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COBOL SECTION Statement - Quick Reference

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Overview

The SECTION statement is used to organize procedures in the PROCEDURE DIVISION into logical groups. It improves program structure and readability by grouping related paragraphs together.

Purpose and Usage

  • Program organization - Group related procedures together
  • Code readability - Improve program structure
  • Maintainability - Make programs easier to maintain
  • Logical grouping - Organize procedures by function
  • Modular design - Create modular program structure

Syntax

The SECTION statement follows a simple syntax for organizing procedures.

Basic Syntax

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* Basic SECTION syntax
SECTION-NAME SECTION.
    paragraph-name.
        statements
    another-paragraph.
        statements
 
* Complete example
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. SECTION-EXAMPLE.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    PERFORM INITIALIZATION-SECTION
    PERFORM PROCESSING-SECTION
    PERFORM CLEANUP-SECTION
    STOP RUN.
 
INITIALIZATION-SECTION SECTION.
    INIT-PARAGRAPH.
        DISPLAY "Initializing program"
        OPEN INPUT INPUT-FILE
        OPEN OUTPUT OUTPUT-FILE.
 
PROCESSING-SECTION SECTION.
    PROCESS-DATA.
        READ INPUT-FILE
            AT END
                GO TO END-PROCESSING
        END-READ
        PERFORM PROCESS-RECORD.
 
    PROCESS-RECORD.
        * Process record logic here.
 
CLEANUP-SECTION SECTION.
    CLEANUP-PROCEDURES.
        CLOSE INPUT-FILE OUTPUT-FILE
        DISPLAY "Program completed".

SECTION organizes procedures into logical groups.

Practical Examples

Examples of using the SECTION statement in different program structures.

File Processing Program

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* File processing with SECTIONs
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-CONTROL.
    PERFORM INITIALIZATION
    PERFORM MAIN-PROCESSING
    PERFORM TERMINATION
    STOP RUN.
 
INITIALIZATION SECTION.
    SETUP-PROGRAM.
        DISPLAY "Starting file processing"
        OPEN INPUT MASTER-FILE
        OPEN OUTPUT REPORT-FILE.
 
MAIN-PROCESSING SECTION.
    PROCESS-FILES.
        READ MASTER-FILE
            AT END
                GO TO END-PROCESSING
        END-READ
        PERFORM VALIDATE-RECORD
        PERFORM WRITE-RECORD.
 
    VALIDATE-RECORD.
        * Validation logic here.
 
    WRITE-RECORD.
        * Write logic here.
 
TERMINATION SECTION.
    CLEANUP-PROGRAM.
        CLOSE MASTER-FILE REPORT-FILE
        DISPLAY "Processing completed".

SECTIONs organize file processing operations.

Best Practices

Understanding best practices ensures effective use of the SECTION statement.

Best Practices

  • Use descriptive names - Choose meaningful section names
  • Group related procedures - Keep related functionality together
  • Maintain consistency - Use consistent naming conventions
  • Limit section size - Keep sections manageable
  • Document purpose - Clearly indicate section purpose

Test Your Knowledge

1. What is the primary purpose of the SECTION statement in COBOL?

  • To define file sections
  • To organize program procedures into logical groups
  • To create data structures
  • To define program parameters

2. In which COBOL division is the SECTION statement typically used?

  • IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
  • ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
  • DATA DIVISION
  • PROCEDURE DIVISION

3. What is the relationship between SECTION and PARAGRAPH?

  • They are the same thing
  • SECTION contains PARAGRAPHs
  • PARAGRAPH contains SECTIONs
  • They cannot be used together

4. Can a SECTION be called directly using PERFORM?

  • Yes, always
  • No, never
  • Only with certain COBOL versions
  • Only if the SECTION is defined as PERFORMABLE

5. What is the main benefit of using SECTIONs in COBOL?

  • Improved performance
  • Better program organization and readability
  • Reduced memory usage
  • Faster compilation

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

PROCEDURE DIVISION

Understanding the PROCEDURE DIVISION structure.

PARAGRAPH Statement

Using PARAGRAPH to define procedures.

Program Structure

COBOL program structure and organization.

SEARCH StatementSECURE Clause