What is page layout in COBOL?

Page layout in COBOL refers to the design and structure of printed reports, including the arrangement of headers, footers, margins, spacing, and content on each page. It involves planning how information is organized vertically and horizontally, where page breaks occur, how headers and footers are positioned, and how detail lines are spaced. Good page layout ensures reports are readable, professional, and consistent across all pages.

How do you design page headers in COBOL?

Page headers in COBOL are designed by defining header lines in WORKING-STORAGE with titles, dates, page numbers, and column headers. Headers are written at the start of each page using WRITE ... AFTER ADVANCING PAGE. Typical headers include: report title (centered or left-aligned), date and time information, page numbers, column headers for data, and separator lines. Headers should be consistent across all pages and positioned in the top margin area defined by LINAGE.

How do you design page footers in COBOL?

Page footers in COBOL are designed by defining footer lines in WORKING-STORAGE and writing them at the bottom of each page. Footers typically include page numbers, report identification, totals, or summary information. Use LINAGE WITH FOOTING AT to position footers at a specific line. Write footers before starting a new page, or use the footing area defined in LINAGE. Common footer elements include page numbers, confidentiality notices, totals, or continuation messages.

What are margins in COBOL page layout?

Margins in COBOL page layout are the blank spaces at the top, bottom, left, and right of each page. Top and bottom margins are controlled by LINAGE clauses: LINES AT TOP defines the top margin (header area), LINES AT BOTTOM defines the bottom margin (footer area). Left and right margins are controlled by positioning data within the record (using FILLER or spacing). Standard margins provide space for headers, footers, and prevent text from being cut off when printing.

How do you control page breaks in COBOL?

Page breaks in COBOL are controlled by tracking the current line number and comparing it to the maximum lines per page. When the line count reaches the limit (defined by LINAGE or manual tracking), write a footer, then use WRITE ... AFTER ADVANCING PAGE to start a new page and write the header. You can also use AT END-OF-PAGE with LINAGE to automatically trigger page breaks. Manual control involves maintaining a line counter and checking it before each write operation.

What is the standard page size in COBOL?

The standard page size in COBOL is typically 66 lines (for 11-inch paper at 6 lines per inch) with 132 characters per line (for wide carriage printers). However, page size can vary: 60 lines for letter-size paper, 66 lines for legal-size, or custom sizes based on printer capabilities. The LINAGE clause defines the page size, and you should design your layout to fit within these constraints, reserving space for headers (typically 5-10 lines) and footers (typically 3-5 lines).

How do you center text in COBOL page layout?

To center text in COBOL, calculate the starting position by: (record-width - text-length) / 2. Use FILLER fields before the text to create left padding, then place the text, followed by FILLER for right padding. For example, to center a 30-character title in a 132-character line: FILLER PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES, title field, FILLER PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES. This positions the text in the middle of the line. You can also use STRING to build centered lines dynamically.

What is the difference between page layout and report formatting?

Page layout focuses on the physical arrangement of elements on each page: headers, footers, margins, spacing, and page breaks. Report formatting focuses on how data is presented: column alignment, numeric formatting, date formats, and data presentation styles. Page layout is about structure and organization, while formatting is about data presentation. Both work together to create professional, readable reports.

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COBOL Page Layout

Page layout in COBOL refers to the design and structure of printed report pages, including the arrangement of headers, footers, margins, spacing, and content positioning. Good page layout ensures reports are professional, readable, and consistent across all pages. Understanding page layout is essential for creating well-formatted reports that are easy to read, properly paginated, and suitable for business use in mainframe COBOL applications.

What is Page Layout?

Page layout encompasses the visual design and organization of report pages:

Headers: Information at the top of each page (titles, dates, page numbers)
Footers: Information at the bottom of each page (page numbers, totals, notices)
Margins: Blank spaces at top, bottom, left, and right edges
Spacing: Vertical spacing between sections and lines
Content area: The main body where detail lines appear
Page breaks: Where new pages begin
Alignment: How text and data are positioned horizontally

Effective page layout creates visual hierarchy, improves readability, and provides consistent structure throughout the report.

Standard Page Dimensions

Understanding standard page dimensions helps design appropriate layouts:

Standard COBOL Page Dimensions
Aspect	Standard Value	Description
Lines per page	66 lines	Standard for 11-inch paper at 6 lines per inch
Characters per line	132 characters	Standard for wide carriage printers
Alternative lines	60 lines	Common for letter-size paper
Header area	5-10 lines	Typical space reserved for headers
Footer area	3-5 lines	Typical space reserved for footers
Body area	50-58 lines	Remaining space for detail lines

Designing Page Headers

Page headers appear at the top of each page and provide context and identification:

Header Components

Effective headers typically include:

Report title: The name of the report, often centered
Date and time: When the report was generated
Page numbers: Current page and total pages (if known)
Column headers: Labels for data columns
Separator lines: Underlines or borders to separate header from body
Company/Department: Organizational identification

Example: Professional Header Design

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       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  WS-PAGE-HEADER.
           05  WS-HEADER-LINE-1.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(30) VALUE 'EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION REPORT'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES.
           
           05  WS-HEADER-LINE-2.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(10) VALUE 'DATE: '.
               10  WS-REPORT-DATE   PIC X(10).
               10  FILLER           PIC X(15) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(10) VALUE 'TIME: '.
               10  WS-REPORT-TIME   PIC X(8).
               10  FILLER           PIC X(15) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(6) VALUE 'PAGE: '.
               10  WS-PAGE-NUM      PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(4) VALUE ' OF '.
               10  WS-TOTAL-PAGES   PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(40) VALUE SPACES.
           
           05  WS-HEADER-LINE-3.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(132) VALUE SPACES.
           
           05  WS-COLUMN-HEADER-1.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(8) VALUE 'EMP ID'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(20) VALUE 'EMPLOYEE NAME'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(15) VALUE 'DEPARTMENT'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(12) VALUE 'SALARY'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(71) VALUE SPACES.
           
           05  WS-COLUMN-HEADER-2.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(132) VALUE ALL '-'.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       WRITE-PAGE-HEADER.
           *> Get current date and time
           ACCEPT WS-REPORT-DATE FROM DATE YYYYMMDD
           ACCEPT WS-REPORT-TIME FROM TIME
           
           *> Format date
           MOVE WS-REPORT-DATE(5:2) TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE(1:2)
           MOVE '/' TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE(3:1)
           MOVE WS-REPORT-DATE(7:2) TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE(4:2)
           MOVE '/' TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE(6:1)
           MOVE WS-REPORT-DATE(1:4) TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE(7:4)
           
           *> Format time
           MOVE WS-REPORT-TIME(1:2) TO WS-FORMATTED-TIME(1:2)
           MOVE ':' TO WS-FORMATTED-TIME(3:1)
           MOVE WS-REPORT-TIME(3:2) TO WS-FORMATTED-TIME(4:2)
           MOVE ':' TO WS-FORMATTED-TIME(6:1)
           MOVE WS-REPORT-TIME(5:2) TO WS-FORMATTED-TIME(7:2)
           
           *> Set page numbers
           MOVE WS-CURRENT-PAGE TO WS-PAGE-NUM
           MOVE WS-TOTAL-PAGES TO WS-TOTAL-PAGES
           
           *> Write header lines
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-LINE-1
               AFTER ADVANCING PAGE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-LINE-2
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-LINE-3
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-COLUMN-HEADER-1
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-COLUMN-HEADER-2
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           *> Reset line counter
           MOVE 6 TO WS-LINE-COUNT.

This header design includes:

Centered title on the first line (calculated padding on both sides)
Date, time, and page information on the second line
Blank line for spacing
Column headers identifying data columns
Separator line (dashes) to visually separate header from body
Another blank line before detail lines begin

Designing Page Footers

Page footers appear at the bottom of each page and provide summary information or page identification:

Footer Components

Common footer elements include:

Page numbers: Current page and total pages
Separator lines: Visual separation from body content
Totals or summaries: Page-level totals (if applicable)
Continuation messages: "Continued on next page" indicators
Confidentiality notices: Security or classification labels
Report identification: Report name or number

Example: Professional Footer Design

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       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  WS-PAGE-FOOTER.
           05  WS-FOOTER-LINE-1.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(132) VALUE ALL '-'.
           
           05  WS-FOOTER-LINE-2.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(50) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(6) VALUE 'PAGE: '.
               10  WS-FOOTER-PAGE   PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(4) VALUE ' OF '.
               10  WS-FOOTER-TOTAL  PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(20) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(20) VALUE 'CONFIDENTIAL REPORT'.
               10  FILLER           PIC X(22) VALUE SPACES.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER.
           *> Position to footer area (if not using LINAGE)
           COMPUTE WS-LINES-TO-FOOTER = WS-MAX-LINES - WS-LINE-COUNT
           
           IF WS-LINES-TO-FOOTER > 0
               WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
                   AFTER ADVANCING WS-LINES-TO-FOOTER LINES
           END-IF
           
           *> Write footer lines
           MOVE WS-CURRENT-PAGE TO WS-FOOTER-PAGE
           MOVE WS-TOTAL-PAGES TO WS-FOOTER-TOTAL
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-FOOTER-LINE-1
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-FOOTER-LINE-2
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE.

Controlling Margins

Margins provide space around page content and are controlled using LINAGE:

Using LINAGE for Margins

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       FD  REPORT-FILE
           LINAGE IS 66 LINES
           WITH FOOTING AT 60
           LINES AT TOP 6
           LINES AT BOTTOM 4.
       
       *> This defines:
       *> - Total page: 66 lines
       *> - Top margin (header area): 6 lines (lines 1-6)
       *> - Body area: Lines 7-59 (53 lines available)
       *> - Footer area starts: Line 60
       *> - Bottom margin: 4 lines (lines 60-63, plus 3 lines buffer)

LINAGE parameters:

LINAGE IS n: Total lines per page
LINES AT TOP m: Lines reserved for header area (top margin)
WITH FOOTING AT k: Line where footer area begins
LINES AT BOTTOM p: Lines reserved for bottom margin

Left and Right Margins

Left and right margins are controlled by positioning data within the record:

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       *> Left margin: Start data after initial spaces
       01  WS-DETAIL-LINE.
           05  FILLER           PIC X(5) VALUE SPACES.  *> Left margin
           05  WS-DATA-FIELD    PIC X(30).
           05  FILLER           PIC X(97) VALUE SPACES. *> Right margin
       
       *> Or center data with equal margins:
       01  WS-CENTERED-LINE.
           05  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES.  *> Left padding
           05  WS-CENTERED-TEXT PIC X(30).
           05  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES. *> Right padding

Spacing and Alignment

Proper spacing and alignment improve readability:

Vertical Spacing

Control vertical spacing between sections:

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       *> Single line spacing
       WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM DETAIL-LINE
           AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
       
       *> Double line spacing
       WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM DETAIL-LINE
           AFTER ADVANCING 2 LINES
       
       *> Blank line for separation
       WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
           AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
       
       *> Multiple blank lines
       PERFORM 3 TIMES
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
       END-PERFORM

Horizontal Alignment

Align data within columns:

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       *> Left-aligned text
       01  WS-LEFT-ALIGNED.
           05  WS-TEXT          PIC X(20).
           05  FILLER           PIC X(112) VALUE SPACES.
       
       *> Right-aligned numbers
       01  WS-RIGHT-ALIGNED.
           05  FILLER           PIC X(100) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-AMOUNT        PIC $ZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99.
           05  FILLER           PIC X(20) VALUE SPACES.
       
       *> Centered text
       01  WS-CENTERED.
           05  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-TITLE         PIC X(30).
           05  FILLER           PIC X(51) VALUE SPACES.

Page Break Control

Proper page break control ensures content doesn't overflow and pages break at appropriate points:

Manual Page Break Control

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       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  WS-PAGE-CONTROL.
           05  WS-LINE-COUNT     PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
           05  WS-MAX-LINES     PIC 9(3) VALUE 55.
           05  WS-HEADER-LINES  PIC 9(2) VALUE 6.
           05  WS-FOOTER-LINES  PIC 9(2) VALUE 3.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       CHECK-PAGE-BREAK.
           *> Check if we need a new page
           IF WS-LINE-COUNT >= WS-MAX-LINES
               PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER
               ADD 1 TO WS-CURRENT-PAGE
               PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-HEADER
               MOVE WS-HEADER-LINES TO WS-LINE-COUNT
           END-IF.
       
       WRITE-DETAIL-LINE.
           PERFORM CHECK-PAGE-BREAK
           
           *> Format and write detail line
           MOVE DATA-FIELDS TO WS-DETAIL-LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-DETAIL-LINE
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           ADD 1 TO WS-LINE-COUNT.

Using LINAGE for Automatic Page Breaks

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       FD  REPORT-FILE
           LINAGE IS 66 LINES
           WITH FOOTING AT 60
           LINES AT TOP 6
           LINES AT BOTTOM 4.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       WRITE-DETAIL-LINE.
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-DETAIL-LINE
               AT END-OF-PAGE
                   PERFORM HANDLE-PAGE-OVERFLOW
           END-WRITE.
       
       HANDLE-PAGE-OVERFLOW.
           *> Write footer for completed page
           PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER
           
           *> Start new page with header
           ADD 1 TO WS-CURRENT-PAGE
           PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-HEADER.

Complete Page Layout Example

Here's a complete example demonstrating professional page layout:

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       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. PAGE-LAYOUT-DEMO.
       
       ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
       INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
       FILE-CONTROL.
           SELECT REPORT-FILE ASSIGN TO PRINTER
               ORGANIZATION IS SEQUENTIAL.
       
       DATA DIVISION.
       FILE SECTION.
       FD  REPORT-FILE
           LINAGE IS 66 LINES
           WITH FOOTING AT 60
           LINES AT TOP 6
           LINES AT BOTTOM 4.
       01  REPORT-LINE        PIC X(132).
       
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01  WS-PAGE-CONTROL.
           05  WS-CURRENT-PAGE    PIC 9(4) VALUE 1.
           05  WS-LINE-COUNT      PIC 9(3) VALUE 0.
           05  WS-MAX-BODY-LINES  PIC 9(3) VALUE 54.
       
       01  WS-HEADER.
           05  WS-HEADER-1.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(46) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(40) VALUE 'EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ANALYSIS'.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(46) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-HEADER-2.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(10) VALUE 'DATE: '.
               10  WS-DATE        PIC X(10).
               10  FILLER         PIC X(15) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(6) VALUE 'PAGE: '.
               10  WS-PAGE        PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(87) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-HEADER-3.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(132) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-COL-HEADER.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(8) VALUE 'EMP ID'.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(20) VALUE 'NAME'.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(15) VALUE 'DEPARTMENT'.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(12) VALUE 'SALARY'.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(71) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-UNDERLINE.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(132) VALUE ALL '-'.
       
       01  WS-FOOTER.
           05  WS-FOOTER-1.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(132) VALUE ALL '-'.
           05  WS-FOOTER-2.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(60) VALUE SPACES.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(6) VALUE 'PAGE: '.
               10  WS-FOOT-PAGE   PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(4) VALUE ' OF '.
               10  WS-FOOT-TOTAL  PIC ZZZ9.
               10  FILLER         PIC X(50) VALUE SPACES.
       
       01  WS-DETAIL-LINE.
           05  WS-EMP-ID         PIC X(8).
           05  FILLER            PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-EMP-NAME       PIC X(20).
           05  FILLER            PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-DEPT            PIC X(15).
           05  FILLER            PIC X(2) VALUE SPACES.
           05  WS-SALARY          PIC $ZZ,ZZZ,ZZ9.99.
           05  FILLER            PIC X(83) VALUE SPACES.
       
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       MAIN-PARA.
           OPEN OUTPUT REPORT-FILE
           PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-HEADER
           PERFORM PROCESS-DATA
           PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER
           CLOSE REPORT-FILE
           STOP RUN.
       
       WRITE-PAGE-HEADER.
           *> Get current date
           ACCEPT WS-DATE FROM DATE YYYYMMDD
           *> Format date (simplified)
           MOVE WS-DATE TO WS-FORMATTED-DATE
           
           *> Set page number
           MOVE WS-CURRENT-PAGE TO WS-PAGE
           
           *> Write header
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-1
               AFTER ADVANCING PAGE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-2
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-HEADER-3
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-COL-HEADER
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-UNDERLINE
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           
           MOVE 6 TO WS-LINE-COUNT.
       
       CHECK-PAGE-BREAK.
           IF WS-LINE-COUNT >= WS-MAX-BODY-LINES
               PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER
               ADD 1 TO WS-CURRENT-PAGE
               PERFORM WRITE-PAGE-HEADER
           END-IF.
       
       WRITE-PAGE-FOOTER.
           *> Position to footer
           COMPUTE WS-LINES-TO-SKIP = WS-MAX-BODY-LINES - WS-LINE-COUNT
           IF WS-LINES-TO-SKIP > 0
               WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM SPACES
                   AFTER ADVANCING WS-LINES-TO-SKIP LINES
           END-IF
           
           MOVE WS-CURRENT-PAGE TO WS-FOOT-PAGE
           MOVE WS-TOTAL-PAGES TO WS-FOOT-TOTAL
           
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-FOOTER-1
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
           WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-FOOTER-2
               AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE.
       
       PROCESS-DATA.
           *> Process and write detail lines
           PERFORM UNTIL END-OF-DATA
               PERFORM CHECK-PAGE-BREAK
               *> Get data and format
               MOVE EMP-ID TO WS-EMP-ID
               MOVE EMP-NAME TO WS-EMP-NAME
               MOVE EMP-DEPT TO WS-DEPT
               MOVE EMP-SALARY TO WS-SALARY
               
               WRITE REPORT-LINE FROM WS-DETAIL-LINE
                   AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINE
               
               ADD 1 TO WS-LINE-COUNT
               *> Read next record...
           END-PERFORM.

Best Practices for Page Layout

Follow these best practices for effective page layout:

Consistent headers and footers: Use the same header and footer design on every page for consistency
Reserve adequate margins: Leave sufficient space for headers (5-10 lines) and footers (3-5 lines)
Center important titles: Center report titles and major section headings for visual impact
Use separator lines: Use underlines or dashes to separate headers from body content
Align columns consistently: Keep data columns aligned across all pages
Check page breaks: Avoid breaking related information across pages when possible
Include page numbers: Always include page numbers in headers or footers
Use appropriate spacing: Provide adequate spacing between sections for readability
Test with actual data: Test your layout with real data volumes to ensure it works correctly
Document layout decisions: Comment your code to explain layout choices and calculations

Common Page Layout Patterns

Pattern 1: Simple Report Layout

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       *> Header: 3 lines (title, date/page, underline)
       *> Body: 50 lines available
       *> Footer: 2 lines (separator, page number)
       *> Total: 55 lines per page

Pattern 2: Detailed Report Layout

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       *> Header: 8 lines (title, subtitle, date/time, 
       *>          page info, blank, column headers, underline, blank)
       *> Body: 48 lines available
       *> Footer: 4 lines (blank, separator, page info, blank)
       *> Total: 60 lines per page

Pattern 3: Financial Report Layout

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       *> Header: 10 lines (company info, report title, 
       *>          period info, date/time, page, blank,
       *>          column headers, underline, blank)
       *> Body: 50 lines available
       *> Footer: 6 lines (blank, totals, separator, 
       *>          page info, confidentiality, blank)
       *> Total: 66 lines per page

Explain Like I'm 5: Page Layout

Think of page layout like setting up a picture frame:

Headers are like the title at the top of a picture - they tell you what the picture (report) is about
Footers are like the signature at the bottom - they add important information like page numbers
Margins are like the frame around the picture - they give space so nothing gets cut off
Spacing is like the gaps between things in the picture - they help you see everything clearly
Page breaks are like turning to the next page in a book - they make sure everything fits nicely

So page layout is like arranging everything on a page so it looks nice, fits properly, and is easy to read - just like framing a picture!

Practice Exercises

Complete these exercises to reinforce your understanding:

Exercise 1: Basic Header Design

Create a program that writes a simple page header with a centered title, current date, and page number. Use appropriate spacing and formatting.

Exercise 2: Complete Page Layout

Design a complete page layout with headers (6 lines), body area (50 lines), and footers (4 lines). Include proper margins, column headers, and page break control.

Exercise 3: Centered Text

Write a program that centers a report title in a 132-character line. Calculate the padding needed and demonstrate left, center, and right alignment.

Exercise 4: Page Break Logic

Create a program that processes 200 detail records with proper page break control. Each page should have 50 detail lines, and the program should handle page breaks correctly.

Exercise 5: Professional Footer

Design a professional footer that includes page numbers (current and total), a separator line, and a confidentiality notice. Position it correctly at the bottom of each page.

Test Your Knowledge

1. What does page layout in COBOL refer to?

The arrangement of data in memory
The design and structure of printed report pages
The organization of files
The structure of COBOL programs

2. What is the standard number of lines per page in COBOL?

50 lines
60 lines
66 lines
80 lines

3. How do you control top and bottom margins in COBOL?

Using MARGIN clauses
Using LINAGE with LINES AT TOP and LINES AT BOTTOM
Using SPACE statements
Using FILLER only

4. What should page headers typically include?

Only the report title
Report title, date, page number, and column headers
Only page numbers
Only dates

5. How do you center text in a COBOL report line?

Use CENTER statement
Calculate (record-width - text-length) / 2 and use FILLER for padding
Use ALIGN CENTER
Text is always centered automatically

6. When should you trigger a page break?

After every 10 lines
When the line counter reaches the maximum lines per page
Never - COBOL handles it automatically
Only at the end of the report

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL Page Layout

What is Page Layout?

Standard Page Dimensions

Designing Page Headers

Header Components

Example: Professional Header Design

Designing Page Footers

Footer Components

Example: Professional Footer Design

Controlling Margins

Using LINAGE for Margins

Left and Right Margins

Spacing and Alignment

Vertical Spacing

Horizontal Alignment

Page Break Control

Manual Page Break Control

Using LINAGE for Automatic Page Breaks

Complete Page Layout Example

Best Practices for Page Layout

Common Page Layout Patterns

Pattern 1: Simple Report Layout

Pattern 2: Detailed Report Layout

Pattern 3: Financial Report Layout

Explain Like I'm 5: Page Layout

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Header Design

Exercise 2: Complete Page Layout

Exercise 3: Centered Text

Exercise 4: Page Break Logic

Exercise 5: Professional Footer

Test Your Knowledge

Related Concepts

Related Concepts

LINAGE Clause

Report Writing

PAGE Clause

Output Formatting

Related Pages