The Identification Division must be the first division in every COBOL source program. It names the program and may include the date the program was written, the date of compilation, and other such documentary information about the program.
Identification Division - Format >>-+-IDENTIFICATION-+--DIVISION.--PROGRAM-ID.-------------------> | (1) | '-ID-------------' >--+-program-name-+---------------------------------------------> | (1) | '-literal------' >--+--------------------------------------------------------+---> | (2) | '-+----+--+-COMMON------+-----------+-----+--+---------+-' '-IS-' | +-INITIAL---+ | '-PROGRAM-' | '-RECURSIVE-' | '-+-INITIAL---+--+------------+-' '-RECURSIVE-' | (2) | '-COMMON-----' >--.--+--------------------------------+------------------------> '-AUTHOR.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------+---------------------> '-INSTALLATION.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------+---------------------> '-DATE-WRITTEN.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+---------------------------------------+--------------------> '-DATE-COMPILED.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+----------------------------------+------------------------>< '-SECURITY.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-'
The first paragraph of the Identification Division must be the PROGRAM-ID paragraph. The other paragraphs are optional, but, when written, must appear in the order shown in the format.
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. IDSAMPLE.
AUTHOR. PROGRAMMER NAME.
INSTALLATION. COBOL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
DATE-WRITTEN. 12/02/94.
DATE-COMPILED. 12/09/94 12:57:53.
SECURITY. NON-CONFIDENTIAL.