COBOL Std 2 Source-Code Layout

2. Source-Code Layout

2.1 Column Format

All programs use fixed-format COBOL unless the project explicitly adopts free-format (cobc -free). In fixed format:

Columns	Area	Rule
1–6	Sequence	Leave blank or use numeric sequence; never use for logic.
7	Indicator	Asterisk (*) = full-line comment. Hyphen (-) = continuation. Blank = code.
8–11	Area A	Division / section / paragraph headers; 01 and 77 level items; FD entries.
12–72	Area B	All other data definitions and procedural statements.

2.2 Indentation

Indent subordinate levels by 4 spaces relative to their parent. Do not use tab characters.

<syntaxhighlight lang="cobol">

      01 WS-CUSTOMER-RECORD.
          05 WS-CUST-ID         PIC X(6).
          05 WS-CUST-NAME       PIC X(40).
          05 WS-CUST-BALANCE    PIC S9(9)V99 COMP-3.

</syntaxhighlight>

Nested IF / EVALUATE constructs add 4 spaces per level:

<syntaxhighlight lang="cobol">

          EVALUATE TRUE
              WHEN dal-method-ok
                  PERFORM R080-PROCESS-RECORD
              WHEN OTHER
                  PERFORM E000-HANDLE-ERROR
          END-EVALUATE

</syntaxhighlight>

2.3 Line Length

Keep all code within columns 8–72 (Area A/B combined). Comments may use columns 8–72 as well. Do not rely on the reference area (73–80).

2.4 Blank Lines and Section Separators

• One blank comment line before every paragraph header.
• Three asterisk-border comment lines before every major section (see §3).
• Use the compiler directive / (slash in column 7) to eject to a new listing page between major sections.

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