Introduction to Programming (COBOL) - CIS12

Professor: Priscilla Grocer

Course Description:

This course introduces students to programming concepts and to the widely used business language, COBOL. The student will learn to analyze a simple problem, develop a programming solution, write structured COBOL programs and execute them on the BCC computers.
Course Objectives:

This course introduces the student to programming, specifically programming using the COBOL language. The goal of the course is to develop a firm foundation in the art of programming and to teach the fundamentals of the COBOL language. The course teaches the student to think out, design, write, and execute COBOL programs. The programs increase in difficulty as the student's ability progresses.
At the completion of this course the following objectives should have been accomplished:

• the student should know the fundamental elements of the COBOL program
• the student should be able to write a program in COBOL using a variety of language elements
• the student should be able to develop structured flowcharts for report programs of varying levels of complexity and code the program in structured COBOL
• the student should learn techniques for developing logic, designing and writing a well structured program
• the student should understand the use of a COBOL text editor and be able to use it effectively
• the student should be able to compile, execute and debug a COBOL program

Texts: The course will be taught entirely from handouts provided by the instructor.
The handouts essentially comprise a textbook that has been successfully used as the text in previous courses. Students who would like to supplement this text will find an optional text book available at the book store.

Structured COBOL
Flowcharting Edition
Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman and Steven G. Forsythe
Anaheim Publishing Company
(Optional)

Course Outline:

For all topics taught in this course logic and good programming techniques will be emphasized. COBOL will be taught as the vehicle to implement the logic and concepts being covered. The student will gain a strong understanding of COBOL, but it will be in the context of learning to think through, develop and write a well structured program.

1. Introduction
   1. Introduction to Computer Programming
      1. Programming concepts
      2. Structured programming
      3. COBOL Introduction
   2. COBOL Program
      1. Structure of the program
      2. Divisions and Sections
2. Writing a basic program
   1. Defining data - Data Division
      1. Files
      2. Records
      3. Fields - data types and PIC definitions
   2. Basic programming logic/structure - Procedure Division
      1. Procedures/Paragraphs
      2. Instructions
         1. OPEN
         2. READ
         3. PERFORM
         4. CLOSE
         5. STOP
      3. Structure of basic program
      4. Flow
      5. Looping
      6. End of file processing
3. Program development cycle
   1. Review systems and program specifications
   2. Design the program
      1. Logic flowchart
      2. Pseudocode
      3. Hierarchy - IPO chart
   3. Code the program
   4. Test the program
   5. Document the program
4. Basic programming concepts implemented in COBOL
   1. Headers - defining and writing
   2. Numeric data
      1. Use of S, 9 and V
      2. Use of editing characters
         1. zero suppression
         2. asterisk fill
         3. insertion characters - decimal point, comma, fixed/floating $
         4. negative data - storing, printing
         5. other editing methods
      3. Calculations
         1. Order of operations
         2. Math statements and associated clauses
      4. Final total lines
         1. Accumulating/counting totals
         2. Setting up total lines
         3. Processing total lines
      5. Related concepts
         1. Using percents in COBOL
         2. Constants in COBOL
         3. Compute statement
         4. Literals in COBOL
5. Decisions
   1. Simple IF statement
   2. Else
   3. AND
   4. OR
   5. Compound and complex IF statements
   6. Nesting
   7. Level 88/condition names in COBOL
6. Data Editing
   1. Concepts used to edit data effectively
   2. Coding techniques
      1. Edit logic
      2. Use of the REDEFINES
      3. Checking for blank fields
      4. Checking for numeric data
      5. Checking for reasonableness
      6. Checking for specific values
      7. Other checking
7. Control breaks
   1. Logic of control breaks
   2. Minor breaks
   3. Multiple level breaks - Minor, Intermediate, Major and Final etc.
   4. Group indicating
   5. Group printing
8. Tables
   1. Table definition - redefines and occurs
   2. Subscripts
   3. Using tables effectively within a program
   4. Two-Dimension tables
   5. Three-Dimension tables
9. Screen processing
   1. Displaying data on screens
   2. Accepting data from screens

Requirements:

• 10% Exam (mid-semester)
• 10% Final
• 10% Class participation, responsibility about work, keeping up to date, quality of work, adding extras that are above and beyond, showing initiative, figuring out problems etc.
• 70% Homework, programs and quizzes