The REPOSITORY clause is used in COBOL's ENVIRONMENT DIVISION to define external data items and functions that can be shared across multiple programs. This enables code reuse and consistent data structures across large applications.
REPOSITORY clause enables external data sharing across programs.
The REPOSITORY clause follows specific syntax patterns within the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION and establishes external data definitions.
123456789101112131415161718192021* Basic REPOSITORY clause syntax ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS external-class-name AS "class-name" INTERFACE external-interface-name AS "interface-name" FUNCTION external-function-name AS "function-name" PROGRAM external-program-name AS "program-name". * Example with data items REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS CUSTOMER-CLASS AS "CustomerClass" FUNCTION VALIDATE-CUSTOMER AS "validateCustomer" PROGRAM CUSTOMER-PROGRAM AS "CUSTPGM". * With multiple definitions REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS EMPLOYEE-CLASS AS "EmployeeClass" CLASS DEPARTMENT-CLASS AS "DepartmentClass" FUNCTION CALCULATE-SALARY AS "calcSalary" FUNCTION VALIDATE-EMPLOYEE AS "validateEmployee" PROGRAM EMPLOYEE-PROGRAM AS "EMPPGM".
REPOSITORY clause establishes external definitions for sharing across programs.
Aspect | REPOSITORY | WORKING-STORAGE |
---|---|---|
Division | ENVIRONMENT DIVISION | DATA DIVISION |
Scope | External (shared) | Internal (program-specific) |
Purpose | External definitions | Internal variables |
Access | Multiple programs | Single program |
Linking | Required | Not required |
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728* Complete ENVIRONMENT DIVISION with REPOSITORY ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. CONFIGURATION SECTION. SOURCE-COMPUTER. IBM-3090. OBJECT-COMPUTER. IBM-3090. SPECIAL-NAMES. ALPHABET ASCII-ALPHABET IS STANDARD-1 ALPHABET EBCDIC-ALPHABET IS STANDARD-2. INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION. FILE-CONTROL. SELECT CUSTOMER-FILE ASSIGN TO CUSTFILE ORGANIZATION IS INDEXED ACCESS MODE IS DYNAMIC RECORD KEY IS CUSTOMER-ID FILE STATUS IS CUSTOMER-FILE-STATUS. * REPOSITORY SECTION - External definitions REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS CUSTOMER-CLASS AS "CustomerClass" FUNCTION VALIDATE-CUSTOMER AS "validateCustomer" FUNCTION CALCULATE-CREDIT AS "calculateCredit" PROGRAM CUSTOMER-PROGRAM AS "CUSTPGM". I-O-CONTROL. SAME RECORD AREA FOR CUSTOMER-FILE, CUSTOMER-BACKUP.
REPOSITORY SECTION is part of the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION structure.
These examples demonstrate how to use the REPOSITORY clause effectively in different external data sharing scenarios.
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031* Program 1: Define external data structures IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. SHARED-DATA-DEFINER. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS CUSTOMER-RECORD AS "CustomerRecord" CLASS EMPLOYEE-RECORD AS "EmployeeRecord" FUNCTION VALIDATE-CUSTOMER AS "validateCustomer" FUNCTION VALIDATE-EMPLOYEE AS "validateEmployee". DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. * Define shared record structures 01 CUSTOMER-RECORD. 05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(6). 05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30). 05 CUSTOMER-ADDRESS PIC X(50). 05 CUSTOMER-PHONE PIC X(15). 01 EMPLOYEE-RECORD. 05 EMPLOYEE-ID PIC 9(6). 05 EMPLOYEE-NAME PIC X(30). 05 EMPLOYEE-DEPT PIC X(10). 05 EMPLOYEE-SALARY PIC 9(7)V99. PROCEDURE DIVISION. MAIN-LOGIC. * Export the record structures for other programs CALL "EXPORT-RECORDS" USING CUSTOMER-RECORD, EMPLOYEE-RECORD STOP RUN.
REPOSITORY clause enables sharing of data structures across programs.
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637* Program 2: Using shared functions IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. CUSTOMER-PROCESSOR. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. FUNCTION VALIDATE-CUSTOMER AS "validateCustomer" FUNCTION CALCULATE-CREDIT AS "calculateCredit" PROGRAM CUSTOMER-PROGRAM AS "CUSTPGM". DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 CUSTOMER-DATA. 05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(6). 05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30). 05 CUSTOMER-CREDIT PIC 9(7)V99. 01 VALIDATION-RESULT PIC X. 88 VALID-CUSTOMER VALUE "Y". 88 INVALID-CUSTOMER VALUE "N". PROCEDURE DIVISION. PROCESS-CUSTOMER. * Use shared validation function CALL VALIDATE-CUSTOMER USING CUSTOMER-DATA RETURNING VALIDATION-RESULT IF VALID-CUSTOMER * Use shared credit calculation function CALL CALCULATE-CREDIT USING CUSTOMER-DATA RETURNING CUSTOMER-CREDIT DISPLAY "Customer processed successfully" ELSE DISPLAY "Invalid customer data" END-IF STOP RUN.
REPOSITORY clause enables sharing of function interfaces across programs.
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839* Program 3: Object-oriented approach with REPOSITORY IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. OBJECT-PROCESSOR. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. CLASS CUSTOMER-CLASS AS "CustomerClass" CLASS EMPLOYEE-CLASS AS "EmployeeClass" CLASS ACCOUNT-CLASS AS "AccountClass". DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 CUSTOMER-OBJECT OBJECT REFERENCE CUSTOMER-CLASS. 01 EMPLOYEE-OBJECT OBJECT REFERENCE EMPLOYEE-CLASS. 01 ACCOUNT-OBJECT OBJECT REFERENCE ACCOUNT-CLASS. 01 CUSTOMER-DATA. 05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(6). 05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30). 01 EMPLOYEE-DATA. 05 EMPLOYEE-ID PIC 9(6). 05 EMPLOYEE-NAME PIC X(30). PROCEDURE DIVISION. PROCESS-OBJECTS. * Create customer object using shared class INVOKE CUSTOMER-CLASS "NEW" USING CUSTOMER-DATA RETURNING CUSTOMER-OBJECT * Create employee object using shared class INVOKE EMPLOYEE-CLASS "NEW" USING EMPLOYEE-DATA RETURNING EMPLOYEE-OBJECT * Process objects INVOKE CUSTOMER-OBJECT "PROCESS" INVOKE EMPLOYEE-OBJECT "PROCESS" STOP RUN.
REPOSITORY clause enables sharing of class definitions across programs.
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051* Main application program IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. MAIN-APPLICATION. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. PROGRAM CUSTOMER-PROGRAM AS "CUSTPGM" PROGRAM EMPLOYEE-PROGRAM AS "EMPPGM" PROGRAM ACCOUNT-PROGRAM AS "ACCTPGM" FUNCTION SHARED-VALIDATION AS "sharedValidation". DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 01 SHARED-DATA. 05 USER-ID PIC 9(6). 05 USER-NAME PIC X(30). 05 VALIDATION-RESULT PIC X. PROCEDURE DIVISION. MAIN-LOGIC. * Use shared validation function CALL SHARED-VALIDATION USING SHARED-DATA RETURNING VALIDATION-RESULT * Call shared programs CALL CUSTOMER-PROGRAM USING SHARED-DATA CALL EMPLOYEE-PROGRAM USING SHARED-DATA CALL ACCOUNT-PROGRAM USING SHARED-DATA DISPLAY "Application processing complete" STOP RUN. * Subprogram 1: Customer processing IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. PROGRAM-ID. CUSTPGM. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. REPOSITORY SECTION. FUNCTION VALIDATE-CUSTOMER AS "validateCustomer". DATA DIVISION. LINKAGE SECTION. 01 CUSTOMER-DATA. 05 CUSTOMER-ID PIC 9(6). 05 CUSTOMER-NAME PIC X(30). PROCEDURE DIVISION USING CUSTOMER-DATA. * Process customer data using shared function CALL VALIDATE-CUSTOMER USING CUSTOMER-DATA DISPLAY "Customer processing complete" EXIT PROGRAM.
REPOSITORY clause enables complex multi-program applications with shared resources.
Following these best practices ensures effective use of the REPOSITORY clause in COBOL applications.
Pitfall | Problem | Solution |
---|---|---|
Undefined external references | Linking errors | Ensure all external items are defined |
Type mismatches | Runtime errors | Verify data type consistency |
Missing linking | Compilation failures | Include proper linking steps |
Poor naming conventions | Maintenance difficulties | Use consistent naming standards |
Inconsistent definitions | Data corruption | Maintain single source of truth |
Scenario | Use REPOSITORY | Use Other Methods |
---|---|---|
Shared data structures | Yes | No |
Function interfaces | Yes | No |
Multi-program applications | Yes | No |
Single program variables | No | Yes (WORKING-STORAGE) |
File definitions | No | Yes (FILE SECTION) |
Usage | Syntax | Purpose |
---|---|---|
Define external class | CLASS name AS "class-name" | Share class definitions |
Define external function | FUNCTION name AS "function-name" | Share function interfaces |
Define external program | PROGRAM name AS "program-name" | Share program references |
Define external interface | INTERFACE name AS "interface-name" | Share interface definitions |
Multiple definitions | Multiple entries in REPOSITORY | Share multiple external items |
1. What is the primary purpose of the REPOSITORY clause in COBOL?
2. In which division is the REPOSITORY clause used?
3. What happens when a REPOSITORY clause is executed?
4. What is the relationship between REPOSITORY and external data items?
5. Which of the following is a valid REPOSITORY clause usage?
Complete guide to COBOL ENVIRONMENT DIVISION structure.
Using WORKING-STORAGE for internal data items.
Using CALL to invoke external programs and functions.
Using LINKAGE SECTION for program parameters.
Working with classes and objects in COBOL.