Define the characteristics of your data, and group your data definitions into one of the sections in the DATA DIVISION.
You can use these sections for defining the following types of data:
The COBOL for Windows compiler limits the maximum size of DATA DIVISION elements. The compiler limit on the amount of data in the LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION, WORKING-STORAGE SECTION, and LINKAGE SECTION combined is 2 GB. However, because of compiler-generated temporary data that is required for operations, the practical limit on user data is approximately 1 GB. See also the related reference below for information about the cob2 -s option.
related concepts
Comparison of WORKING-STORAGE and LOCAL-STORAGE
related tasks
Using data in input and output operations
Using data from another program
related references
cob2 options
Compiler limits
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)