14-04-2014, 12:23 PM
Introduction to COBOL
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INTRODUCTION
COBOL is one of the oldest programming languages. Its name is an acronym for Common Business-Oriented Language, defining its primary domain in business, finance, and administrative systems for companies and governments.
COBOL is a high-level programming language first developed by the CODASYL Committee (Conference on Data Systems Languages) in 1960. Since then, responsibility for developing new COBOL standards has been assumed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Three ANSI standards for COBOL have been produced: in 1968, 1974 and 1985. A new COBOL standard introducing object-oriented programming to COBOL, is due within the next few years.
The word COBOL is an acronym that stands for Common Business Oriented Language. As the the expanded acronym indicates, COBOL is designed for developing business, typically file-oriented, applications. It is not designed for writing systems programs. For instance one would not develop an operating system or a compiler using COBOL.
FEATURES OF COBOL
COBOL is self-documenting.
It is simple.
It is non-proprietary (portable).
It is Maintainable.
It allows names to be truly connotative - permits both long names (up to 30 characters) and word-connector characters (dashes).
Every variable is defined in detail - this includes number of decimal digits and the location of the implied decimal point.
File records are also described with great detail, as are lines to be output to a printer - ideal for printing accounting reports.
It offers object, visual programming environments.
Class Libraries
Rapid Application Capabilities
Integration with the World Wide Web
This language automated business
LIMITATIONS OF COBOL
COBOL compiler occupies a very large area of memory and therefore the problem of loading large programs arises frequently.
Library function facility is very poor in COBOL.
It is not available in all types of the computers.
It is not suited for solving scientific problems.
It is relatively less interactive.