The Data Division must begin with the words DATA DIVISION, followed by a period and a space.
Each section has a specific logical function within a COBOL source program, and each may be omitted from the source program when that logical function is not needed. If included, the sections must be written in the order shown.
Data Division - Format >>-DATA DIVISION.-----------------------------------------------> >--+-------------------------------------------------+----------> | .------------------------------. | | V | | '-FILE SECTION.----+--------------------------+-+-' '-| file-section-entries |-' >--+---------------------------------------------------------------+--> | .---------------------------------. | | V | | '-WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.----+-----------------------------+-+-' +-record-description-entry----+ '-data-item-description-entry-' >--+-------------------------------------------------------------+--> | .---------------------------------. | | V | | '-LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION.----+-----------------------------+-+-' +-record-description-entry----+ '-data-item-description-entry-' >--+-------------------------------------------------------+--->< | .---------------------------------. | | V | | '-LINKAGE SECTION.----+-----------------------------+-+-' +-record-description-entry----+ '-data-item-description-entry-' file-section-entries .--------------------------. V | |--file-description-entry----record-description-entry-+---------|