COBOL STANDARD-1 Clause - Quick Reference

The STANDARD-1 clause in COBOL specifies compliance with the COBOL 85 standard (ANSI X3.23-1985). It ensures that the program uses only features available in the COBOL 85 specification, providing maximum portability and compatibility with legacy systems.

Primary Use

Specify COBOL 85 standard compliance

Division

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

Section

CONFIGURATION SECTION

Status

Optional clause

Overview

The STANDARD-1 clause is part of the CONFIGURATION SECTION in the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. It specifies that the program should follow the COBOL 85 standard (ANSI X3.23-1985). This ensures maximum portability and compatibility with different COBOL implementations by restricting the program to use only features defined in the COBOL 85 specification.

Syntax

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ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
 
* Examples:
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
 
* With other configuration clauses:
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
SOURCE-COMPUTER. IBM-3090.
OBJECT-COMPUTER. IBM-3090.
STANDARD-1.

Practical Examples

Basic STANDARD-1 Usage

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* Basic STANDARD-1 clause example (COBOL 85)
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. STANDARD-1-EXAMPLE.
 
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-COUNTER           PIC 9(3) VALUE ZERO.
01  WS-RESULT            PIC 9(5).
01  WS-MESSAGE           PIC X(50) VALUE "Using COBOL 85 Standard".
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    DISPLAY WS-MESSAGE
    DISPLAY "Standard: COBOL 85 (STANDARD-1)"
    
    * Use COBOL 85 features only
    PERFORM VARYING WS-COUNTER FROM 1 BY 1 UNTIL WS-COUNTER > 5
        COMPUTE WS-RESULT = WS-COUNTER * 10
        DISPLAY "Counter: " WS-COUNTER " Result: " WS-RESULT
    END-PERFORM
    
    DISPLAY "STANDARD-1 processing completed"
    STOP RUN.

Explanation: This example demonstrates basic usage of the STANDARD-1 clause. The program specifies COBOL 85 compliance, which restricts the program to use only features available in the COBOL 85 standard. This includes basic arithmetic operations, PERFORM loops, and standard COBOL syntax. The compiler will flag any usage of newer COBOL features as errors.

STANDARD-1 with File Processing

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* STANDARD-1 with file processing (COBOL 85)
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. STANDARD-1-FILE-EXAMPLE.
 
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
FILE-CONTROL.
    SELECT INPUT-FILE ASSIGN TO "INPUT.DAT"
        ORGANIZATION IS SEQUENTIAL
        ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL
        FILE STATUS IS WS-FILE-STATUS.
 
DATA DIVISION.
FILE SECTION.
FD  INPUT-FILE.
01  INPUT-RECORD         PIC X(80).
 
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-FILE-STATUS       PIC XX.
01  WS-RECORD-COUNT      PIC 9(5) VALUE ZERO.
01  WS-EOF-FLAG          PIC X(1) VALUE 'N'.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    DISPLAY "STANDARD-1 File Processing Example"
    
    * Open file using COBOL 85 syntax
    OPEN INPUT INPUT-FILE
    
    * Check file status
    IF WS-FILE-STATUS NOT = "00"
        DISPLAY "Error opening file: " WS-FILE-STATUS
        STOP RUN
    END-IF
    
    * Read records using COBOL 85 syntax
    PERFORM UNTIL WS-EOF-FLAG = 'Y'
        READ INPUT-FILE
            AT END
                MOVE 'Y' TO WS-EOF-FLAG
            NOT AT END
                ADD 1 TO WS-RECORD-COUNT
                DISPLAY "Record " WS-RECORD-COUNT ": " INPUT-RECORD
        END-READ
    END-PERFORM
    
    * Close file
    CLOSE INPUT-FILE
    
    DISPLAY "Total records processed: " WS-RECORD-COUNT
    STOP RUN.

Explanation: This example shows STANDARD-1 usage with file processing. The program uses only COBOL 85 file processing features, including the standard READ statement with AT END and NOT AT END clauses. This ensures compatibility with COBOL 85 implementations and older systems that may not support newer file processing features.

STANDARD-1 Data Validation

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* STANDARD-1 data validation example
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. STANDARD-1-VALIDATION.
 
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-INPUT-DATA        PIC X(20).
01  WS-VALIDATION-STATUS PIC X(1) VALUE 'Y'.
01  WS-ERROR-MESSAGE     PIC X(50).
 
01  WS-VALIDATION-COUNTERS.
    05  WS-TOTAL-RECORDS PIC 9(5) VALUE ZERO.
    05  WS-VALID-RECORDS PIC 9(5) VALUE ZERO.
    05  WS-INVALID-RECORDS PIC 9(5) VALUE ZERO.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    DISPLAY "STANDARD-1 Data Validation Example"
    
    * Simulate data validation using COBOL 85 features
    PERFORM VALIDATE-DATA-RECORDS
    
    * Display validation results
    DISPLAY "Validation Results:"
    DISPLAY "Total Records: " WS-TOTAL-RECORDS
    DISPLAY "Valid Records: " WS-VALID-RECORDS
    DISPLAY "Invalid Records: " WS-INVALID-RECORDS
    
    STOP RUN.
 
VALIDATE-DATA-RECORDS.
    * Simulate processing multiple records
    PERFORM VARYING WS-TOTAL-RECORDS FROM 1 BY 1 UNTIL WS-TOTAL-RECORDS > 10
        * Simulate input data
        MOVE "RECORD DATA " TO WS-INPUT-DATA
        MOVE WS-TOTAL-RECORDS TO WS-INPUT-DATA(12:5)
        
        * Perform validation using COBOL 85 features
        PERFORM VALIDATE-SINGLE-RECORD
        
        IF WS-VALIDATION-STATUS = 'Y'
            ADD 1 TO WS-VALID-RECORDS
            DISPLAY "Record " WS-TOTAL-RECORDS " is valid"
        ELSE
            ADD 1 TO WS-INVALID-RECORDS
            DISPLAY "Record " WS-TOTAL-RECORDS " is invalid: " WS-ERROR-MESSAGE
        END-IF
    END-PERFORM.
 
VALIDATE-SINGLE-RECORD.
    * Reset validation status
    MOVE 'Y' TO WS-VALIDATION-STATUS
    MOVE SPACES TO WS-ERROR-MESSAGE
    
    * Check for required data using COBOL 85 features
    IF WS-INPUT-DATA = SPACES
        MOVE 'N' TO WS-VALIDATION-STATUS
        MOVE "Record is empty" TO WS-ERROR-MESSAGE
    END-IF
    
    * Check field length using COBOL 85 features
    IF FUNCTION LENGTH(WS-INPUT-DATA) < 10
        MOVE 'N' TO WS-VALIDATION-STATUS
        MOVE "Record too short" TO WS-ERROR-MESSAGE
    END-IF.

Explanation: This example demonstrates data validation using STANDARD-1 features. The program uses only COBOL 85 validation techniques, including basic IF statements, PERFORM loops, and standard COBOL data manipulation. Note that FUNCTION LENGTH would not be available in true COBOL 85, so this would need to be replaced with manual length checking.

Portability and Compatibility Example

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* STANDARD-1 portability and compatibility example
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. STANDARD-1-PORTABILITY.
 
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
CONFIGURATION SECTION.
STANDARD-1.
 
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01  WS-PORTABILITY-INFO.
    05  WS-STANDARD-LEVEL    PIC X(10) VALUE "STANDARD-1".
    05  WS-COBOL-VERSION     PIC X(10) VALUE "COBOL 85".
    05  WS-COMPATIBILITY     PIC X(1) VALUE 'Y'.
 
01  WS-SYSTEM-CHECKS.
    05  WS-COMPILER-NAME     PIC X(20).
    05  WS-COMPILER-VERSION  PIC X(15).
    05  WS-SYSTEM-NAME       PIC X(20).
 
01  WS-FEATURE-TESTS.
    05  WS-BASIC-FEATURES    PIC X(1) VALUE 'Y'.
    05  WS-ADVANCED-FEATURES PIC X(1) VALUE 'N'.
    05  WS-FILE-FEATURES     PIC X(1) VALUE 'Y'.
 
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
MAIN-LOGIC.
    DISPLAY "STANDARD-1 Portability Analysis"
    DISPLAY "Standard Level: " WS-STANDARD-LEVEL
    DISPLAY "COBOL Version: " WS-COBOL-VERSION
    
    * Perform portability checks
    PERFORM CHECK-PORTABILITY
    
    * Display compatibility results
    DISPLAY "Compatibility Results:"
    DISPLAY "Basic Features: " WS-BASIC-FEATURES
    DISPLAY "Advanced Features: " WS-ADVANCED-FEATURES
    DISPLAY "File Features: " WS-FILE-FEATURES
    
    IF WS-COMPATIBILITY = 'Y'
        DISPLAY "Program is compatible with COBOL 85 systems"
    ELSE
        DISPLAY "Compatibility issues detected"
    END-IF
    
    STOP RUN.
 
CHECK-PORTABILITY.
    * Check if program uses only COBOL 85 features
    IF WS-BASIC-FEATURES = 'Y' AND 
       WS-ADVANCED-FEATURES = 'N' AND 
       WS-FILE-FEATURES = 'Y'
        MOVE 'Y' TO WS-COMPATIBILITY
        DISPLAY "Portability check passed"
    ELSE
        MOVE 'N' TO WS-COMPATIBILITY
        DISPLAY "Portability check failed"
    END-IF.

Explanation: This example shows how to analyze portability and compatibility when using STANDARD-1. The program includes logic to check if it's using only COBOL 85 features and provides feedback on compatibility. This is useful for ensuring that programs will run correctly on different COBOL implementations and legacy systems that only support COBOL 85.

Best Practices and Considerations

Important Considerations

STANDARD-1 restricts access to newer COBOL features
Use for maximum portability across COBOL implementations
Ensures compatibility with legacy systems
May limit functionality compared to newer standards
Compiler will flag non-COBOL 85 features as errors

Advantages

Maximum portability across COBOL implementations
Compatibility with legacy systems
Clear standard compliance
Reduced dependency on newer features
Easier maintenance on older systems

Limitations

Restricts access to newer COBOL features
May limit functionality
Cannot use built-in functions
Limited exception handling capabilities
May require more verbose code

Best Practices

• Use for maximum portability requirements
• Test on target COBOL implementations
• Document standard compliance clearly
• Avoid newer COBOL features
• Consider migration path to newer standards

Test Your Knowledge

1. What does STANDARD-1 represent in COBOL?

COBOL 2002 standard
COBOL 85 standard
COBOL 74 standard
COBOL 2014 standard

2. In which COBOL division is the STANDARD-1 clause typically used?

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
DATA DIVISION
PROCEDURE DIVISION

3. What is the primary purpose of specifying STANDARD-1?

To enable newer COBOL features
To ensure COBOL 85 compliance and restrict features
To improve performance
To enable debugging features

4. Which of the following features is NOT available in STANDARD-1?

Basic PERFORM statements
Built-in functions like FUNCTION LENGTH
Standard arithmetic operations
File processing statements

5. What happens if you try to use STANDARD-2 features in a STANDARD-1 program?

The program runs normally
The compiler generates warnings or errors
The features are automatically converted
The program uses STANDARD-2 instead

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL STANDARD-1 Clause - Quick Reference

Primary Use

Division

Section

Status

Overview

Syntax

Practical Examples

Basic STANDARD-1 Usage

STANDARD-1 with File Processing

STANDARD-1 Data Validation

Portability and Compatibility Example

Best Practices and Considerations

Important Considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Best Practices

Test Your Knowledge

Related Concepts

STANDARD Clause

STANDARD-2

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

CONFIGURATION SECTION

Program Structure

Related Pages

COBOL Tutorial

COBOL STANDARD-1 Clause - Quick Reference

Primary Use

Division

Section

Status

Overview

Syntax

Practical Examples

Basic STANDARD-1 Usage

STANDARD-1 with File Processing

STANDARD-1 Data Validation

Portability and Compatibility Example

Best Practices and Considerations

Important Considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Best Practices

Test Your Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Concepts

STANDARD Clause

STANDARD-2

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

CONFIGURATION SECTION

Program Structure

Related Pages