Mainframe: The Complete COBOL Course From Beginner To Expert from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Execute cobol program with confidence
Develop cobol programs along the way as you take the program
Build a strong knowledge base on cobol from scratch to advanced level
To be able to clear the job interviews on cobol
Programmed to debug the program and to check for any errors for a program

Advance, boost and expand the skill set on cobol if you have a fair understanding of cobol
Redesign and code a particular program in multiple ways
This course does not include vsam.
This course also include a section on cobol-db2 and i have coded some cobol db2 programs as well.

Execute cobol program with confidence
Develop cobol programs along the way as you take the program
Build a strong knowledge base on cobol from scratch to advanced level
To be able to clear the job interviews on cobol
Programmed to debug the program and to check for any errors for a program
Advance, boost and expand the skill set on cobol if you have a fair understanding of cobol
Redesign and code a particular program in multiple ways
This course does not include vsam.
This course also include a section on cobol-db2 and i have coded some cobol db2 programs as well.

Syllabus

By the end of this section, students will be able to understand what is COBOL,History and various versions used for COBOL, Structure of a COBOL,Coding rules in COBOL, Divisions, literals, data types..

Students will be able to understand what is a COBOL and when we can use COBOL

Important Information about this Course

Students will be able to check the version of COBOL they are using in their project or in their machine. Students will understand the history and various versions of COBOL

Students will be able to code a simple structure of a COBOL Program.

Students will be able to code a small program. They can confidently align and examine various areas of COBOL.

Student will be able to code all the DIVISIONS in their COBOL Programs

By the end of this section, Students will be able to connect to mainframe from the local operating system

By the end of this lesson, students will understand the process background idea on how to connect to Mainframe from our local operating system.

By the end of this section, students will be able to connect to the older version of Mainframe computer which is MVS 3.8J

Common Question which students ask about MVS 3.8J Tur(n)key

By the End of this lesson, students will be able to log on to a modern mainframe server using a proper IP address other than localhost. Sometimes, students might rent Mainframe server access and this lesson shows them on how to connect to that IP address.

About Mainframe id

By the end of this section, students will be able to understand about Variables, Literals, Figurative Constants, Data Types, Levels and Much more.

Students will be able to define the variable, literals and Figurative constants in COBOL. They will be inspired to start coding the program.

Students will be able to code all data types in their COBOL Program.

The students will be able to master about the general level numbers in cobol

Students will be able to create a program with special level numbers in it.

Students will create a program with all the levels in it. They will understand the output in detail.

Students succeeds in moving a value to an identifier in COBOL. Students will master DISPLAY as well.

ACCEPT in COBOL

Relation of ACCEPT statement with SYSIN and SYSOUT Parameter of JCL

Students will create their own 'HELLO WORLD' Program.

By the end of this section, Students will be able to master the basic commands. They will be able to create PS and PDS. They will create a program and know about SPOOL, DISPLAY, MOVE and ACCEPT

This lesson is for those students who does not have know the basic commands in TSO/ISPF. This need to understand these before coding a COBOL Program. Student will be able to explore the basic TSO commands to start with.

This lesson is for those who does not know how to create a PS or PDS file.This empowers students to create a PS as well as PDS file easily

Students will be able to create a program and they will know where to see the output of the program and how to go to the SPOOL area. They will master various options in SPOOL

By the end of this section, students will master the arithmetic operations like ADD, SUBTRACT, DIVIDE, MULTIPLY and COMPUTE.

Arithmetic Operations - ADD

Students will be able to code their own JCL with different types of ADD statements in it.

Students will be able to code the SUBTRACT operation with confidence.

Students will be able to perform the arithmetic operations - Multiply with ease and confidence.

Students will be able to code the Arithmetic Operations - DIVIDE with ease, confidence and analyse the output easily. Students now are in a position to debug the issue as well.

Example of DIVIDE in COBOL

COMPUTE in COBOL

Students will be able to code a program with COMPUTE verb in it. They will be able to master all the arithmetic operation by this time.

By the end of this section, students will master IF-ELSE, EVALUATE and PERFORM.

IF-ELSE Statement

In this lesson, students will be able to understand various types of IF- ELSE statements.

Students will be able to code the syntax of EVALUATE statement in the program.

Students will code different types of EVALUATE statements and will visualize the difference in the output.

Example of EVALUATE Statement - Part 1

Example of EVALUATE Statement - Part 2

Different Types of PERFORM statements

Examples of PERFORM Statements

By the end of this section, students will master everything in table. They can build a multi dimensional table. They will master difference between INDEX and SUBSCRIPT. They can code array with ease.

Lets understand what is Internal Table in COBOL-ARRAYS

Lets create a 1-Dimensional Array with confidence

Lets create a 2-Dimensional Array with confidence

Students will be able to master the usage of INDEXED BY in COBOL.

SUBSCRIPT in Arrays

Difference between INDEX and SUBSCRIPT

By the end of this section, students will be able to create a table and search a particular record in the table with ease and confidence.

Understanding SEARCH and SEARCH-ALL

Lets code a Program to execute SEARCH-ALL Operation

By the end of this section, students will be master to format a string, split a string into sub strings, replace a character in string with other character,examine a string for a pattern..much more

What is String operations in COBOL

Lets understand STRING operation in detail

Lets Code a Program to perform STRING Operation

Lets Explore STRING operation further

Lets Understand UNSTRING Operation

Lets take a program to analyse the UNSTRING.

Lets Explore UNSTRING Operation further

Analyse the output of the UNSTRING Operation

Students will understand how INSPECT is coded in COBOL

Students will master INSPECT TALLYING and INSPECT REPLACING option in COBOL.

By the end of this section, students will master the COBOL CALL. They will be able to call a sub program from a main program.

Lets master the different Types of Control passing

Students will understand what is CALL. They will understand different types of CALL Operations and which type of CALL is preferred.

Lets code a CALLING program and a CALLED Program

Students will code a program with call by content.

By the end of this section, Students will be able to create a file and process the data around it like Open the file, read the file, write the file and so on.

We will understand the Sequential, Relative and Indexed files.

Details about Sequential Files

Examine other options for Sequential Files

Various options involved in File Handling - OPEN and READ

Various options involved in File Handling - WRITE and START

Various options involved in File Handling - REWRITE, DELETE and CLOSE

Lets master all the access modes in COBOL file Handling

Let us code a Program to read sequential file and process the output in SPOOL

Code a Program to read sequential file and write records to the output file

Lets us explore about the format and syntax of Indexed and Relative files

Let us code an INDEXED file and explore further

Update Record

Delete a Record

By the End of this section, Students will be able to code different types of variables and will understand about their Internal Representation.

Usage Clause

Usage Clause as DISPLAY

Computational Usage Clause

Usage Clause as COMP

Usage Clause as COMP-1

Usage Clause as COMP-2

Usage Clause as COMP-3

By the end of this section, students will be able to code a cobol DB2 Program.

Steps to create a COBOL DB2 Program - Part 1

Steps to create a COBOL DB2 Program - Part 2

JCLS used in this course to execute COBOL DB2 Program

Structure of a COBOL DB2 Program

Lets Code a COBOL DB2 Program to perform DB2 operations

Code COBOL DB2 Program 1 for DML operation

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops COBOL Programming skills from foundational to advanced levels, suitable for career builders and interview preparation

Provides a comprehensive study of COBOL, covering various levels, data structures, and operations

Offers hands-on labs and interactive materials for practical application of COBOL concepts

Taught by an experienced instructor with a strong grasp of COBOL and industry expertise

Provides a solid foundation for beginners and strengthens existing knowledge for intermediate learners

Covers a wide range of COBOL topics, including data types, control structures, file handling, and database connectivity

Reviews summary

Cobol beginners to experts

According to students, this COBOL course is comprehensive and provides adequate programming classes.

Covers many aspects of COBOL.

"it is good"

"need more programming classes"

"then it will help us a lot"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mainframe: The Complete COBOL Course From Beginner To Expert with these activities:

Review COBOL Syntax

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Solidifying your understanding of COBOL syntax will allow you to more quickly understand the course material.

Browse courses on Data Processing

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Identify the four divisions of a COBOL program.
Define the different data types used in COBOL.
Describe the different control structures used in COBOL.

Review JCL Basics

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Reviewing JCL basics will help you to understand how to run COBOL programs on the mainframe.

Browse courses on JCL

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Identify the different types of JCL statements.
Write a simple JCL job to run a COBOL program.

Write a COBOL Program to Print 'Hello, World!'

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Writing a simple COBOL program will help you understand the basics of the language and how to use it to produce output.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Create a new COBOL program.
Write the code to print 'Hello, World!' to the console.
Compile and run the program.

Five other activities

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Join a COBOL Study Group

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Joining a COBOL study group will provide you with the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other students, which can help you to improve your understanding of the language and your programming skills.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Find a COBOL study group to join.
Attend the study group meetings regularly.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Help other students with their work.

Write a COBOL Program to Calculate the Sum of Two Numbers

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Practicing writing COBOL programs that perform basic arithmetic operations will help you develop your understanding of the language and its capabilities.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Create a new COBOL program.
Declare two variables to store the two numbers.
Write the code to read the two numbers from the user.
Write the code to calculate the sum of the two numbers.
Write the code to print the sum of the two numbers to the console.

Create a Flowchart for a COBOL Program

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Creating a flowchart for a COBOL program will help you to visualize the logic of the program and identify any potential issues or areas for improvement.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Identify the different steps involved in the program.
Draw a flowchart symbol for each step.
Connect the flowchart symbols with arrows to show the flow of the program.

Build a COBOL Application

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Building a COBOL application will allow you to apply your knowledge of the language to a larger project and gain experience in the software development process.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Define the scope of the application.
Design the application architecture.
Develop the application code.
Test and debug the application.
Deploy the application.

Develop a COBOL Program to Solve a Business Problem

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Developing a COBOL program to solve a business problem will allow you to apply your knowledge of the language to a real-world scenario and demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Identify a business problem that can be solved using COBOL.
Design and develop a COBOL program to solve the problem.
Test and debug the program to ensure that it works correctly.
Document the program and provide instructions on how to use it.

Career center

Learners who complete Mainframe: The Complete COBOL Course From Beginner To Expert will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers use programming languages and software development tools to create and maintain software applications. They work with all kinds of software, from simple mobile applications to large-scale enterprise systems. Computer Programmers typically need a strong foundation in computer science and mathematics, including experience with a variety of programming languages. This course will help build a foundation for students interested in becoming Computer Programmers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer creates and maintains software programs for businesses and organizations. These software programs are used to solve specific business problems or perform specialized tasks. A Software Engineer typically must have experience with general programming languages and concepts, along with experience in specific programming languages and their frameworks. This course will teach you the fundamentals of COBOL, which may be useful in many Software Engineer positions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications. They work in a variety of industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology. Software Developers typically need a strong foundation in computer science principles, as well as experience with specific programming languages and software development methodologies. The COBOL programming language is still used in many legacy systems, so this course may be useful for Software Developers who work with these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers design, develop, and maintain websites and web applications. They work with a variety of programming languages and software tools, and they need to have a strong understanding of the principles of web development. While COBOL is not typically used for web development, taking this course may be useful for Web Developers who want to learn a new programming language and expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer Systems Analysts design, develop, and implement computer systems. They work with a variety of hardware and software, and they need to have a strong understanding of computer networking and operating systems. This course may be useful for Computer Systems Analysts who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst

IT Manager

IT Managers plan, organize, and direct an organization's IT resources. They work with all levels of an organization, from senior management to individual users. IT Managers typically need a strong foundation in computer networking and infrastructure, as well as experience with a variety of software and hardware. This course may be useful for IT Managers who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

IT Auditor

IT Auditors evaluate an organization's IT systems and infrastructure to ensure that they are operating securely and efficiently. They work with all levels of an organization, from senior management to individual users. IT Auditors typically need a strong foundation in computer science and accounting principles. This course may be useful for IT Auditors who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts plan, implement, and manage an organization's cybersecurity strategy. They work with all levels of an organization, from senior management to individual users. Information Security Analysts typically need a strong foundation in computer networking and security, as well as experience with a variety of security tools and techniques. This course may be useful for Information Security Analysts who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Information Technology Specialist

Information Technology Specialists provide technical support to users of computer software and hardware. They work with all levels of an organization, from senior management to individual users. Information Technology Specialists typically need a strong foundation in computer networking and operating systems. This course may be useful for Information Technology Specialists who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Specialist

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation for software and hardware products. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including engineers, product managers, and customers. Technical Writers typically need a strong foundation in writing and editing, as well as experience with a variety of documentation tools. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators maintain and manage databases. They work with database software and tools, and they need to have a strong understanding of database design and administration principles. This course does not specifically focus on database administration, but the skills you will learn, such as programming and problem-solving, could be useful in a Database Administrator role.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and direct the completion of projects. They work with all levels of an organization, from senior management to individual team members. Project Managers typically need a strong foundation in project management principles and experience with a variety of project management software. This course may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn a new programming language or expand their skill set.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems and make informed decisions. They work with a variety of data analysis tools and techniques, and they need to have a strong understanding of mathematics and statistics. While this course does not specifically focus on data science, the skills you will learn, such as programming and problem-solving, could be useful in a Data Scientist role.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts use data to solve business problems or make informed decisions. They work with a variety of data analysis tools and techniques, and they need to have a strong understanding of mathematics and statistics. While this course does not specifically focus on data analysis, the skills you will learn, such as programming and problem-solving, could be useful in a Data Analyst role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They use a variety of analytical tools and techniques, and they need to have a strong understanding of business principles. This course does not specifically focus on business analysis, but the skills you will learn, such as problem-solving and communication, could be useful in a Business Analyst role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst