What you’ll learn
- Write syntactically correct COBOL programs using the proper column layout and four-division structure
- Declare and initialize variables using PIC clauses, level numbers, and the VALUE keyword
- Perform arithmetic operations with ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE, and COMPUTE
- Format numeric output for business reports using edited picture clauses
- Implement conditional logic with IF-ELSE, EVALUATE, and level 88 condition names
- Build loops using PERFORM, PERFORM VARYING, and PERFORM UNTIL
- Manipulate strings with STRING, UNSTRING, INSPECT, and reference modification
- Create and process one-dimensional and two-dimensional tables with OCCURS
- Organize programs into clean, modular paragraphs using PERFORM and PERFORM THRU
- Apply professional techniques including REDEFINES, COPY, ROUNDED, and scope terminators
