Defining a class instance method
Define COBOL instance methods in the PROCEDURE
DIVISION of the OBJECT paragraph of a class
definition. An instance method defines an operation that is supported
for each object instance of a class.
About this task
A COBOL instance method definition consists of four
divisions (like a COBOL program), followed by an END METHOD marker.
| Division | Purpose | Syntax |
|---|---|---|
IDENTIFICATION (required) |
Name a method. | METHOD-ID paragraph for defining a class instance method (required) AUTHOR paragraph (optional)INSTALLATION paragraph (optional)DATE-WRITTEN paragraph (optional)DATE-COMPILED paragraph (optional) |
ENVIRONMENT (optional) |
Relate the file-names used in a method to the corresponding file-names known to the operating system. | INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
DATA (optional) |
Define external files. Allocate a copy of the data. | DATA DIVISION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
PROCEDURE (optional) |
Code the executable statements to complete the service provided by the method. | PROCEDURE DIVISION for defining a class instance method (optional) |
Definition: The signature of
a method consists of the name of the method and the number and type
of its formal parameters. (You define the formal parameters of a COBOL
method in the USING phrase of the method's PROCEDURE
DIVISION header.)
Within a class definition, you do not need to make each method-name unique, but you do need to give each method a unique signature. (You overload methods by giving them the same name but a different signature.)
COBOL instance methods are equivalent to Java™ public nonstatic methods.