General Description
The Data Division describes the data that the runtime module is to accept as input, to manipulate, to create, or to produce as output.
File Section
The file description entry (FD) represents the highest level of organization in the File Section. The FILE SECTION header is followed by a file description entry consisting of a level indicator (FD), a file-name and a series of independent clauses. The clauses in the file description entry specify the size of the logical and physical records, the external name of the file, and the names of the data records which comprise the file. The entry itself is terminated by a period.
Working-Storage Section
The Working-Storage Section is composed of the section header, followed by data description entries for noncontiguous data items and/or record description entries. The syntax of data description entries is defined in the topic File Description Entry Skeleton
Thread-Local-Storage Section
The Thread-Local-Storage Section describes data which is unique to each thread, and is persistent across calls. The VALUE clause can be used to provide initial values for this data. The syntax of data description entries is defined in the topic File Description Entry Skeleton.
Object-Storage Section
The Object-Storage Section is an optional section of the Data Division that enables you to declare class object data and instance object data.
Local-Storage Section
A separate copy of the Local-Storage Section is created each time the runtime element is activated and exists only during the lifetime of that activation. The Local-Storage Section is provided specifically for use in functions, methods and recursive calls.
Linkage Section
All references to PROCEDURE DIVISION USING in the following discussion also apply to ENTRY USING.
Screen Section
The Screen Section provides screen handling facilities for use with ACCEPT and DISPLAY statements.
