GCO7824

Commercial programming

L F Smith

6 points - Second semester - Distance - Prerequisite: GCO7821

Objectives Students completing this subject should be able to understand top-down code development enhanced through the use of hierarchy and structure charts; understand the syntax of the COBOL language and develop a suitable solution, using both COBOL74 and COBOL85 to meet a written programming specification; explain and implement in COBOL common batch commercial programming tasks: control break processing, sequential and non-sequential master file updating, report generation, sorting and merging; and implement single and multi-dimensional arrays as COBOL tables, use these tables in practical situations; and write interactive COBOL programs via the COBOL interactive input syntax and screen section.

Synopsis 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 sequences, 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 through an internet service provider is compulsory for distance education students.

Assessment Assignments: 40% - Examination: 60%

Prescribed texts

To be advised

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