HP 3000 Manuals

Micro Focus COBOL Language Reference

Environment Division 

The Environment Division specifies a standard method of expressing those
aspects of a data processing problem that are dependent upon the physical
characteristics of a specific computer.  This division allows
specification of the configuration of the source computer and the object
computer.  In addition, information relating to input-output control,
special hardware characteristics and control techniques can be given.

The Environment Division must be included in every COBOL source program.

Organization 

The Environment Division comprises two sections:

   1.  the Configuration Section

   2.  the Input-Output Section.

The Configuration Section deals with the characteristics of the source
computer and the object computer.  This section is divided into three
paragraphs:

   1.  the SOURCE-COMPUTER paragraph - which describes the computer
       configuration on which the intermediate code is produced

   2.  the OBJECT-COMPUTER paragraph - which describes the computer
       configuration on which the object (intermediate code) program is
       to be run

   3.  the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph - which relates the
       implementation-names used by your COBOL system to the
       mnemonic-names used in the source program.

The Input-Output Section deals with the information needed to control the
transmission and handling of data between external media and the object
program.  This section is divided into two paragraphs:

   1.  the FILE-CONTROL paragraph - which names and associates the files
       with external media

   2.  the I-O-CONTROL paragraph - which defines special control
       techniques to be used in the object program.

Structure 

The following is the General Format of the sections and paragraphs in the
Environment Division, and defines the order of presentation in the source
program.

General Format.   

For MF and OSVS only:    These sections can appear in any order.


            

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