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COBOL Basics | Beginner | COBOL

COBOL Reserved Words

Problem Description

Create a program demonstrating proper use of COBOL reserved words like MOVE, ADD, DISPLAY.

Expected Output

Correct usage of reserved words

Hints

Reserved words have special meaning and cannot be used as variable names.

Solution

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. RESERVED. DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. * Variable names must NOT be reserved words * Wrong: 01 MOVE PIC X(10). (MOVE is reserved) * Right: 01 WS-MOVE-DATA PIC X(10). 01 WS-NUM1 PIC 9(3) VALUE 100. 01 WS-NUM2 PIC 9(3) VALUE 50. 01 WS-RESULT PIC 9(4). 01 WS-MESSAGE PIC X(20). PROCEDURE DIVISION. * MOVE - copies data MOVE "HELLO COBOL" TO WS-MESSAGE. DISPLAY WS-MESSAGE. * ADD - arithmetic addition ADD WS-NUM1 TO WS-NUM2 GIVING WS-RESULT. DISPLAY "SUM: " WS-RESULT. * COMPUTE - complex calculations COMPUTE WS-RESULT = WS-NUM1 - WS-NUM2. DISPLAY "DIFF: " WS-RESULT. STOP RUN.

Explanation:

Reserved words: MOVE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE, COMPUTE, IF, PERFORM, etc.