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Mainframe COBOL Boot Camp

Mainframe COBOL Training Overview

In a lecture/workshop environment the participant is taught practical programming skills required to function as an entry-level programmer in an IBM Enterprise COBOL mainframe environment. Structured COBOL design and coding techniques are emphasized throughout the class. Common mainframe programming scenarios and problems are presented and reinforced through a series of hands-on workshop problems. Access to a working TSO/zOS system is required for student workshop sessions. Students should be ready and willing to devote some time before and after class hours to completing workshop problems. Existing company standards and coding conventions can be integrated into this class.

During a week, the topics for that week may be intermixed to enhance or reinforce the learning experience of the participant. e.g. Some of the JCL topics may be taught in the context of the relevant zOS and COBOL topics. One should not infer that a topic indicated for a specific day of the week will be the only topic for that day. Experience has shown a student understands a topic or concept better when taught in context of related topics and utilized in that context rather than as a standalone topic.

This training will provide the participant with the fundamental, essential skills to function in a mainframe COBOL environment as an entry-level programmer. Additional training will be required for specific skill areas of mainframe processing based on the position the participant will be assuming. Although an introductory overview of VSAM, DB2 and CICS is included in this class, students will required specific training in those areas in order to acquires the skills necessary to utilize them effectively in a role as Application Developer. Participants will benefit from follow up training in I.T. soft skills and a more in-depth presentation of some topics.

Performance-based Objectives

Upon successful completion Students will be able to:

Describe the purpose and use of each of the system address spaces created during the IPL of zOS.
Given a map of the zOS storage layout, describe the purpose and use of each storage section.
Explain the concepts, purpose and use of storage “above the line”, “below the line”, “above the bar” and “below the bar” in the zOS environment.
Demonstrate and understanding of JES, SMS and RACF in the zOS environment by explaining the purpose and roles of each.
Identify the program components necessary to run a program in the zOS system.
Explain the process required to create an executable program in the customer’s mainframe environment.
List the basic structures and parts of a simple COBOL program.
Describe the basic data formats used in a typical COBOL program (character, packeddecimal, binary).
Describe the purpose and use of JCL in the zOS environment.
Understand the relationship of JCL to an application program.
Explain the basic structure of an IBM Enterprise COBOL program.
Describe the basic concepts of TSO and ISPF, including the primary options and major functions.
Describe the concepts of a TSO/ISPF library.
Demonstrate the various uses of PF keys and set PF keys under ISPF.
Explain the purpose of ISPF parameters and set them according to various needs and operating environments.
Use the facilities of TSO and ISPF to perform the following:

Allocate and create new datasets.
Effectively use the full screen editor, including the SPF/EDIT facilities, for copying, moving, replacing, changing, and creating records.
Demonstrate their knowledge of the proper use of the PF Keys under SPF/EDIT to REPEAT CHANGE, REPEAT FIND.
Effectively use the SPLIT SCREEN and SWAP SCREEN facilities.
Successfully submit a job for background processing.
Demonstrate their ability to move through the operating modes.
Use the OUTPUT utility to examine, modify and print listings created by background processing.
Effectively use the BROWSE function to examine the contents of datasets.

Use the TSO and ISPF Utilities for Deleting, Renaming, Printing, Moving, Copying, Cataloging, and Displaying the attributes of datasets.
Describe the structured programming development process.
Employ structured programming style in IBM Enterprise COBOL programs.
Describe the purpose and use of each division and section of an IBM Enterprise COBOL program.
Use structured programming techniques to design, code and successfully test the necessary IBM Enterprise COBOL programs to perform the following:
- Sequential Input and Output
- Simple Data Validation
- Simple Data Manipulation
- Single Level Control Break Logic
- Single Dimensional Table Handling
- Invoke a subprogram and pass it parameters
Describe the various data formats used in IBM Enterprise COBOL.
Choose the appropriate data type for fields used in an IBM Enterprise COBOL program.
Effectively utilize COPY records in an IBM Enterprise COBOL program.
Use compiler directives and options to control the compilation process.
Debug basic IBM Enterprise COBOL errors caused by coding errors.
Describe the basic concept of JCL and its relationship to the zOS system.
Explain the syntax rules for coding zOS JCL.
Code the JCL necessary to perform the following:

Execute a program from a program library.
Conditionally execute job steps.
Syntax check a set of JCL.
Use standard zOS utilities to Create and Copy sequential files.
Successfully execute a cataloged procedure.
Define the following types of datasets:

In-stream Input
Disk Input
Tape Input/Output
Printer/SYSOUTs
Disk Output
Dummy Datasets

Explain the structure, capabilities and advantages of VSAM ESDS and KSDS datasets.
Describe the basic concepts and facilities of DB2 for zOS.
State the purpose, use and fundamental facilities of CICS.

Mainframe COBOL Training Audience

New programmers with little or no mainframe programming experience who require knowledge and skills of an entry-level programmer in the IBM Enterprise COBOL, mainframe zOS environment.

Mainframe COBOL Training Course Duration

10 Days

Please refer to the schedule below for a general sequence of topics. Due to the nature of this class students must attend entire session. (i.e. They cannot drop in for only week 1 or week 2). The most effective manner in which to schedule the training is in one continuous 10 day block, a break may be inserted between weeks 1 and 2. If breaks are inserted between any weeks, it is suggested the break be no longer than 10 days.

Mainframe COBOL Training Course Outline

General Timing and Schedule of Training

Week 1:

1 Day - Basic Mainframe/zOS Concepts

1 Day - Introduction to TSO

3 Days - Introduction to IBM Enterprise COBOL Programming (Continued into next week)

Introduction to SDSF

Week 2:

2 Days - Introduction to IBM Enterprise COBOL Programming

2 Days - zOS JCL Essentials

1 Day - DB2, CICS, VSAM Overview

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