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COBOL Tutorial

COBOL GROUP Data Items

GROUP data items represent the fundamental hierarchical data organization mechanism within COBOL programming environments, serving as the primary specification for creating structured record layouts that contain multiple subordinate data elements organized in logical relationships. These items embody the principles of data encapsulation by providing container functionality for related data fields, enabling sophisticated record structure design patterns, and supporting comprehensive data organization architectures while maintaining clear hierarchical relationships and ensuring efficient data access patterns in enterprise applications that require complex data structures, business record management, and maintainable data organization with predictable field relationships and structured data manipulation capabilities across diverse business domains.

Syntax and Structure

GROUP Item Definition
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level-number group-name.
    level-number subordinate-item PIC clause.
    level-number subordinate-group.
        level-number elementary-item PIC clause.
 
*> Examples:
01 EMPLOYEE-RECORD.
   05 EMPLOYEE-ID PIC 9(6).
   05 EMPLOYEE-NAME.
      10 FIRST-NAME PIC X(15).
      10 LAST-NAME PIC X(20).
   05 SALARY PIC 9(7)V99.
 
01 ADDRESS-INFO.
   05 STREET-ADDRESS PIC X(30).
   05 CITY PIC X(20).
   05 STATE PIC X(2).
   05 ZIP-CODE PIC 9(5).
Data Structure
Hierarchical
Record Layout

Basic GROUP Examples

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. GROUP-ITEM-EXAMPLES.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
*> Simple employee record structure
01  EMPLOYEE-RECORD.
    05  EMPLOYEE-ID         PIC 9(6).
    05  PERSONAL-INFO.
        10  FIRST-NAME      PIC X(15).
        10  MIDDLE-INITIAL  PIC X.
        10  LAST-NAME       PIC X(20).
        10  DATE-OF-BIRTH   PIC 9(8).
    05  EMPLOYMENT-INFO.
        10  HIRE-DATE       PIC 9(8).
        10  DEPARTMENT      PIC X(10).
        10  JOB-TITLE       PIC X(25).
        10  SALARY          PIC 9(7)V99.
    05  CONTACT-INFO.
        10  ADDRESS-GROUP.
            15  STREET      PIC X(30).
            15  CITY        PIC X(20).
            15  STATE       PIC X(2).
            15  ZIP-CODE    PIC 9(5).
        10  PHONE-GROUP.
            15  HOME-PHONE  PIC 9(10).
            15  WORK-PHONE  PIC 9(10).
            15  CELL-PHONE  PIC 9(10).
 
*> Customer order structure
01  ORDER-RECORD.
    05  ORDER-HEADER.
        10  ORDER-NUMBER    PIC 9(8).
        10  ORDER-DATE      PIC 9(8).
        10  CUSTOMER-ID     PIC 9(6).
        10  ORDER-STATUS    PIC X(10).
    05  SHIPPING-INFO.
        10  SHIP-TO-NAME    PIC X(30).
        10  SHIP-ADDRESS.
            15  SHIP-STREET PIC X(30).
            15  SHIP-CITY   PIC X(20).
            15  SHIP-STATE  PIC X(2).
            15  SHIP-ZIP    PIC 9(5).
        10  SHIPPING-METHOD PIC X(15).
        10  SHIP-DATE       PIC 9(8).
    05  ORDER-TOTALS.
        10  SUBTOTAL        PIC 9(7)V99.
        10  TAX-AMOUNT      PIC 9(5)V99.
        10  SHIPPING-COST   PIC 9(5)V99.
        10  TOTAL-AMOUNT    PIC 9(8)V99.
 
*> Product inventory structure
01  PRODUCT-RECORD.
    05  PRODUCT-INFO.
        10  PRODUCT-ID      PIC X(10).
        10  PRODUCT-NAME    PIC X(30).
        10  CATEGORY        PIC X(15).
        10  DESCRIPTION     PIC X(100).
    05  PRICING-INFO.
        10  COST-PRICE      PIC 9(6)V99.
        10  SELLING-PRICE   PIC 9(6)V99.
        10  DISCOUNT-PRICE  PIC 9(6)V99.
        10  MARKUP-PERCENT  PIC 9(3)V99.
    05  INVENTORY-INFO.
        10  QUANTITY-ON-HAND    PIC 9(6).
        10  REORDER-POINT       PIC 9(6).
        10  MAXIMUM-STOCK       PIC 9(6).
        10  LAST-ORDER-DATE     PIC 9(8).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-PROCESSING.
    *> Initialize employee record
    MOVE 123456 TO EMPLOYEE-ID
    MOVE 'JOHN' TO FIRST-NAME
    MOVE 'Q' TO MIDDLE-INITIAL
    MOVE 'SMITH' TO LAST-NAME
    MOVE 19850315 TO DATE-OF-BIRTH
    MOVE 20200101 TO HIRE-DATE
    MOVE 'IT' TO DEPARTMENT
    MOVE 'SOFTWARE DEVELOPER' TO JOB-TITLE
    MOVE 75000.00 TO SALARY
    
    *> Initialize address information
    MOVE '123 MAIN STREET' TO STREET
    MOVE 'ANYTOWN' TO CITY
    MOVE 'NY' TO STATE
    MOVE 12345 TO ZIP-CODE
    MOVE 5551234567 TO HOME-PHONE
    MOVE 5559876543 TO WORK-PHONE
    MOVE 5555551234 TO CELL-PHONE
    
    *> Display employee information using group references
    DISPLAY 'Employee Information:'
    DISPLAY 'ID: ' EMPLOYEE-ID
    DISPLAY 'Name: ' FIRST-NAME ' ' MIDDLE-INITIAL '. ' LAST-NAME
    DISPLAY 'Department: ' DEPARTMENT
    DISPLAY 'Salary: $' SALARY
    
    *> Display contact information
    DISPLAY 'Address: ' STREET ', ' CITY ', ' STATE ' ' ZIP-CODE
    DISPLAY 'Home Phone: ' HOME-PHONE
    
    *> Initialize order record
    MOVE 12345678 TO ORDER-NUMBER
    MOVE FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(1:8) TO ORDER-DATE
    MOVE 987654 TO CUSTOMER-ID
    MOVE 'PENDING' TO ORDER-STATUS
    
    MOVE 'JANE DOE' TO SHIP-TO-NAME
    MOVE '456 OAK AVENUE' TO SHIP-STREET
    MOVE 'SOMEWHERE' TO SHIP-CITY
    MOVE 'CA' TO SHIP-STATE
    MOVE 54321 TO SHIP-ZIP
    MOVE 'STANDARD' TO SHIPPING-METHOD
    
    MOVE 250.00 TO SUBTOTAL
    MOVE 20.63 TO TAX-AMOUNT
    MOVE 15.99 TO SHIPPING-COST
    COMPUTE TOTAL-AMOUNT = SUBTOTAL + TAX-AMOUNT + SHIPPING-COST
    
    DISPLAY 'Order Information:'
    DISPLAY 'Order #: ' ORDER-NUMBER
    DISPLAY 'Customer: ' CUSTOMER-ID
    DISPLAY 'Ship To: ' SHIP-TO-NAME
    DISPLAY 'Total: $' TOTAL-AMOUNT
    
    STOP RUN.

Key Features and Benefits

Data Organization
  • • Hierarchical data structure
  • • Logical field grouping
  • • Clear data relationships
  • • Improved code readability
Programming Benefits
  • • Group-level operations
  • • Simplified data movement
  • • Enhanced maintainability
  • • Structured record design

Interactive Tutorial

Hands-On Exercise: Complex Record Structures
Practice designing and using GROUP items for business record structures

Exercise 1: Student Record System

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01 STUDENT-RECORD.
   05 STUDENT-ID PIC 9(8).
   05 PERSONAL-DATA.
      10 STUDENT-NAME.
         15 FIRST-NAME PIC X(15).
         15 LAST-NAME PIC X(20).
      10 BIRTH-DATE PIC 9(8).
      10 GENDER PIC X.
   05 ACADEMIC-INFO.
      10 MAJOR PIC X(20).
      10 CLASS-LEVEL PIC X(10).
      10 GPA PIC 9V99.
      10 CREDIT-HOURS PIC 9(3).
   05 CONTACT-DATA.
      10 LOCAL-ADDRESS.
         15 DORM-NAME PIC X(20).
         15 ROOM-NUMBER PIC X(10).
      10 HOME-ADDRESS.
         15 HOME-STREET PIC X(30).
         15 HOME-CITY PIC X(20).
         15 HOME-STATE PIC X(2).
         15 HOME-ZIP PIC 9(5).
      10 EMAIL-ADDRESS PIC X(50).
      10 PHONE-NUMBER PIC 9(10).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    *> Initialize student data
    MOVE 12345678 TO STUDENT-ID
    MOVE 'ALICE' TO FIRST-NAME
    MOVE 'JOHNSON' TO LAST-NAME
    MOVE 20021015 TO BIRTH-DATE
    MOVE 'F' TO GENDER
    MOVE 'COMPUTER SCIENCE' TO MAJOR
    MOVE 'JUNIOR' TO CLASS-LEVEL
    MOVE 3.75 TO GPA
    MOVE 90 TO CREDIT-HOURS.

Exercise 2: Financial Transaction Record

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01 TRANSACTION-RECORD.
   05 TRANSACTION-HEADER.
      10 TRANSACTION-ID PIC X(12).
      10 TRANSACTION-DATE PIC 9(8).
      10 TRANSACTION-TIME PIC 9(6).
      10 TRANSACTION-TYPE PIC X(10).
   05 ACCOUNT-INFO.
      10 FROM-ACCOUNT.
         15 ACCOUNT-NUMBER PIC 9(10).
         15 ACCOUNT-TYPE PIC X(10).
         15 BANK-CODE PIC X(8).
      10 TO-ACCOUNT.
         15 ACCOUNT-NUMBER PIC 9(10).
         15 ACCOUNT-TYPE PIC X(10).
         15 BANK-CODE PIC X(8).
   05 AMOUNT-INFO.
      10 TRANSACTION-AMOUNT PIC 9(10)V99.
      10 CURRENCY-CODE PIC X(3).
      10 EXCHANGE-RATE PIC 9(3)V9999.
   05 STATUS-INFO.
      10 PROCESSING-STATUS PIC X(10).
      10 ERROR-CODE PIC X(5).
      10 APPROVAL-CODE PIC X(10).
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    *> Process financial transaction
    MOVE 'TXN123456789' TO TRANSACTION-ID
    MOVE FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(1:8) TO TRANSACTION-DATE
    MOVE FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(9:6) TO TRANSACTION-TIME
    MOVE 'TRANSFER' TO TRANSACTION-TYPE.

Advanced GROUP Patterns

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IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. ADVANCED-GROUP-PATTERNS.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
*> Complex business record with multiple levels
01  INVOICE-MASTER-RECORD.
    05  INVOICE-CONTROL.
        10  INVOICE-NUMBER      PIC X(12).
        10  INVOICE-DATE        PIC 9(8).
        10  DUE-DATE            PIC 9(8).
        10  INVOICE-STATUS      PIC X(10).
        10  PAYMENT-TERMS       PIC X(15).
    
    05  VENDOR-INFORMATION.
        10  VENDOR-ID           PIC X(10).
        10  VENDOR-NAME         PIC X(40).
        10  VENDOR-ADDRESS.
            15  VENDOR-STREET   PIC X(30).
            15  VENDOR-CITY     PIC X(20).
            15  VENDOR-STATE    PIC X(2).
            15  VENDOR-ZIP      PIC 9(5).
        10  VENDOR-CONTACT.
            15  CONTACT-NAME    PIC X(30).
            15  CONTACT-PHONE   PIC 9(10).
            15  CONTACT-EMAIL   PIC X(50).
    
    05  BILLING-INFORMATION.
        10  BILL-TO-COMPANY     PIC X(40).
        10  BILL-TO-ADDRESS.
            15  BILL-STREET     PIC X(30).
            15  BILL-CITY       PIC X(20).
            15  BILL-STATE      PIC X(2).
            15  BILL-ZIP        PIC 9(5).
        10  BILL-TO-CONTACT.
            15  BILL-CONTACT    PIC X(30).
            15  BILL-PHONE      PIC 9(10).
    
    05  FINANCIAL-TOTALS.
        10  LINE-ITEM-TOTAL     PIC 9(8)V99.
        10  TAX-CALCULATIONS.
            15  FEDERAL-TAX     PIC 9(6)V99.
            15  STATE-TAX       PIC 9(6)V99.
            15  LOCAL-TAX       PIC 9(6)V99.
            15  TOTAL-TAX       PIC 9(7)V99.
        10  DISCOUNT-INFO.
            15  EARLY-PAY-DISC  PIC 9(5)V99.
            15  VOLUME-DISCOUNT PIC 9(5)V99.
            15  TOTAL-DISCOUNT  PIC 9(6)V99.
        10  INVOICE-TOTAL       PIC 9(9)V99.
 
*> Employee performance review structure
01  PERFORMANCE-REVIEW.
    05  REVIEW-HEADER.
        10  REVIEW-ID           PIC X(12).
        10  REVIEW-PERIOD.
            15  START-DATE      PIC 9(8).
            15  END-DATE        PIC 9(8).
        10  REVIEW-TYPE         PIC X(15).
        10  REVIEWER-ID         PIC X(8).
    
    05  EMPLOYEE-DETAILS.
        10  EMPLOYEE-ID         PIC X(8).
        10  EMPLOYEE-NAME.
            15  EMP-FIRST       PIC X(15).
            15  EMP-LAST        PIC X(20).
        10  JOB-INFORMATION.
            15  POSITION-TITLE  PIC X(25).
            15  DEPARTMENT      PIC X(15).
            15  SUPERVISOR-ID   PIC X(8).
    
    05  PERFORMANCE-METRICS.
        10  GOAL-ACHIEVEMENT.
            15  GOALS-SET       PIC 9(2).
            15  GOALS-MET       PIC 9(2).
            15  ACHIEVEMENT-PCT PIC 9(3)V99.
        10  SKILL-RATINGS.
            15  TECHNICAL-SKILL PIC 9V9.
            15  COMMUNICATION   PIC 9V9.
            15  LEADERSHIP      PIC 9V9.
            15  TEAMWORK        PIC 9V9.
            15  INITIATIVE      PIC 9V9.
        10  OVERALL-RATING      PIC 9V9.
    
    05  DEVELOPMENT-PLAN.
        10  STRENGTHS           PIC X(200).
        10  IMPROVEMENT-AREAS   PIC X(200).
        10  TRAINING-NEEDS      PIC X(150).
        10  CAREER-GOALS        PIC X(150).
 
*> Manufacturing work order structure
01  WORK-ORDER-RECORD.
    05  ORDER-IDENTIFICATION.
        10  WORK-ORDER-NUMBER   PIC X(12).
        10  PARENT-ORDER        PIC X(12).
        10  ORDER-TYPE          PIC X(10).
        10  PRIORITY-LEVEL      PIC 9.
    
    05  SCHEDULING-INFO.
        10  PLANNED-DATES.
            15  PLAN-START-DATE PIC 9(8).
            15  PLAN-END-DATE   PIC 9(8).
            15  PLAN-DURATION   PIC 9(3).
        10  ACTUAL-DATES.
            15  ACTUAL-START    PIC 9(8).
            15  ACTUAL-END      PIC 9(8).
            15  ACTUAL-DURATION PIC 9(3).
    
    05  PRODUCT-DETAILS.
        10  PRODUCT-CODE        PIC X(15).
        10  PRODUCT-NAME        PIC X(30).
        10  QUANTITY-INFO.
            15  ORDERED-QTY     PIC 9(6).
            15  COMPLETED-QTY   PIC 9(6).
            15  REJECTED-QTY    PIC 9(5).
            15  UNIT-OF-MEASURE PIC X(5).
    
    05  RESOURCE-ALLOCATION.
        10  LABOR-HOURS.
            15  PLANNED-HOURS   PIC 9(4)V99.
            15  ACTUAL-HOURS    PIC 9(4)V99.
            15  OVERTIME-HOURS  PIC 9(3)V99.
        10  MACHINE-TIME.
            15  SETUP-TIME      PIC 9(3)V99.
            15  RUN-TIME        PIC 9(4)V99.
            15  DOWNTIME        PIC 9(3)V99.
    
    05  COST-TRACKING.
        10  MATERIAL-COSTS      PIC 9(8)V99.
        10  LABOR-COSTS         PIC 9(7)V99.
        10  OVERHEAD-COSTS      PIC 9(7)V99.
        10  TOTAL-COST          PIC 9(9)V99.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
ADVANCED-PROCESSING.
    PERFORM INITIALIZE-INVOICE-RECORD
    PERFORM PROCESS-PERFORMANCE-REVIEW
    PERFORM HANDLE-WORK-ORDER
    STOP RUN.
 
INITIALIZE-INVOICE-RECORD.
    *> Initialize invoice with sample data
    MOVE 'INV-2024-001' TO INVOICE-NUMBER
    MOVE FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE(1:8) TO INVOICE-DATE
    MOVE 'PENDING' TO INVOICE-STATUS
    MOVE 'NET 30' TO PAYMENT-TERMS
    
    *> Set vendor information
    MOVE 'VEND001' TO VENDOR-ID
    MOVE 'ACME OFFICE SUPPLIES' TO VENDOR-NAME
    MOVE '123 BUSINESS BLVD' TO VENDOR-STREET
    MOVE 'COMMERCE CITY' TO VENDOR-CITY
    MOVE 'TX' TO VENDOR-STATE
    MOVE 75201 TO VENDOR-ZIP
    
    *> Calculate financial totals
    MOVE 5000.00 TO LINE-ITEM-TOTAL
    COMPUTE FEDERAL-TAX = LINE-ITEM-TOTAL * 0.08
    COMPUTE STATE-TAX = LINE-ITEM-TOTAL * 0.0625
    COMPUTE LOCAL-TAX = LINE-ITEM-TOTAL * 0.02
    ADD FEDERAL-TAX STATE-TAX LOCAL-TAX GIVING TOTAL-TAX
    
    MOVE 100.00 TO EARLY-PAY-DISC
    MOVE 250.00 TO VOLUME-DISCOUNT
    ADD EARLY-PAY-DISC VOLUME-DISCOUNT GIVING TOTAL-DISCOUNT
    
    COMPUTE INVOICE-TOTAL = LINE-ITEM-TOTAL + TOTAL-TAX - TOTAL-DISCOUNT
    
    DISPLAY 'Invoice initialized: ' INVOICE-NUMBER
    DISPLAY 'Vendor: ' VENDOR-NAME
    DISPLAY 'Total: $' INVOICE-TOTAL.
 
PROCESS-PERFORMANCE-REVIEW.
    *> Initialize performance review
    MOVE 'REV-2024-001' TO REVIEW-ID
    MOVE 20240101 TO START-DATE
    MOVE 20241231 TO END-DATE
    MOVE 'ANNUAL' TO REVIEW-TYPE
    
    MOVE 'EMP12345' TO EMPLOYEE-ID
    MOVE 'SARAH' TO EMP-FIRST
    MOVE 'WILLIAMS' TO EMP-LAST
    MOVE 'SENIOR ANALYST' TO POSITION-TITLE
    MOVE 'FINANCE' TO DEPARTMENT
    
    *> Set performance metrics
    MOVE 10 TO GOALS-SET
    MOVE 9 TO GOALS-MET
    COMPUTE ACHIEVEMENT-PCT = (GOALS-MET / GOALS-SET) * 100
    
    MOVE 4.5 TO TECHNICAL-SKILL
    MOVE 4.2 TO COMMUNICATION
    MOVE 3.8 TO LEADERSHIP
    MOVE 4.7 TO TEAMWORK
    MOVE 4.1 TO INITIATIVE
    
    COMPUTE OVERALL-RATING = 
        (TECHNICAL-SKILL + COMMUNICATION + LEADERSHIP + TEAMWORK + INITIATIVE) / 5
    
    DISPLAY 'Performance review processed for: ' EMP-FIRST ' ' EMP-LAST
    DISPLAY 'Overall rating: ' OVERALL-RATING
    DISPLAY 'Goal achievement: ' ACHIEVEMENT-PCT '%'.
 
HANDLE-WORK-ORDER.
    *> Initialize work order
    MOVE 'WO-2024-001' TO WORK-ORDER-NUMBER
    MOVE 'PRODUCTION' TO ORDER-TYPE
    MOVE 1 TO PRIORITY-LEVEL
    
    MOVE 20240301 TO PLAN-START-DATE
    MOVE 20240315 TO PLAN-END-DATE
    MOVE 14 TO PLAN-DURATION
    
    MOVE 'WIDGET-A100' TO PRODUCT-CODE
    MOVE 'PREMIUM WIDGET ASSEMBLY' TO PRODUCT-NAME
    MOVE 1000 TO ORDERED-QTY
    MOVE 'EACH' TO UNIT-OF-MEASURE
    
    MOVE 120.00 TO PLANNED-HOURS
    MOVE 8.50 TO SETUP-TIME
    MOVE 45.75 TO RUN-TIME
    
    MOVE 15000.00 TO MATERIAL-COSTS
    MOVE 3600.00 TO LABOR-COSTS
    MOVE 2400.00 TO OVERHEAD-COSTS
    ADD MATERIAL-COSTS LABOR-COSTS OVERHEAD-COSTS GIVING TOTAL-COST
    
    DISPLAY 'Work order created: ' WORK-ORDER-NUMBER
    DISPLAY 'Product: ' PRODUCT-NAME
    DISPLAY 'Quantity: ' ORDERED-QTY
    DISPLAY 'Total cost: $' TOTAL-COST.

Best Practices

Knowledge Check

Test Your Understanding

Question 1: Definition

What makes a data item a GROUP item in COBOL?

Answer: A GROUP item contains other data items (subordinate items) and does not have a PICTURE clause. It serves as a container for organizing related data elements.

Question 2: Level Numbers

How do level numbers work in GROUP item hierarchies?

Answer: Higher level numbers indicate subordinate items. Level 01 is typically the record level, with 05, 10, 15, etc. for subordinate groups and elementary items.

Question 3: Operations

What operations can be performed on GROUP items?

Answer: GROUP items can be moved as a unit, compared as alphanumeric data, initialized with INITIALIZE, and referenced in I/O operations. Individual subordinate items can also be accessed directly.

Common Patterns

Address Structure
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01 ADDRESS-RECORD.
   05 STREET-ADDRESS PIC X(30).
   05 CITY PIC X(20).
   05 STATE PIC X(2).
   05 ZIP-CODE PIC 9(5).
   05 COUNTRY PIC X(15).
Date/Time Structure
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01 DATETIME-STAMP.
   05 DATE-PART.
      10 YEAR PIC 9(4).
      10 MONTH PIC 9(2).
      10 DAY PIC 9(2).
   05 TIME-PART.
      10 HOUR PIC 9(2).
      10 MINUTE PIC 9(2).
      10 SECOND PIC 9(2).

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

Data Structure

Record organization and hierarchical data design

Level Numbers

Data hierarchy and subordination levels

Record Layout

Data organization and field arrangement