Product Description
Mastering Cobol is the must-have tutorial/reference for experienced programmers who need to learn Cobol to work with legacy code. There is no other book with this emphasis! The book uses hands-on examples and extensive coding samples to teach the reader how to deal with the key issues facing today's Cobol programmer: mainframe code updates, Year 2000 corrections, Euro currency conversions, Web migration, and more.The book explores the Y2K problem in depth and offers migration and integration strategies for moving existing Cobol code into the 21st century. The CD includes a fully functional copy of the latest Fujitsu Cobol compiler (offered in no other book) and a complete library of sample code. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Some sections very difficult to understand
I haven't coded in cobol for 14 years.Prior to that there was 17 years programming experience in PL/1, cobol, and early visual basic.The author compiled many different sources for the material in this book so not all sections were easy to read.I found sections of this book reminding me of the IBM language manuals of the 70's and 80's that perfected an obtuse programming english dialect.Here's a sample from this book's description of the EVALUATE statement :
'When an EVALUATE statement includes multiple subject expressions, indicated by ALSO phrases before the first WHEN, there must be an equal number of object phrases.These objects must match the type of subject expressions, in the order they are written.In this case, the whole set of subject expressions is evaluated and saved, then this set of values is compared to the set of objects until a match is found.By match, we mean that each subject matches its corresponding object.'
Understand that this paragraph is NOT talking about OOP objects.
Not all of this book reads like this, but enough of it does to make me want to scream.There have got to be clearer books on cobol available.
No beginner should even consider buying this book.I bought it for $.01 plus shipping so it was a good price, but I wouldn't pay much more for it.

Excellent book for even a COBOL expert
This is the best COBOL book I have ever read - clear (concepts, usages), resourceful (you can find everything you need very easily), practical (good examples). It has everything a COBOL expert may need.

Mastering "Try to find something worthwhile in this book"
I am a professional programmer and purchased this book to develop COBOL programs on my desktop. The book contains tons of information on COBOL, but virtually NONE on how to use the included software. There are several good pieces of software included on the cd (Crystal Reports, 2 different GUI-COBOL interfaces) but, again, very little documentation on how to use them. My advice: Buy Sams "COBOL in 24 Hours" (which includes the Fujitsu V3 COBOL compiler)and download the free COBOL compiler from the Fujitsu website. I learn quicker with the "Let's build an application" approach that Sams uses. Good luck.

Excellent
I think the book offers enough info for me to not only learn the language but also refer to it at a later time, ensuring true value for money, the free compiler is free anyway from the fujitsu website, so buying it forthat reason is not worthwhile, purchase it as a reference tool and as aadvanced beginning tool, if you can stand the heat from the COBOL kitchenyou'll find you can cook some pretty delicious COBOL delights.

Disappointed
I use COBOL at work and I'm sure the book is comprehensive, but I bought it mainly for the compiler. With close to 1,000 pages I think its a disservice that so little of the book is devoted to using the compiler.Instead of coding I'm experimenting with a byzantine piece of software todeduce how to use it. To add injury to insult I was looking for a "howto" book for the compiler and found I could've saved $10.00 if I hadbought it at amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes ANSI based COBOL compiler with full source code for examples supplied. Learn COBOL quickly and easily. Paper. 3 1/2 inch disk included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Comprehensive book
The book contains a lot of information on the features of the COBOLlanguage.Being a novice COBOL programmer, I found the book difficult tofollow at times.It discussed in depth many features that are eitherobsolete or not implemented in the included compiler.Also, I would haveliked to seen a discussion on how the compiler handles the SCREEN SECTIONand trapping of function keys.However, the included compiler is greattool to use to learn the language and is worth the cost of the book alone.

This is a very in-depth book, yet very good.
I think that this book is good for anyone who knows Cobol. This book is a great refresher for what you have previously learned. Great Syntax Help.

compiler was the best thing about the book
I do not think this book is good for self study. The computer tutorial was slow and the text was not clear on several critical areas like using tables. The only reason to get the book is for the compiler which is pretty good. Get the book for the compiler then get one of the better books written by English speakers. The teachingstyle of the book is better suited to Eastern Bloc students than Americans. I write this as a former cobol instructor. ... Read more

Product Description
COBOL . . . Still standing tall.


Just like the evergreen, the COBOL programming language has remained vibrant and full of life year after year. Today, COBOL is running a large number of the world's business data applications, and it's likely to remain a viable language in the years ahead.


Now in its 11th Edition, Nancy Stern, Robert Stern, and James Ley's COBOL for the 21st Century continues to show how to design COBOL programs that are easy to read, debug, modify, and maintain. You'll learn to write interactive programs as well as batch programs with sophisticated file processing techniques, and become familiar with valuable information processing and systems concepts.

Features
* Updated to reflect COBOL 2008, where appropriate.
* A chapter on the Report Writer Module.
* More end-of-chapter questions.
* A running case study builds on what you have learned in each chapter.
* Integrated coverage of interactive programming.
* Covers information processing and systems concepts that will help you interact with users and systems analysts when designing programs.
* Introduces programming tools such as pseudocode and hierarchy charts that make program logic more structured, modular, and top-down.
* Presents useful techniques for maintaining and modifying older "legacy" programs.
* Effective learning tools, including chapter outlines and objectives, debugging tips and exercises, critical-thinking questions, and programming assignments.
* Links to COBOL Internet resources.
* Companion Website (www.wiley.com/college/stern), featuring a syntax reference guide, data sets for all programming assignments, and all programs illustrated in the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

No Cd-Rom
Good service but I did not receive the Cd-Rom that comes with the book and I needed it :(

COBOL for the 21st Century
I used this book when I took the class and found it to give helpful examples and be a pretty decent guide for the COBOL language. I graduated got a job as a Mainframe Analyst and eventually came back to the same College to teach the class at night. This gave me a different view of the book.

Pros: If you need to find something about the COBOL language this book will have it. It is very thorough

Cons: I echo one of the other reviewers and say that it does take a defensive standpoint on COBOL. Which, really shouldn't be done because it could possibly steer students away from the language & Mainframe environment when COBOL/Mainframe programmers are needed more and more as the previous generation gets closer to retirement. Secondly, some COBOL statements are used by the book and asked to be coded by the student before they're actually explained. The book does use examples that may be found in the real world... but they still don't quite feel like a business application.

Overall, its still a very thorough book and I appreciate the research and hard work that was obviously put into it... but I will probably be suggesting a switch of the textbook for the next class. I have found the Murach Mainframe books to be a bit more "real world" and they seem to break the language down a bit more and focus on what you'll need to know to start off in the Mainframe environment.

COBOL for the 21st Century
Well-written; however, there was nothing to warn me that I would not be getting the CD that was supposed to be part of the ISBN. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The key word is structured
Those that can program.Those that can't COBOL.

Common Business Oriented Language was not designed for programming as much as an attempt to allow snoopy managers a chance to see what the programmer is doing without having to learn a language. However eventually when COBOL was sufficient fleshed out for making the primitive programs of the time it was to complex to read by a non-programmer. So the next attempt at making the program readable was structure where you could title the paragraphs and follow the flow. Structure is fine yet in some cases it can cause duplicate code and slow the system down as a trade off.

I Know the final days of COBOL equating to money was the Y2K bug.Now it has gone back into obscurity.However you should know something of it, as it is important for English majors to know about old English.One day you may run in to it in some dark dusty corner or find a jazzed up version of COBOL for those old machines that won't die.And this is a good book to start with.

Aside from the practical examples there are lists of ASCII and even quick cards.There are programming techniques and job control hints.Again this is a good starting place to learn your history.

The key word is structured
Those that can program.Those that can't COBOL.

Common Business Oriented Language was not designed for programming as much as an attempt to allow snoopy managers a chance to see what the programmer is doing without having to learn a language. However eventually when COBOL was sufficient fleshed out for making the primitive programs of the time it was to complex to read by a non-programmer. So the next attempt at making the program readable was structure where you could title the paragraphs and follow the flow. Structure is fine yet in some cases it can cause duplicate code and slow the system down as a trade off.

I Know the final days of COBOL equating to money was the Y2K bug.Now it has gone back into obscurity.However you should know something of it, as it is important for English majors to know about old English.One day you may run in to it in some dark dusty corner or find a jazzed up version of COBOL for those old machines that won't die.And this is a good book to start with.

Aside from the practical examples there are lists of ASCII and even quick cards.There are programming techniques and job control hints.Again this is a good starting place to learn your history.

... Read more

Product Description
By building on familiar COBOL II standards, this guide aims to help experienced programmers make an efficient transition to the new COBOL/370. The book explores the impact COBOL/370 will have on COBOL programming. It explains how and why so many people are converting to COBOL/370 and provides a foundation for understanding its features and language environment. Throughout, the book addresses the technical realities of the new COBOL/370 - what it can really do as opposed to what has been promised. It's packed with unique reference tables and includes lots of examples to clarify material often awkwardly stated in IBM manuals. Also included are IBM reference charts (such as I/O error codes) that have been improved and clarified. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

COBOL programmers need this book
Harvey Bookman has written the best and maybe the only book for COBOL programmers who want to convert older programs to COBOL/370. I have read and used this book many times but am unable to purchase it anywhere. This book explains how to convert CICS and IMS calls in an understandable mannor. It explains the compiler in detail. It explains the new date routine which is most exceptional. It explains dump reading and new debugging tools most effectively. This book is a must have for COBOL programmers who want to convert older programs to COBOL/370LE. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers COBOL, considering identification and environment division; the development process and the COBOL programmer; module design; coding, testing and debugging; table handling; sequential file processing; and file sorting and merging. COBOL indexed files and solved problems are also included. ... Read more

Product Description
This is for the person who wants to learn what COBOL is, what programming is, and how to use COBOL in typical business data processing applications. Assumes no previous background in programming. Hands-on programming begins in Chapter 1--each chapter is based on one or more example programs applicable to real-life business settings. Treatment is based on the concepts of structured programming--only a few logical control structures are used throughout the book. Emphasizes a clear program style for ease of reading and debugging. All programs have been tested and run, and computer output is displayed in each case. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well written and easy to follow, my personal favorite.
I have been programming in COBOL for less than a year and have worked through several other COBOL books.This one has better explanations andtips than the others.It has been especially helpful in making sense outof some of the 'old code' that I have to maintain.The type of code theywrite about is waht I see in production every day. It is well worth thecover price.The one drawback is that there is no disk with sample code ora free complier. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a must for COBOL programmers who have used VS COBOL, basic COBOL II, or COBOL II Release 2 and would like to learn more about COBOL II including Release 3. The author, who instructs COBOL II classes and has written numerous articles based on his COBOL expertise, makes basic information available to the programmer and shares his insights into practical applications. Covered in his book are features and updates to both COBOL II Release 2 and COBOL II Release 3, programming techniques, and debugging and problem determination techniques. Numerous examples and an appendix with a comparison of COBOL versions are provided. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

COBOL II - The Differences and Changes
The book is clear in what it offers.COBOL II techniques and internal efficiences.I found this very useful during a ANSI-85 upgrade project when we converted an entire system to COBOL II.There is not question that this is not a day-to-day reference.Specifically useful for people that are really into efficiencies of code and more internal system functions of the programs they create.

Worthless Book
I've been a COBOL programmer since 1983 and bought this book about five or six years ago.I have tried to look things up a number of times and it never has what I need.The author states in the book's preface that it is not meant to replace IBM manuals.So if you're looking for a reference book, look someplace else.I'm really not sure what purpose this book serves.It is taking up valuable space on my bookshelf and I hate to throw away a book, even a worthless one.

Was very disappointed in purchasing this book.
This book was purchased to exploit the new language expansion of Cobol II.The book discuses conversion differences, performance tuning and reading compile output.Expected a lot of sample code depicting the languageexpansion but there was little."Cobol II" is a misleading titlefor this book.

I just gave a 5 star rating to a book in this disciplinebut not this one. ... Read more

Product Description
The two themes around which this book is written are: the design of structured computer programs based on the techniques from Jackson Structured Programming (JSP); and the methods available for coding these designs in the COBOL language. The book uses Standard COBOL in the translation of JSP program designs into COBOL code. The programs in the text have been compiled using an ANS 1985 COBOL compiler, and because of the subset of language statements used it is also possible to compile the programs using older compilers that conform to the ANS 1974 Standard. Courses for which the book is suitable are BTEC National and Higher National Computer Studies, City & Guilds examinations in computing, and degrees in Computer Studies. A free lecturer's supplement is provided with a copyright-free PC-compatible disk incorporating all the illustrative programs in the text. ... Read more

Product Description
Straightforward, easy to read, this book is designed to make COBOL as clear as possible for the beginning student. ... Read more

Product Description
This is aimed at students taking BTEC National Diploma/Certificate in Computer Studies and those on business computing type degrees and also students taking City & Guilds 7261 COBOL I/COBOL II and those on college short courses or taking the Diploma of the Institute of Data Processing Management. The book presents the fundamentals of business programming, including program design and testing, using COBOL 85 as the vehicle. It develops the necessary design using structure diagrams first and then codes the COBOL form it, in all examples throughout. It is suitable for the beginner, and avoids two major pitfalls, it does not start with trivial material and it does not start suitably and then accelerate away leaving the beginner gasping. It progresses smoothly and steadily, and at no point is the reader ever left with an explanation which depends on something that has not been covered earlier. All exercises can be worked successfully if the reader has studied the text because every detail needed has been covered. COBOL is a very extensive language and most commercial programmers use, perhaps, only a fifth of the facilities. The book concentrates on that core.As a result the student learns the essentials and is not confused by the less important, less used parts of the language. ... Read more