We recommend that you use the simplified class layout when writing managed COBOL. In this layout, you put data and methods directly under the CLASS-ID header.
In this case, both method and data are instance by default. To define methods and data as static, you use the STATIC keyword. For example:
Class-id. a. 01 str string. 01 static-str string static. Method-id. m1. End method m1. Method-id. m2 static. End method m2. End class a.
The previous layout is still supported for backward compatibility. Previously, you had to embed methods and data within the STATIC/END STATIC and OBJECT/END OBJECT markers.