The identification division must be the first division in each COBOL source program, factory definition, object definition, and method definition. The identification division names the program, class, or method and identifies the factory definition and object definition. The identification division can include the date a program, class, or method was written, the date of compilation, and other such documentary information.
The following is the format for a program IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
Format: program identification division >>-+-IDENTIFICATION-+--DIVISION.--PROGRAM-ID--+---+-------------> '-ID-------------' '-.-' >--program-name-------------------------------------------------> >--+----------------------------------------------+--+---+------> '-+----+--+-RECURSIVE-----------+--+---------+-' '-.-' '-IS-' +-COMMON--+---------+-+ '-PROGRAM-' | '-INITIAL-' | '-INITIAL--+--------+-' '-COMMON-' >--+--------------------------------------+---------------------> '-AUTHOR--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-INSTALLATION--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-DATE-WRITTEN--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+---------------------------------------+--------------------> '-DATE-COMPILED.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+----------------------------------------+------------------>< '-SECURITY--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-'
The following is the format for a class IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
Format: class identification division >>-+-IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.-+--CLASS-ID.--class-name-1--------> '-ID DIVISION.-------------' >--INHERITS--class-name-2.--------------------------------------> >--+--------------------------------------+---------------------> '-AUTHOR--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-INSTALLATION--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-DATE-WRITTEN--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+---------------------------------------+--------------------> '-DATE-COMPILED.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+----------------------------------------+------------------>< '-SECURITY--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-'
The following is the format for a factory IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
Format: factory identification division >>-+-IDENTIFICATION-+--DIVISION.--FACTORY.--------------------->< '-ID-------------'
The following is the format for an object IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
Format: object identification division >>-+-IDENTIFICATION-+--DIVISION.--OBJECT.---------------------->< '-ID-------------'
The following is the format for a method IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
Format: method identification division >>-+-IDENTIFICATION-+--DIVISION.--------------------------------> '-ID-------------' >--METHOD-ID--+---+--method-name-1--+---+-----------------------> '-.-' '-.-' >--+--------------------------------------+---------------------> '-AUTHOR--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-INSTALLATION--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+--------------------------------------------+---------------> '-DATE-WRITTEN--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+---------------------------------------+--------------------> '-DATE-COMPILED.--+-------------------+-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-' >--+----------------------------------------+------------------>< '-SECURITY--+---+--+-------------------+-' '-.-' | .---------------. | | V | | '---comment-entry-+-'