Ultimate Guide To The Differences Between COBOL 77 And COBOL 88

StarBeat 09 Jun 2024

The COBOL programming language has two distinct types of data items: 77-level and 88-level items.

77-level items are the most basic type of data item in COBOL. They can be used to store any type of data, including numeric, character, and alphanumeric data. 88-level items, on the other hand, are used to define conditions. They can be used to test the value of a 77-level item and to branch to different parts of the program depending on the result of the test.

One of the key differences between 77-level and 88-level items is the way they are declared. 77-level items are declared using the DATA statement, while 88-level items are declared using the CONDITION statement. Additionally, 77-level items can be assigned values using the SET statement, while 88-level items cannot be assigned values.

77-level and 88-level items are both essential components of the COBOL programming language. 77-level items are used to store data, while 88-level items are used to define conditions. By understanding the difference between these two types of data items, programmers can write more efficient and effective COBOL programs.

In addition to the basic differences outlined above, there are a number of other important distinctions between 77-level and 88-level items. These distinctions include:

77-level items can be used in any part of a COBOL program, while 88-level items can only be used in the DATA DIVISION.
77-level items can be used as operands in arithmetic expressions, while 88-level items cannot.
77-level items can be used as the target of a GO TO statement, while 88-level items cannot.

These are just a few of the key differences between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL. By understanding these differences, programmers can write more efficient and effective COBOL programs.

Difference 77 and 88 COBOL

In COBOL, 77-level and 88-level data items are two distinct types with varied purposes and characteristics. Here are six key aspects that differentiate them:

Declaration: 77-level items are declared using the DATA statement, while 88-level items use the CONDITION statement.
Scope: 77-level items can be used anywhere in a COBOL program, whereas 88-level items are restricted to the DATA DIVISION.
Value Assignment: 77-level items can be assigned values using the SET statement, unlike 88-level items.
Arithmetic Operations: 77-level items can participate in arithmetic expressions, but 88-level items cannot.
Branching Target: 77-level items can be targets of GO TO statements, but 88-level items cannot.
Condition Evaluation: 88-level items are used to define conditions and evaluate the values of 77-level items.

These key aspects highlight the distinct roles and capabilities of 77-level and 88-level data items in COBOL programming. Understanding these differences is crucial for writing efficient and effective COBOL programs.

Declaration

This fundamental difference in declaration syntax between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL has significant implications for their usage and purpose within a program.

77-level items, declared using the DATA statement, are intended for storing and manipulating data. They can represent various data types, including numeric, character, and alphanumeric values. By contrast, 88-level items, declared using the CONDITION statement, serve a distinct purpose: defining conditions and evaluating the values of 77-level items.

This distinction is crucial because it aligns with the separation of data and logic in COBOL programming. 77-level items hold the raw data, while 88-level items provide the means to assess and control the flow of the program based on specific conditions.

For example, consider a COBOL program that processes customer orders. It may have a 77-level item called "order-status" to store the current status of an order (e.g., "new," "shipped," "canceled"). Additionally, it could have an 88-level item called "order-shipped" defined as "order-status = 'shipped'". This 88-level item allows the program to evaluate the order status and take appropriate actions, such as generating an invoice or sending a shipment notification.

Understanding the connection between the declaration syntax and the purpose of 77-level and 88-level items is essential for writing clear, maintainable, and efficient COBOL programs. It enables programmers to effectively manage data, evaluate conditions, and control program flow.

Scope

The differing scopes of 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL stem from their distinct purposes. 77-level items serve as general-purpose data containers, available for use throughout the program. They can hold data values, participate in calculations, and be passed between program modules. This flexibility allows programmers to store and manipulate data wherever necessary in the program.

In contrast, 88-level items are specifically designed for defining conditions within the DATA DIVISION. They cannot hold data values or be used in calculations. Instead, they exist solely to evaluate the values of 77-level items and determine whether specific conditions are met. This limited scope ensures that data definitions and program logic remain separate, promoting clarity and maintainability.

Consider a COBOL program that calculates employee bonuses based on their performance ratings. The program may have a 77-level item called "performance-rating" to store each employee's rating. To determine bonus eligibility, the program could define an 88-level item called "bonus-eligible" as "performance-rating >= 4". This 88-level item allows the program to evaluate the performance rating and assign bonuses only to those employees who meet the condition.

By understanding the restricted scope of 88-level items, programmers can avoid common pitfalls such as attempting to use them for data storage or calculations. This adherence to proper usage contributes to well-structured and efficient COBOL programs.

Value Assignment

This distinction in value assignment capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL is fundamental to their respective roles and usage within a program. 77-level items, being general-purpose data containers, can have their values explicitly set or modified using the SET statement. This allows programmers to initialize data, update values based on user input or calculations, and perform various data manipulation tasks.

On the other hand, 88-level items, designed specifically for defining conditions, do not have the ability to be assigned values. Their purpose is to evaluate the values of 77-level items against defined conditions. This inherent limitation ensures that 88-level items remain focused on their primary function of assessing data and controlling program flow.

Consider a COBOL program that processes customer orders. It may have a 77-level item called "order-total" to store the total amount of an order. The program can use the SET statement to initialize this item to zero when a new order is created. As items are added to the order, the program can use the SET statement again to update the "order-total" item with the new total amount.

In contrast, the program may have an 88-level item called "order-complete" defined as "order-total > 100". This 88-level item serves to evaluate whether the order total exceeds 100. However, it cannot be assigned a value directly. Instead, its value is derived from the value of the "order-total" item.

Understanding the difference in value assignment capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items is essential for writing effective COBOL programs. It enables programmers to clearly separate data manipulation from condition evaluation, leading to well-structured and maintainable code.

Arithmetic Operations

This distinction in arithmetic capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL stems from their fundamental differences in purpose and usage. 77-level items, being general-purpose data containers, can be used in arithmetic expressions to perform calculations and manipulate data. This allows programmers to perform a wide range of mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

On the other hand, 88-level items, designed specifically for defining conditions, have no arithmetic capabilities. Their role is to evaluate the values of 77-level items against defined conditions. This inherent limitation ensures that 88-level items remain focused on their primary function of assessing data and controlling program flow.

To illustrate this difference, consider a COBOL program that calculates the total cost of a purchase, including a discount. The program may have a 77-level item called "item-price" to store the price of each item and a 77-level item called "discount-rate" to store the discount percentage. To calculate the discounted price of an item, the program can use the following arithmetic expression in a COMPUTE statement: "discounted-price = item-price * (1 - discount-rate)".

In contrast, the program may have an 88-level item called "discount-applied" defined as "discount-rate > 0". This 88-level item serves to evaluate whether a discount should be applied based on the value of the "discount-rate" item. However, it cannot participate in arithmetic operations and cannot be used to calculate the discounted price directly.

Understanding the difference in arithmetic capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items is essential for writing effective and efficient COBOL programs. It enables programmers to clearly separate data manipulation from condition evaluation, leading to well-structured and maintainable code.

Branching Target

This distinction in branching capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL is directly related to their respective roles and usage within a program. 77-level items, being general-purpose data containers, can be used as targets for GO TO statements. This allows programmers to transfer control of the program flow to specific lines of code based on the value of the 77-level item.

In contrast, 88-level items, designed specifically for defining conditions, cannot be used as targets for GO TO statements. Their purpose is to evaluate the values of 77-level items against defined conditions and influence the program flow indirectly. This limitation ensures that 88-level items remain focused on their primary function of assessing data and controlling program flow.

To illustrate this difference, consider a COBOL program that processes customer orders. The program may have a 77-level item called "order-status" to store the current status of an order (e.g., "new," "shipped," "canceled"). The program can use a GO TO statement to transfer control to different parts of the program based on the value of the "order-status" item. For example, if the order status is "new," the program may branch to the code that processes new orders. If the order status is "shipped," the program may branch to the code that generates shipping documents.

In contrast, the program may have an 88-level item called "order-shipped" defined as "order-status = 'shipped'". This 88-level item allows the program to evaluate whether an order has been shipped, but it cannot be used as a direct target for a GO TO statement. Instead, the program can use the value of the "order-shipped" item in conjunction with conditional statements to control the flow of the program.

Understanding the difference in branching capabilities between 77-level and 88-level items is essential for writing effective and maintainable COBOL programs. It enables programmers to clearly separate data manipulation, condition evaluation, and program flow control, leading to well-structured and easy-to-follow code.

Condition Evaluation

In the context of "difference 77 and 88 cobol," this distinction highlights the fundamental role of 88-level items in COBOL programming. They serve as the mechanism for evaluating conditions and controlling the flow of the program based on the values of 77-level items.

Defining Conditions
88-level items allow programmers to define specific conditions against which the values of 77-level items are assessed. This enables the program to make decisions and execute different paths of logic based on the outcome of the evaluation.
Example
Consider an 88-level item called "order-shipped" defined as "order-status = 'shipped'". This condition evaluates whether the value of the 77-level item "order-status" is equal to 'shipped'.
Evaluating Values
Once conditions are defined using 88-level items, the program can evaluate the values of 77-level items against these conditions. The result of the evaluation (True or False) determines the subsequent actions taken by the program.
Example
The program can use the "order-shipped" condition to evaluate whether an order has been shipped. If the condition evaluates to True, the program can proceed to generate shipping documents. Otherwise, it can continue processing the order.

Overall, the ability to define conditions and evaluate values using 88-level items is essential for creating dynamic and responsive COBOL programs that can adapt to different scenarios and make decisions based on data values.

FAQs on "difference 77 and 88 cobol"

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the distinction between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL programming.

Question 1: What is the primary difference between 77-level and 88-level items?

Answer: 77-level items are general-purpose data containers used to store and manipulate data, while 88-level items are specifically designed to define conditions and evaluate the values of 77-level items.

Question 2: Where are 77-level and 88-level items declared in a COBOL program?

Answer: 77-level items are declared in the DATA DIVISION using the DATA statement, while 88-level items are also declared in the DATA DIVISION using the CONDITION statement.

Question 3: Can 88-level items be assigned values like 77-level items?

Answer: No, 88-level items cannot be assigned values directly. Their values are derived from the evaluation of the conditions they define against the values of 77-level items.

Question 4: Can 77-level items be used in arithmetic operations?

Answer: Yes, 77-level items can participate in arithmetic operations to perform calculations and manipulate data.

Question 5: Can 88-level items be used as targets for GO TO statements?

Answer: No, 88-level items cannot be used as targets for GO TO statements. Only 77-level items can be used as branching targets.

Question 6: What is the significance of 88-level items in COBOL programming?

Answer: 88-level items are crucial for defining conditions and controlling program flow based on the values of 77-level items. They enable the program to make decisions and execute different paths of logic depending on the evaluation results.

These FAQs provide a concise overview of the key distinctions and usage considerations for 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL programming.

Conclusion

In summary, the distinction between 77-level and 88-level items in COBOL programming is fundamental to understanding the language's data handling and control flow mechanisms.

77-level items serve as general-purpose data containers, allowing programmers to store and manipulate data throughout the program. 88-level items, on the other hand, are specifically designed for defining conditions and evaluating the values of 77-level items. This clear separation of data and logic contributes to the structured and maintainable nature of COBOL programs.

By leveraging the capabilities of both 77-level and 88-level items effectively, COBOL programmers can develop robust and efficient applications that can handle complex data and business logic.

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