COBOL programming
L Smith
6 points * Second semester * Distance * Prerequisites: GCO7805 or GCO7821
Overview of the COBOL language, use of the MicroFocus COBOL compiler, basic elements of COBOL; use of hierarchy charts, COBOL coding standards. The four divisions of a COBOL program and their characteristics. Arithmetic verbs, assumed decimal points, operators, if, perform, input/output, move; writing report programs - control breaks; debugging code; data validation. Tables: concept of tables, occurs clause, redefines clause; table processing. Sequential/binary table look up; COBOL search verb, collating sentences, the sort and merge verbs; the COBOL report writer, sequential and non sequential file maintenance. Screen control under COBOL. Access to the university's computer systems via modem is compulsory.
Assessment
Assessment assignments: 30% * Examination: 70%
Prescribed texts
Stern N and Stern R A Structured COBOL programming 7th edn, Wiley, 1994