COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe: Fujitsu Version (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Robert T. Grauer (Author), Carol Vasquez Villar (Author), Arthur R. Buss (Author), Robert Grauer (Author), Arthur Buss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0130858498 | ISBN-13: 978-0130858498 | Edition: 3rd

For a one or two semester introductory COBOL course running on either a PC or mainframe. This machine independent introduction covers all of the basic COBOL elements and special features, as well as providing an introduction to using the Fujitsu compiler. This book includes a CD-ROM containing the Fujitsu 3.0 COBOL Compiler FREE with every text.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Preface

The Fujitsu Version of COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe, Third Edition parallels our earlier work, but has been updated to support Fujitsu COBOL Version 4.0. All listings in the text have been modified for the new compiler, especially those listings pertaining to screen 1/O. We have added an extensive appendix with supporting documentation and hands-on exercises that describe how to use the new software to full advantage. The set of student programming projects has also been thoroughly revised. As in the previous edition, the Fujitsu software is provided with the text at no additional cost. (The text may also be ordered with one of two compilers from Micro Focus, Net Express COBOL or Personal COBOL, but at an additional cost.)

The Fujitsu version is supported by our Web site at prenhall/grauer. Students can download the practice files and PowerPoint lectures as before, but now have access to an online studyguide that provides an interactive review on a chapterby-chapter basis. Each chapter contains a variety of short answer questions that can be taken for self-evaluation or e-mailed to instructors.

The Fujitsu Version of COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe includes all subjects normally covered in the one-year COBOL sequence. The scope is extensive, ranging from an introduction to COBOL, to maintaining sequential files and non-sequential files, to object-oriented COBOL, to linking COBOL programs and Visual Basic.

Benefits and Features

Both the new Fujitsu version, and the earlier Micro Focus version, on which it is based, respond to the requests of students and instructors to provide access to Windows-based tools, while maintaining the proven approach to teaching COBOL. Its many features include: Appendix A provides extensive coverage of the Fujitsu compiler through a series of hands-on exercises. Students are shown how to create and edit COBOL programs, how to compile, link, and edit a program, and how to use the debugging facility. A new chapter (Chapter 19) on the Y2K problem discusses the sources of the problem, and techniques to correct it. The chapter also provides a list of Web sites to obtain further information. Another new chapter (Chapter 20) demonstrates the concepts of objectoriented COBOL. This new approach to COBOL promises to be a way for companies to maintain the value of their legacy COBOL programs, while still being able to use the benefits of object-oriented programming. Appendix B shows how Visual Basic can be used to create Windows-based user interfaces for COBOL programs. Coverage of COBOL 2002 and intrinsic functions has been added in Appendix E. The 1989 extensions to COBOL 85 allow the use of predefined functions that had been missing in COBOL. This appendix also discusses the changes anticipated in COBOL 2002. Appendix G, on student programming projects has been thoroughly revised. Many of the projects are continued from one chapter to the next, enabling students to experience system development and programming maintenance. Immediate entry into COBOL programming, beginning in Chapter I. Programming is learned by doing, and the book has students writing a complete program from the very beginning. Over 30 illustrative COBOL programs reinforce the discussion in the text and serve as both pedagogical aids and subsequent reference material. Every program is presented in a uniform and detailed format, including program narrative, record layouts, report layouts, test data, and processing specifications. A thorough discussion of structured methodology, hierarchy charts, pseudocode, and topdown testing is presented in Chapter 3 and followed throughout the text. Students learn the proper way to develop programs early on and follow the procedure throughout the text. An enhanced Web site (prenha/grauer) from where students can download the COBOL listings in the text, data files for student projects, and PowerPoint lectures. The availability of the sample listings enables students to reproduce and/or modify any of the programs without the tedium of data entry and further enhances the learning experience. The Web site also provides access to an online study guide containing review questions for every chapter. An abundance of short-answer (true-false, multiple choice and fill-in-the blank) questions, COBOL problems, and programming projects for every chapter, with answers to the oddnumbered questions provided in Appendix F. Programming tips, dispersed throughout the text, which go beyond the syntactical rules of COBOL, and suggest stylistic considerations to make programs easier to read and maintain. Extensive use of graphic aids, featuring a two-color presentation, with annotated figures to further clarify the presentation. System concept presentation at the beginning of most chapters, as COBOL instruction has come to require additional material beyond the language itself. There are detailed discussions of control breaks, data validation, techniques for table lookups and initialization, storing, the balance line algorithm for file maintenance and the organization of indexed files.

Software and Supplements

The Fujitsu Version of COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe, Third Edition is bundled with a free copy of Version 4.0 of the Fujitsu COBOL compiler and includes the associated documentation in the text. The Fujitsu version may also be ordered with one of two Micro Focus compilers. For more information please see our Web site (prenhall/grauer).

Instructors may also obtain the Instructor's Resource CD (ISBN# 0-13-088457X) from their local Prentice Hall representative. The CD contains the Instructor Manual in Word format, solutions to programming projects, and Prentice Hall Testing software. The latter is based on technology developed by Engineering Software Associates, Inc. (EAS), Prentice Hall Custom Test allows the educator to create and tailor the exam to their own needs.

From the Back Cover

The text includes additional chapters on the Year 2000 problem, structured programming and design, debugging, subprograms, table processing, sorting, screen I/O, sequential file maintenance, indexed files, and object-oriented COBOL. Programming tips are provided throughout that go beyond the syntactical rules of COBOL in order to make programs easier to maintain and more efficient to run. The Fujitsu version teaches programming as it is practiced in the real world with sample projects that reflect Year 2000 considerations.

• NEW-Includes the new Fujitsu 4.0 software that includes the COBOL compiler, editor, and project manager
• NEW-Describes fully the use of the Fujitsu software in a new appendix
• NEW-Updates all listings in the text, especially those on screen processing, to reflect features in the new Fujitsu software
• NEW-Shows how Visual Basic can be used to create Windows interfaces for COBOL programs
• REVISED-Details students projects to reflect Year 2000 considerations

The sample data files of the programs listed in the book are available from www.prenhall.com/grauer_cobol

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Product Details

• Paperback: 908 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3rd edition (December 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130858498
• ISBN-13: 978-0130858498
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Compilers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for beginning COBOL but lacks Mainframe focus, August 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

I have taught COBOL for a number of years and have always used Grauer Villar & Buss. This new edition, although commendable in adding Microfocus Cobol, lacks true Mainframe focus. A few years ago there was an accompanying small book that greatly added to the mainframe concepts - but is no longer available. However, the flow of the book, the explanations, examples and summaries have proved to be an excellent textbook for professional training, especially when accompanied with appropriate JCL and CICS textbooks. Still above all, I rate this at the top of COBOL books - but don't agree with the authors assumption that the mainframe is no longer a relevant part of COBOL programming.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for beginning/intermediate Cobol programmers, November 20, 2001

By 

J. W. Johnson (Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for the beginning or intermediate Cobol programmer. Very clear explanations and abundant examples aid understanding. The authors favor a "hands on" approach which encourages the reader to try out the concepts in each chapter. The example code is included on the CD (along with the input files for the exercises) which is a great timesaver.

The authors are careful about pointing out differences between Cobol-85 and Cobol-74 as they arise. While this may seem to be a minor point with the advent of the latest Cobol standard, it is helpful to those who work with older systems that are not fully Cobol-85 compliant.

The Fujitsu Cobol environment comes along with the book. The Fujitsu compiler is a big improvement over the DOS-based compiler and editor that came with the second edition. An appendix provides some step-by-step examples to help the reader get up to speed with the compiler.

The book is weighted more towards micro computers - if you are working in a mainframe environment, you will probably want to find additional references on JCL, CICS, etc.

The book may not be the best choice for someone who has no previous programming experience, but for readers who have some background in programming (in any language) and are interested in learning Cobol, this book & compiler set is the best resource I've seen for Cobol at this level. I strongly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent beginner book, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: COBOL: From Micro to Mainframe (Paperback)

I teach programming at the university level and have recently switched to this publication as the main text for my classes. The book provides fantastic examples and explains concepts at a level a beginning programmer can understand. As with any text, the solutions are available in the instructor's manual (available from the publisher). The extensive support provided by the publisher's web site and by the authors themselves is unmatched. As this book was written to be instructive, it lacks somewhat as a reference guide, but is still a valuable resource for any junior programmer.