Cobol Coding Sheet
In olden days, COBOL programs needs to be punched on the card and it will be loaded to punch card reader.
For to identify the program coding by the punch card reader,there was a need of coding sheet.
The Cobol coding sheet was a structure to identify from where the cobol coding statements punched or started writing
to differentiate the statements from other.
The COBOL coding structure is known as COBOL Coding Sheet.
In these days, Punched cards are replaced by Editors but the same coding sheet was used to code the COBOL
Programs.
Coding Area contains 80 Columns for each line or row.
Following are the COBOL Coding Rules:
➤ The First Six Character Positions are reserved for sequence numbers.
➤ The Seventh character position is reserved for the continuation character, or for an Asterisk that denotes
a Comment line.
➤ The Actual Program text Starts in Column 8.
➤ Four Positions from 8 to 11 are known as Area A, and Positions from 12 to 72 are Area B.
➤ All Division names, Section names, Paragraph names, File Description (FD) entries and 01 level numbers must start
in Area A.
➤ All other sentences must start in Area B.
Below Coding Sheet will explain the same in detail
1++++678++1112+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++7273++++++++++++++80(Column Numbers).
On Coding Forms,
1 to 6 Columns
These are treated as Sequence Numbers.
➤ 1 to 3 Columns:
Reserved for Page number. Page numbers will be automatically increased along with the lines of code adding
to the program.
➤ 4 to 6 Columns:
Reserved for Line number. Line numbers will be automatically increased along with the lines of code adding.
➤7th Columns:
Reserved for Special Characteristics.
Those are the following.
*
It is used for commenting a line. If the * is coded on the 7th column in the program, the Cobol Compiler
will consider as Comment instead of code.
-
It is used for continuation of previous line. If - is coded on the 7th column in the program, the cobol
compiler will understand that the current line is continuation of previous line.
/
It is used for Printer Stopper.
D
It is debugging indicator. If the D is coded on the 7th column in the program, the cobol compiler will understand
that the current line is used for debugging purpose which will enabled when DEBUGGING MODE enabled in the program.
In all other cases, it will consider as Dummy Line.
8 To 72 Columns
It is the body of the program where the Cobol program can be coded.
The Cobol body was divided into Two Areas.
➽ 8 to 11 Columns:
All Divisions, Sections, Paragraphs, File Description (FD) entries and 01,77 level numbers must start in Area A.
➽ 12 to 72 Columns:
All other Statements, Sentences should be coding in Area B.
73 to 80 Columns
➢ System Generated Number.
➢ It is used for identification Purpose.
➢ COBOL Compiler will not consider this as a part of the program.
➢ While Printing it will be considered to print, hence system will consider 80 characters per line for print.
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