myCobol.net

DISPLAY Statement

General Rules (DISPLAY external-form-item)

The compiler that accepts the syntax, uses a library that handles the CGI protocol. This cgi library can be tuned for your needs by environment variables, as follows:

 

ACCEPT Statement

General Rules (ACCEPT external-form-item)

 

Cobol has no global data, i.e. data items that are shared among several program units (subroutines). The only way to pass information is to use the call parameter list. Sometimes this is obfuscating the Cobol text, e.g., when many subroutines share a large set of parameters. In such cases one can use a common block. This is a way to specify that a set of data items should be shared among  subroutines. But in general, the number of common blocks should be minimized.

The term CIL stands for concepts that we indicate in general as being a Computer Programming Language (i.e. assembler, basic, java, fortran, cobol and such). These concepts can come in scripted versions (machine interpreted), compiled into native instruction sets, be it emulated or micro coded and they come in hybrid forms using a symbolic intermediate language. And even virtual versions will appear, using a imaginary machine with a custom instruction set, be it a general purpose virtual machine or a completely customized virtual model.

This system was designed to maintain the student and attendance records of a state-funded vocational education program for the office of a county superintendent of schools in California, US.

Donated to Project Stickleback, 2013-05-19.
The complete and original Cobol sourceText and a demo database are available in the downloads area for community members. You're invited to register, it is free. Read more for a extensive description.

This system was designed to maintain a catalog of audio-visual media (16mm movies, video cassettes, filmstrips, and a variety of other educational media) for the office of a county superintendent of schools in California, US.

Donated to Project Stickleback, 2013-05-18.
The complete and original Cobol sourceText and a demo database are available in the downloads area for community members. You're invited to register, it is free. Read more for a extensive description.

When „computers” came available for commercial data processing, they hardly contained storage (memory) and had little cpu at their disposal. Input came from media like punched tape, punched cards, telex, and such. Outputs were stored on these media too or became printed, line by line.

The first applications used adjustable boards with wires that basically connected the input signals to the output signals or transferred them into the accumulator (cpu). Rewiring was called „programming”.

While punched tape had a greatly free-format, the punched card introduced a strict fixed format and caused the „program” to group the data fields as records: a punched card was read as a complete unit or record, while punched tape could be infinite in length (very fragile and in practice the limit was a few meters). In those days computers were used in a most scientific way and the punched tape was king. Programs would read series of numbers (originating the term number crunching) and manipulate them. A stack was indispensable.

First of all, a computing device was developed. There even exists a true mechanical device doing arithmetic.
Data consists of bits (0 or 1, on or off) and counting was formulated according to a binary system. These bits became „grouped” by 8 bits electronically and this group was named a „byte”.

Than the need for INPUT arises. Early media were mechanical (punched) thingies: tape and cards.

The punched tape was greatly free format and consisted of 4, 6 or 7 parallel holes. This data could be read directly as being binary values, manipulated and sent for output in binary form as well. Users of these type of computers did feature a scientific level to be able to read the binary output and convert them for ordinary language use. Well, the integer was born.

On a regular basis there will be a meeting on Cobol in the Bonn area (Germany). These meetings are accompanied with a nice drink and networking facilities.

The meetings are invite-only.

If you want to attend or contribute, please do register here as a user.
Than send a email to Admin.