Boolean logic is fundamental aspect of many technology and programming systems today. Originated from George Boole, an English mathematician, philosopher and logician in the 19th century, Boolean logic has evolved into a system of mathematical logic that is widely used to simplify the workings of automated digital systems. This article will delve into the implementation and usage of Boolean within a COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) coding context.
Contents
Solution to the Problem
The Boolean logic primarily revolves around three basic operations, AND, OR, and NOT. COBOL as a language incorporates these Boolean operations. Let’s say we have a problem where we need to run a certain piece of code only when two conditions are met. This problem could be easily solved using the AND operation within an IF statement in COBOL.
IF CONDITION-1 AND CONDITION-2 THEN
DO SOMETHING
END-IF
- The AND operation returns true if both CONDITION-1 and CONDITION-2 are true
- The OR operation would return true if either of the conditions or both are true
- The NOT operation inversely returns true when the condition is false and vice versa
Step-By-Step Explanation of the COBOL Code
Let’s simplify the understanding with a step-by-step breakdown of the provided code.
01 CONDITION-1 PIC X(5) VALUE ‘TRUE ‘.
01 CONDITION-2 PIC X(5) VALUE ‘FALSE’.
IF CONDITION-1 AND CONDITION-2 THEN
DISPLAY ‘Both conditions are met.’
ELSE
DISPLAY ‘Both conditions are not met.’
END-IF
This sample code starts with defining two conditions. CONDITION-1 is set to ‘TRUE’ and CONDITION-2 is set to ‘FALSE’. We then move onto an IF condition that checks if both CONDITIONS are true. If they are, it will display ‘Both conditions are met.’ However, since CONDITION-2 is set as ‘FALSE’, the program will move to the ELSE condition and therefore, display ‘Both conditions are not met.’
Understanding COBOL Libraries
While COBOL doesn’t have a built-in library system, it does support interoperability with other languages that offer such constructs. Depending on the COBOL system you’re using, you might have support for linking into libraries built in C, or calling methods in Java classes via the JVM, or even interoperating with .NET projects if you’re using something like .netCOBOL.
COBOL’s long legacy and ongoing relevance in many critical systems make the concept of Boolean logic an integral part of programming methodologies in this language. On top of this, combining the use of Boolean logic with COBOL’s capability of integrating external libraries broadens opportunities for delivering more robust routines, meeting the needs for modern system development while remaining true to legacy systems.
Keyword: Boolean, COBOL, AND, OR, NOT, Libraries, Interoperability .
