a SAS program to read the file in which the FILE DESCRIPTOR section was pointing. A SAS data library is also produced that contains all of the information gathered about the copybook.


COB2SAS is a tool that that can be used to assist in converting COBOL copybook to SAS INPUT statements. There are some things that COB2SAS cannot fully handle and requires additional work so SAS can properly load the data files created by your COBOL program. Refer to the FAQ document for information about some of the common problems.


Some customers employ large teams of COBOL developers with functional knowledge that should be preserved. Others suffer from the mainframe retirement skills gap and have to switch to more popular programming languages quickly.


Similarly, some shared programs or copybooks can be externalized and shared using a library. Each library is associated with one grouping and one tag. For example, in Figure 3 one library is created based on two programs, as shown by the grey grouping.


Figure 10 shows the automated refactoring of the mainframe application to Lambda and Amazon EKS. Short-lived stateless transactions and programs are deployed in Lambda, while long-running or unsuitable programs run in Docker containers within Amazon EKS.


Thanks, RE: COBOL Copybook Explaination chimota (TechnicalUser)(OP)4 Jan 01 14:56Thank you Greenguy71 for the example. What I still don't understand is 1) Does the spacing matter? 2) How do I know if it is a pic or a value or to put something like COMP-3 after the size? Again the example helps. Thanksjtr RE: COBOL Copybook Explaination RASI (Programmer)5 Jan 01 09:24Chimota,I have a few question for you. 1. Does your sample data dictionary represent a cobol data file? ie.. Do you have a cobol file and also the layout of it as Greenguy71 posted. 2. Do you know the cobol file type. Sequential, Index etc.Data Junction can read many different types of files as you know, but first you have to define to data junction what the file type is and its structure. Can you post any information about your sample data dictionary? What COBOL vendor produced this file?The comp-3 etc that you mention determines how the internal value is read etc... So it matters greatly.. RE: COBOL Copybook Explaination RonaldB (Programmer)6 Jan 01 17:48Chimota,sounds like you are in dire need of a quick introduction into the COBOL language.As i estimate, no short answer will do in response to your question; i'm going to give it a try, anyway.Some points of interest may be these:Every COBOL program source defines a section that is known as Working Storage. This is a map of a section of memory the program in question uses to store input from files, intermediate results, output to be written to files, etc.The Working-Storage Section of any COBOL program defines a map for that program. Parts of that map can be hard coded in every program; however, is several programs manipulate e.g. the same file, it makes sense to define the layout for that file into a copybook. Each program can incorporate the exact same layout (= the copybook) in it's working storage by use of the COPY statement.A Working-Storage definition follows strict rules; so will any copybook. Some of them are (using the example GreenGuy71 gave you):The words are identifiers to give the program a reference to access a certain portion of memory, i.e. PKLR1-CONTRACT-NUMBER (12th line) defines a 10 byte section of alphameric data. The numbers at the beginning of each line are level numbers; the top level is identified by '01', every number beneath that defines a part of the '01'-level.For instance, PKLR1-DETAIL-LOAN-RECORD' references the whole definition, since it is at 01-level; PKLR1-BASIC-SECTION is the only defintion at 10-level, and therefore superfluous; every 20-level listed in the example divides the 10-level (and therfore the 01-level) up into several bits that may be manipulated indivdually.The 'PIC'-clause (PICture) defines the way the referenced bytes should be looked at. I.e. PIC X(10) means 10 bytes of alphameric content, PIC 9(02) means 2 bytes of numeric content, with each byte containing 1 digit, PIC S9(02) means the same, burt with a sign (= positive or negative). The adjective 'COMP-3' means that the numeric content should be stored in a specific format, where each nibble (=4 bits) holds 1 digit. This saves space in the memory occupied.About spacing: every line in a COBOL program is devided up into 2 sections; area 'A', in the case of your copybook, runs froms position 7 up to 11; position 7 is reserved for comment characters, and the '01' level indicator should be in the positions from 8 to 11 (usually starting at 8). Every other bit should be in the 'B'-section, from position 12 up to the end of the line (usually 72). In section 'B'. spacing is mostly relevant for legibility, as long as each part of a line (that is, level nember, identifier name, 'PIC'-clause, picture, etc.) is at least seperated be a single space.About value: the 'VALUE'-clause presets the defined memory area to a certain value. Normally, this is determined by the program while executing; however, it can be used to set the value for certain identifiers at the start of execution, either as an initial value, or as a value for a constant.I hope this lengthy response gets you on the way and NOT confuses you even more !Good luck ! RE: COBOL Copybook Explaination Doylet (Programmer)1 Feb 01 10:24There is a detailed tutorial at... Best Wishes, ==================learning & sharing googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1406030581151-2'); ); Red Flag This PostPlease let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.CancelRed Flag SubmittedThank you for helping keep Tek-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.The Tek-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action. 2ff7e9595c


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