In COBOL, you distinguish fields with identical names by qualification. For example, there are two fields named RATE in the following code, but they can be qualified by their group items. Thus, you would reference RATE OF TERMS-CODE and RATE OF AR-CODE in your program:
01 record-area.
03 terms-code.
05 rate pic s9v999.
05 days pic 9(3).
05 descript pic x(15).
03 ar-code.
05 rate pic s9v999.
05 days pic 9(3).
05 descript pic x(15).
Database systems consider duplicate names an error. Thus, if more than one field in a particular file has the same name, the XFD is not generated for that file.
The solution to this situation is to add a NAME XFD directive that associates an alternate name with one or both of the conflicting fields.