COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

Figure 5 COBOL Words in a Source Program
The same COBOL word can be used as a system-name and as a user-defined name within a source
program. The class of a specific occurrence of the word is determined by context.
With the exception described in the preceding paragraph, every name that you reference in a
COBOL program must be unique, either because no other name has the same spelling (including
hyphenation), or because the name is part of a hierarchy of names (such as a data-name defined
within a record). In the latter case, you can qualify the name with one or more of the higher-level
names. You must specify enough higher-level names to make the name unique, but you need not
specify all levels. The most significant name in a hierarchy must have unique spelling, because
you cannot qualify it.
Topics:
• Reserved Words
• User-Defined Names
• System-Names
• Qualified Names
Reserved Words
A reserved word is a COBOL word that has a special meaning for the compiler. All reserved words
appear in uppercase letters throughout this manual. (Some other words, such as product names,
also appear in uppercase letters,)
A reserved word can appear in the source program only where the language syntax requires or
permits it. Every reserved word is unique and cannot be used or redefined for any purpose other
than those described in this manual.
Table 12 Reserved Word Categories
ExamplesDefinitionCategory
Required elements of the language construct for which they are
defined
Keywords MOVE
DIVIDE
AND
OR
Elements of language constructs that you can use or omit, at your
discretion (their presence or absence does not affect the meaning
of the language construct for which they are defined)
Optional words ON
THEN
Data items that the compiler generates automatically when the
source program uses the associated language
Special registers DEBUG-ITEM
GUARDIAN-ERR
LINAGE-COUNTER
LINE-COUNTER *
PAGE-COUNTER *
PROGRAM-STATUS
64 Language Elements