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Read an Input File with COBOL

Taught in English

Judy Richardson

Instructor: Judy Richardson

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Guided Project

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Beginner level

Recommended experience

1.5 hours
Learn at your own pace
No downloads or installation required
Only available on desktop
Hands-on learning

What you'll learn

  • Describe the function of File section in the Data Division in a COBOL program.

  • Write the COBOL code that reads an input file and writes an output file.

  • Demonstrate the process of compiling and running a COBOL program in OpenCobolIDE.

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Guided Project

Learn, practice, and apply job-ready skills with expert guidance

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1.5 hours
Learn at your own pace
No downloads or installation required
Only available on desktop
Hands-on learning

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About this Guided Project

Learn step-by-step

In a video that plays in a split-screen with your work area, your instructor will walk you through these steps:

  1. Examine a sample sequential file as you observe how it is used to organize data and learn the associated terminology.

  2. Code the COBOL FD statement in the File section of the Data Division to describe the fields that make up a record within a sequential file used as input.

  3. Add, compile, and run the code in a COBOL program’s Procedure Division to read through the records in a sequential input file and then display the fields from each record on the screen.

  4. Define the layout of an output file in a COBOL program Data Division’s File section by describing the fields and data types that make up each record.

  5. Add, compile, and run COBOL code that moves data from the input record to the output record and generates a sequential file as output.

Recommended experience

Ability to navigate in Windows is required. Although prior exposure to COBOL is not required, it would be helpful.

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Instructor

Judy Richardson
Coursera Project Network
72 Courses161,768 learners

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How you'll learn

  • Skill-based, hands-on learning

    Practice new skills by completing job-related tasks.

  • Expert guidance

    Follow along with pre-recorded videos from experts using a unique side-by-side interface.

  • No downloads or installation required

    Access the tools and resources you need in a pre-configured cloud workspace.

  • Available only on desktop

    This Guided Project is designed for laptops or desktop computers with a reliable Internet connection, not mobile devices.

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