Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+, Pathway/iTS 1.0+)

Compaq NonStop™ Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual—426750-001
5-1
5
Data Division
The Data Division describes the data the program creates, accepts as input, manipulates,
or produces as output. The Data Division has four sections:
•
A Working-Storage Section
•
A Linkage Section
•
A Screen Section
•
A Message Section
Each section is optional and is included only when the type of data the section defines is
used in the program. Data described in the Data Division falls into three categories:
•
Data developed internally by the program and placed in temporary areas described
in the Working-Storage Section or Linkage Section
•
Data specifically formatted for display on a terminal or received as input from a
terminal. This data passes through the Screen Section.
•
Data that is unformatted. This unformatted data allows for device independence
because it is not formatted to match any specific device. This data passes through
the Message Section.
The division begins with a division header. The format of the header is:
The header must be terminated with a period separator.
The format of the Data Division is:
DATA DIVISION.
DATA DIVISION.
[ WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
data-description-entries ]
[ LINKAGE SECTION.
data-description-entries ]
[ SCREEN SECTION.
[ input-control-entries ]
screen-description-entries ]
[ MESSAGE SECTION.
message-description-entries ]