Programming IBM Rational Development Studio for i ILE COBOL Language Reference

This reference describes the Integrated Language Environment® COBOL (ILE COBOL) programming language. It provides information on the structure of the ILE COBOL programming language and the structure of an ILE COBOL source program. It also provides a description of all Identification Division paragraphs, Environment Division clauses, Data Division clauses, Procedure Division statements, and Compiler-Directing statements.

Who Should Use this Reference

This reference describes the Integrated Language Environment® COBOL (ILE COBOL) programming language. It provides information on the structure of the ILE COBOL programming language and the structure of an ILE COBOL source program. It also provides a description of all Identification Division paragraphs, Environment Division clauses, Data Division clauses, Procedure Division statements, and Compiler-Directing statements.

This reference provides information about the ILE COBOL programming language on the IBM i (formerly OS/400®) system. It is intended for people who have a basic understanding of data processing concepts and of the COBOL programming language.

Before using this reference, you should be familiar with certain IBM i system information:

• You should be familiar with your display station (also known as a work station), and its controls. There are also some elements of its display and certain keys on the keyboard that are standard regardless of which software system is currently running at the display station, or which hardware system the display station is hooked up to.

• You should know how to operate your display station when it is attached to the IBM i system and running IBM i software.

To find out more about this operating system and its control language, refer to the CL and APIs section of the Programming category in the IBM i Information Center. You can also refer to the CL Programming publication.

• You should be familiar with the Data Management topic in the Information Center, which provides detailed descriptions of the entries and keywords needed to describe database files and certain device files external to the user’s program.

• You should be familiar with the DDS Reference topic in the Information Center manual, which provides information on using data management support and allows an application to work with files. The manual includes information on:

– Fundamental structure and concepts of data management support on the system

– Data management support for display stations, printers, tapes, and diskettes, as well as spooling support

– Overrides and file redirection (temporarily making changes to files when an application is run)

– Copying files by using system commands to copy data from one place to another

– Tailoring a system using double-byte data