Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 for Visual Studio 2015 > General Reference > Managed COBOL > Managed COBOL Reference > Structural Syntax Elements - Alphabetic List > Constructors

Constructors

A constructor is a class method that is executed when the class is created.

Context:

    Classes
    ValueTypes 
    Interfaces
        Type Members

constructor-specification

constructor-header

Example

method-id new.
procedure division.
    set powerLevel to 0
end method.
 
method-id new.
procedure division using by value powerLevel as binary-long.
    set powerLevel to powerLevel
end method.

Further Information

If STATIC is not specified, the method is an instance constructor, and the code is executed when a class instance is created (see the NEW expression).

If STATIC is specified, the method is a static constructor, and is executed when the class is first loaded.

Neither instance constructors nor static constructors may specify a RETURNING item. Static constructors may not specify any parameters.

If you specify parameters in the constructor header, you must not include a procedure division header in the body of the constructor.