COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs

Language Elements
HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs—522555-006
3-9
COBOL Words
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.
For a list of all reserved words, see Section 21, Reserved Words.
Table 3-4. Reserved Word Categories
Category Definition Examples
Keywords Required elements of the language
construct for which they are defined
MOVE
DIVIDE
AND
OR
Optional words 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)
ON
THEN
Special registers Data items that the compiler
generates automatically when the
source program uses the associated
language
DEBUG-ITEM
GUARDIAN-ERR
LINAGE-COUNTER
LINE-COUNTER
*
PAGE-COUNTER
*
PROGRAM-STATUS
Figurative constants Words that name and reference
constant values
SPACE
ZERO
Special-character words Required arithmetic and relational
operators, used in arithmetic
expressions and relation conditions,
respectively
+
-
*
/
**
=
<
>
<=
>=
* LINE-COUNTER and PAGE-COUNTER are associated with the Report Writer and are not available in
HP COBOL.