Configuration Section

The Configuration Section is located in the Environment Division. The Configuration Section specifies aspects of the data processing system that are dependent on the specific system as well as special control techniques and a means of associating a local name with an external resource.

The Configuration Section is optional .

This section is divided into paragraphs: the Source-Computer paragraph, which describes the computer configuration on which the source element is compiled; the Object-Computer paragraph, which describes the computer configuration on which the runtime module produced by the compiler is to be run; the Special-Names paragraph, which provides a means for specifying the currency symbol and the currency string, choosing the decimal point, specifying symbolic-characters, relating implementor-names to user-specified mnemonic-names, relating alphabet-names to character sets or collating sequences, and relating class-names to sets of characters; the Repository paragraph, which provides a means for associating a local name with an external resource and specifying which intrinsic function names become reserved words for this source unit; and the Constraints paragraph, which provides a means for specifying properties of generic parameters, and therefore allows the use of methods or properties on data items whose type is that generic parameter.

General Format

GUID-D063F048-2CC6-4F06-BEFE-25492E76F30E-low.png

Syntax Rules

  1. The CONFIGURATION SECTION header is optional only if it is the first statement in the program.
  2. The Configuration Section must not be stated in a program that is contained within another program.
  3. The Configuration Section must not be stated in a method definition.
  4. The Source-Computer, Object-Computer and Repository paragraphs must not be stated in a factory definition or an object definition.
  5. The Constraints paragraph must not be stated in a factory defintion or an object definition.

General Rules

  1. The entries explicitly or implicitly stated in the Configuration Section of a source unit that contains other source units apply to each directly or indirectly contained source unit.
Parent topic: Environment Division