Declaring Variables in COBOL

 
Before you use a variable in COBOL you must declare it. Variables are declared in the Working Storage Section of the Data Division in a COBOL program.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

01 SWITCHES.
     05 SW-END-OF-FILE                     PIC X.
     05 SW-VALID-TRANSACTION    PIC X.

01 ACCUMULATORS.
     05 LINE-COUNT                             PIC 9(3).
     05 TOTAL-GROSS-PAY                 PIC 99999V99 USAGE IS BINARY.

01 HOLD-FIELDS.
     05 HLD-LAST-NAME                     PIC A(20).

• All variables are declared in the DATA DIVISION and are “known” to all parts of the program.
• COBOL does not assign initial values automatically; the programmer is responsible for initializing all variables.