Identification Division

The Identification Division must be the first division in every COBOL source program. It names the program and may include the date the program was written, the date of compilation, and other such documentary information about the program.

Identification Division - Format

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramIDENTIFICATIONID1DIVISION.PROGRAM-ID.program-nameliteral1ISCOMMON2INITIALRECURSIVEINITIALRECURSIVECOMMON2PROGRAM.AUTHOR.comment-entryINSTALLATION.comment-entryDATE-WRITTEN.comment-entryDATE-COMPILED.comment-entrySECURITY.comment-entry
Notes:
  • 1 IBM® Extension
  • 2 Allowed only for nested COBOL programs

The first paragraph of the Identification Division must be the PROGRAM-ID paragraph. The other paragraphs are optional, but, when written, must appear in the order shown in the format.

IBM Extension
IBM Extension The abbreviation ID DIVISION may be substituted for the standard division header, and the optional paragraphs may be in any order.
Note: The SEU Syntax Checker requires that the first sentence of the following paragraph headers begin on the same line as the paragraph header:
  • PROGRAM-ID
  • AUTHOR
  • INSTALLATION
  • DATE-WRITTEN
  • DATE-COMPILED
  • SECURITY
Figure 1 shows how the coding for the Identification Division should look. End of IBM Extension
End of IBM Extension
Figure 1. Identification Division Coding Example Showing Sentences Beginning on Same Lines as Paragraphs
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. IDSAMPLE.
AUTHOR. PROGRAMMER NAME.
INSTALLATION. COBOL DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
DATE-WRITTEN. 12/02/94.
DATE-COMPILED. 12/09/94 12:57:53.
SECURITY. NON-CONFIDENTIAL.