The configuration section is an optional section for
programs and classes, and can describe the computer environment on which the program or
class is compiled and executed.
- Program configuration section
- The configuration section can be specified only in the environment division of the
outermost program of a COBOL source program.
You should not specify the configuration section in a program that is contained within
another program. The entries specified in the configuration section of a program apply to
any program contained within that program.
- Class configuration section
- Specify the configuration section in the environment division of a class definition.
The repository paragraph can be specified in the environment division of a class
definition.
Entries in a class configuration section apply to the entire class definition,
including all methods introduced by that class.
- Method configuration section
- The input-output section can be specified in a method configuration section. The
entries apply only to the method in which the configuration section is specified.

Format:
>>-CONFIGURATION SECTION.--+---------------------------+-------->
'-source-computer-paragraph-'
>--+---------------------------+--+-------------------------+--->
'-object-computer-paragraph-' '-special-names-paragraph-'
>--+----------------------+------------------------------------><
'-repository-paragraph-'
The configuration section can:
- Relate IBM-defined environment-names to user-defined mnemonic names
- Specify the collating sequence
- Specify a currency sign value, and the currency symbol used in the PICTURE clause to
represent the currency sign value
- Exchange the functions of the comma and the period in PICTURE clauses and numeric
literals
- Relate alphabet-names to character sets or collating sequences
- Specify symbolic characters
- Relate class-names to sets of characters
- Relate object-oriented class names to external class-names and identify class-names
that can be used in a class definition or program