sections and paragraphs

kris · New User Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 6

THIS IS AN INTERVIEW QUESTION ASKED SOMETIME BACK.

what is the difference betwee section and paragraph.
*how do you recognize the begining of the section.

*how do you know, that the procedure ended.

Kris

mcmillan · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 903 Location: India

1. Group of paragraphs is is a section. COBOL has pre-defined sections and user defined sections.

For example INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION, WORKING-STORAGE SECTION are pre-defined. You can define your own section in Procedure Division. (for example, SORT / MERGE I/O procedure sections)

2. I can't get your second question. If you are asking about cobol subprograms, the answer is: GO BACK or EXIT PROGRAM. If you are asking about JCL, the answer is PEND.

mmwife · Super Moderator Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 1493

Hi kris,

There are 2 ways to end a SECTION:

1) End the pgm code.
2) Code the next SECTION.

This has been the cause of much Pgmr grief because failing to code SECTION after your section ends results in all the following pgraphs to become part of that previous section.

I kept forgetting to code SECTION so I opted for the less sexy but safer THRU.

Regards, Jack.

kris · New User Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 6

Thank's friends, for your response and answers.

Kris