COBOL Essential Training

Course details

Since its inception over 60 years ago, COBOL code has worked its way into everything from ATM machines to essential government operations. While most modern developers aren't spinning up new programs using this legacy programming language, organizations are often willing to pay a premium for candidates who can review and update existing COBOL code. This course was designed to help new and experienced programmers alike add COBOL (or add COBOL back) to their skill set. Instructor Peggy Fisher shows how to get a COBOL development environment up and running and how to start programming. She reviews the language's data types and constants, control structures, file organization and processing methods, tables, and strings. Challenges issued along the way will help you practice what you've learned.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - COBOL is alive and well
02 - Are you ready to get started
03 - What is JCL

1. Getting Started

04 - Set up a COBOL environment
05 - Download and install WSL
06 - Get started with Visual Studio Code
07 - Learn COBOL syntax
08 - Code a Hello World program
09 - Obtain input from the user
10 - Challenge - Calculate BMI
11 - Solution - Calculate BMI

2. Handling Data in COBOL

12 - COBOL naming standards
13 - How to define types of data
14 - Comp-3 data types
15 - Literal and figurative constants
16 - Editing characters for writing reports
17 - Challenge - Create a sales commission report
18 - Solution - Commission report solution

3. Verbs, Decisions, and Looping

19 - Introduction to verbs
20 - Computational verbs
21 - Conditional expressions
22 - Perform statement
23 - Perform thru
24 - Perform times
25 - Challenge - Write code to simulate a cash register
26 - Solution - Simulated cash register

4. Working with Files

27 - File organization and access methods
28 - Reading sequential files
29 - File error checking
30 - Writing records to a sequential file
31 - Challenge - Process payroll
32 - Solution - Sample program to process payroll

5. Advance Sequential Files

33 - Inserting records in a master data file
34 - Updating records in a master file
35 - Sorting records in COBOL
36 - Merging records in COBOL
37 - Challenge - Merge two employee files
38 - Solution - Create a master employee file

6. Indexed and Relative Files

39 - Direct access files in COBOL
40 - Relative files in COBOL
41 - Indexed files in COBOL
42 - Challenge - Create an indexed file
43 - Solution - Solution for creating an indexed file

7. Tables in COBOL

44 - Using tables in COBOL
45 - Creating tables from an input file
46 - Searching tables in COBOL
47 - Challenge - Create table of weather data
48 - Solution - Search table of weather data

8. String Handling

49 - Inspecting strings in COBOL
50 - Using the string command in COBOL
51 - Using the unstring command in COBOL

9. Troubleshooting

52 - Watch for numeric overflow in variables
53 - How to read code and find logic errors

Conclusion

54 - Finding answers to your COBOL questions