This is the latest edition of our classic COBOL book that has set the standard for structured design and coding since the mid-1970s. So if you want to learn how to write COBOL programs the way they're written in the best enterprise COBOL shops, this is the book for you. And when you're done learning from this book, it becomes the best reference you'll ever find for use on the job. Throughout the book, you will learn how to use COBOL on IBM mainframes because that's where 90% or more of all COBOL is running. But to work on a mainframe, you need to know more than just the COBOL language. That's why this book also shows you: how to use the ISPF editor for entering programs; how to use TSO/E and JCL to compile and test programs; how to use the AMS utility to work with VSAM files; how to use CICS for developing interactive COBOL programs; how to use DB2 for developing COBOL programs that handle database data; how to maintain legacy programs. If you want to learn COBOL for other platforms, this book will get you off to a good start because COBOL is a standard language. In fact, all of the COBOL that's presented in this book will also run on any other platform that has a COBOL compiler. Remember, though, that billions of lines of mainframe COBOL are currently in use, and those programs will keep programmers busy for many years to come.

Programming as an engineering discipline -- Basics -- Data structures and algorithms -- True object-oriented programming -- Object-oriented programming -- Databases -- Graphical user interfaces -- COBOL to OOP in practice.

This is for the person who wants to learn what COBOL is, what programming is, and how to use COBOL in typical business data processing applications. Assumes no previous background in programming. Hands-on programming begins in Chapter 1--each chapter is based on one or more example programs applicable to real-life business settings. Treatment is based on the concepts of structured programming--only a few logical control structures are used throughout the book. Emphasizes a clear program style for ease of reading and debugging. All programs have been tested and run, and computer output is displayed in each case.

Sams Teach Yourself COBOL in 24 Hours teaches the basics of COBOL programming in 24 step-by-step lessons. Each lesson builds on the previous one providing a solid foundation in COBOL programming concepts and techniques. This hands-on guide is the easiest, fastest way to begin creating standard COBOL compliant code. Business professionals and programmers from other languages will find this hands-on, task-oriented tutorial extremely useful for learning the essential features and concepts of COBOL programming. Writing a program can be a complex task. Concentrating on one development tool guides you to good results every time. There will be no programs that will not compile!

For companies moving their COBOL applications from older mainframes to AS/400, this book cover the specific tools from COBOL 400 that programmers need to convert and develop their applications.

Join the more than 150,000 programmers who have learned CICS using CICS books alone. Now, the two-part CICS for the COBOL Programmer has been revised into a single volume that meets today's need for fast-paced training. Readers get all the commands and features that are current today--plus, new chapters on creating web or component-based programs--in just 630, information-packed pages.