Merge branch 'master' into Update-COBOL-Numerical-Values

Author: MikeBauerCA

COBOL Programming Course #1 - Getting Started/Labs/cbl/CBL0010.cobol

@@ -38,14 +38,27 @@
                10  USA-STATE      PIC X(15).
            05  RESERVED           PIC X(7).
            05  COMMENTS           PIC X(50).
-      *
+      * The USAGE Clause specifies the storage of a data item,
+      * e.g USAGE IS COMP-3, or just COMP-3. 
+      * COMP-3 is the equivalent of packed-decimal, frequently used
+      * rather than COMP-1(floating-point), COMP-2(long floating-point)
+      * COMP-4(binary) and COMP-5(native binary).
+      * When no value for USAGE Clause is specified, Default value is 
+      * DISPLAY. To do an arithmetic operation with a DISPLAY number,
+      * the program must first convert the characters to a binary 
+      * number, execute the operation and convert it back,
+      * which is less eficient than a computational data type.  
+      * 
        WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
        01  FLAGS.
            05 LASTREC          PIC X VALUE SPACE.
       *
        01  TLIMIT-TBALANCE.
            05 TLIMIT              PIC S9(9)V99 COMP-3 VALUE ZERO.
            05 TBALANCE            PIC S9(9)V99 COMP-3 VALUE ZERO.
+      *    Hint: to know which character format is being used,
+      *    you can type HEX ON on the command line and compare to
+      *    a ASCII/EBCDIC Table. then HEX OFF to turn hex numbers off
       *
        01  HEADER-1.
            05  FILLER         PIC X(20) VALUE 'Financial Report for'.

COBOL Programming Course #2 - Advanced Topics/COBOL Programming Course #2 - Advanced Topics.md

@@ -19,16 +19,190 @@ header-includes:
               linkcolor=blue}
 ---
 \newpage
-# COBOL Challenges
+# COBOL Application Programming Interface (API)
+API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface.  An API allows two applications to communicate. We use API's everyday from our phones, personal computers, using a credit card to make a payment at a point of sale, etc.  
+
+Today's digital infrastructure is instrumented and interconnected.  It is the API's that enable the "instrumented" network to be "interconnected".  As a result, API has become a highly used acronym in the technology arena.  The phrase "API Economy" became strategic term since Forbes declared 2017 "The Year of the API Economy".
+
+Business application solutions were architected decades ago using programming language API's.  Long before API became a strategic technology category, mainframe application developers understood the acronym as a way to enable a programming language to communicate with other software.  The value of being a programmer in any specific programming language increased by understanding and using API's.
+
+- **Enterprise COBOL APIs**
+     - **z/OS Middleware**
+     - **COBOL API Communication with Middleware**
+     - **COBOL EXEC SQL**
+     - **COBOL Data Items**
+
+- **SQL Capability within Enterprise COBOL**
+     - **Enterprise COBOL Application Programming and SQL Guide**
+     - **Db2 Data Base Administration (DBA) vs Application Programming**
+
+- **Lab**
+    - **Using VSCode and Zowe Explorer**
+
+## Enterprise COBOL APIs
+IBM mainframe flagship operating system, z/OS, includes software that has enabled large scale business applications for decades.  The software is frequently referred to as 'middleware'. Examples of z/OS 'middleware' is Db2, a relational database, CICS, transactional processor, IMS, both transactional and hierarchical database, and MQSeries, a mechanism to store and forward data between systems asynchonously.
+
+### z/OS Middleware
+A fundamental capability of z/OS middleware software is communication enablement of programming languages.  The z/OS middleware software includes documentation and examples of how any specific programming language can communicate with the specific z/OS middleware software.  A programming language, such as Enterprise COBOL, would use documented interfaces and techniques to initiate services and pass data between the COBOL application program and the middleware. 
+
+### COBOL API Communication with Middleware
+Each middleware has unique reserved words available to Enterprise COBOL.  
+
+Enterprise COBOL unique API reserved words are in Example 1.
+
+```
+EXEC SQL
+EXEC CICS
+CALL 'MQ...'
+CALL 'CBLTDLI'
+```
+*Example 1. COBOL API Reserved Words*
+
+Each of the above COBOL API's enable the program to communcate with Db2, CICS, MQSeries, and IMS respectively.  When the COBOL source program is compiled, the API reserved words expand the number of lines in the COBOL source code.  The expanded lines of code does not need to be fully understood by the COBOL programmer.  The COBOL programmer uses an API to accomplish a task within the logic and the middleware expanded code follows through with accomplishing the task.
+
+### COBOL EXEC SQL
+SQL, Structured Query Language, is the documented standard for communicating will all relational databases.  Enterprise COBOL is capable of including Db2 for z/OS SQL.  A few simple COBOL EXEC SQL reserved words are shown in Example 2.
+
+```
+ WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 
+*****************************************************
+* SQL INCLUDE FOR SQLCA                             *
+*****************************************************
+          EXEC SQL INCLUDE SQLCA  END-EXEC. 
+*****************************************************
+* SQL DECLARATION FOR VIEW ACCOUNTS                 *
+*****************************************************
+          EXEC SQL DECLARE my-acct-tbl TABLE 
+                  (ACCTNO     CHAR(8)  NOT NULL, 
+                   LIMIT      DECIMAL(9,2)     , 
+                   BALANCE    DECIMAL(9,2)     , 
+                   SURNAME    CHAR(20) NOT NULL, 
+                   FIRSTN     CHAR(15) NOT NULL, 
+                   ADDRESS1   CHAR(25) NOT NULL, 
+                   ADDRESS2   CHAR(20) NOT NULL, 
+                   ADDRESS3   CHAR(15) NOT NULL, 
+                   RESERVED   CHAR(7)  NOT NULL, 
+                   COMMENTS   CHAR(50) NOT NULL) 
+                   END-EXEC. 
+*****************************************************
+* SQL CURSORS                                       *
+*****************************************************
+          EXEC SQL DECLARE CUR1  CURSOR FOR 
+                   SELECT * FROM my-acct-tbl 
+               END-EXEC. 
+
+ PROCEDURE DIVISION.
+*------------------ 
+ LIST-ALL. 
+          EXEC SQL OPEN CUR1 END-EXEC. 
+          EXEC SQL FETCH CUR1 INTO :CUSTOMER-RECORD END-EXEC.
+          PERFORM PRINT-AND-GET1 
+               UNTIL SQLCODE IS NOT EQUAL TO ZERO. 
+          EXEC SQL CLOSE CUR1   END-EXEC.
+```
+*Example 2. COBOL SQL Statements*
+
+### COBOL Data Items
+While the EXEC SQL is expanded into additional lines of code at compile time,
+COBOL needs data items to manage the data passed between the COBOL program and Db2 table. 
+
+The fields in the Db2 table record were defined using CREATE TABLE SQL.  The EXEC SQL DECLARE in Table xx describes the Db2 table format within the COBOL program.  The COBOL programmer with knowledge of the Db2 table format can code the table format or let Db2 for z/OS generate the code using a DCLGEN utility.  
+
+Observe ":CUSTOMER-RECORD" in the EXEC SQL FETCH statement.  A colon (:) precedes COBOL program defined variables that are used in SQL statements so that Db2 can distinguish a variable name from a column name.  Example 3. shows the COBOL program data items describing the COBOL program variable names.
+
+```
+*****************************************************
+* STRUCTURE FOR CUSTOMER RECORD                     *
+*****************************************************
+ 01 CUSTOMER-RECORD. 
+    02 ACCT-NO            PIC X(8). 
+    02 ACCT-LIMIT         PIC S9(7)V99 COMP-3. 
+    02 ACCT-BALANCE       PIC S9(7)V99 COMP-3. 
+    02 ACCT-LASTN         PIC X(20). 
+    02 ACCT-FIRSTN        PIC X(15). 
+    02 ACCT-ADDR1         PIC X(25). 
+    02 ACCT-ADDR2         PIC X(20). 
+    02 ACCT-ADDR3         PIC X(15). 
+    02 ACCT-RSRVD         PIC X(7). 
+    02 ACCT-COMMENT       PIC X(50).
+```
+*Example 3. COBOL Data Item for storing variables where Db2 is the data source*
+
+## SQL Capability within Enterprise COBOL
+Learning SQL is a separate technical skill.  The objective of this brief chapter is familiarization with Enterprise COBOL use of SQL API.  A COBOL program is capable of any SQL communication with Db2 for z/OS assuming necessary authority is granted.  SQL has four catagories as outlined in Example 4.  Learning SQL is necessary for a COBOL programmer to become proficient with using the Db2 API for a variety of possible applications where COBOL provides the what, how, and when logic of executing specific SQL.  
+
+```
+DDL - Data Definition Language
+CREATE
+ALTER 
+DROP
+
+DML - Data Manipulation Language
+SELECT
+INSERT
+UPDATE
+DELETE 
+
+DCL - Data Control Langauge
+GRANT
+REVOKE
+
+TCL - Transaction Control Language
+COMMIT
+ROLLBACK
+```
+*Example 4. SQL Categories*
+
+### Enterprise COBOL Application Programming and SQL Guide
+Db2 for z/OS V12 is the most current release of Db2 at the moment.  The Db2 V12 for z/OS Application Programming and SQL Guide is available using internet search SC27-8845, the Db2 for z/OS professional manual number.  Db2 V12 for z/OS SQL Reference is also necessary to advance programming API capability (SC27-8859).
+
+### Db2 Data Base Administration (DBA) vs Application Programming
+In large enterprise, the roles and responsibilities are divided for a number of reasons.  The responsibility of the DBA would include the DDL and DCL outlined in Example 4.  The DBA is responsibile for managing the entire relational data base environment to insure availability, security, performance, etc.  The system programmers and DBAs frequently setup the application development procedures for COBOL programmer development, testing, and maintenance of the COBOL business applications.  A COBOL application programmer is typically provided documented procedures to follow to apply their COBOL programming and SQL API expertise.
+
+Enterprise COBOL is a learning journey.  Each Enterprise COBOL API is a separate learning journey.  As is the case with most professional endeavors, learning, repetition, and applying what is learned is re-iterative process leading to advanced skill levels.
+
+## Lab
+The lab contains data used in previous labs from "COBOL Programming Course #1 - Getting Started" where the data source was sequential data set, then a VSAM data set.  The lab provides JCL to create a personal Db2 table in a DBA-created database name using a DBA-created storage group.  The DBA-created storage group directs the create tablespace and table to specific disk storage volumes.
+
+The lab contains Enterprise COBOL source code with Db2 APIs along with the JCL to compile and execute the COBOL programs.
+
+### Using VSCode and Zowe Explorer
+Zowe Explorer is currently without the ability to execute Db2 SQL interactively. It is inevitable Zowe Explorer will eventually have the capability of connectiong to relational databases and executing SQL.
+
+Therefore, JCL members were created to create and load user tables following examples provided.
+
+1. Submit `zos.public.db2.jcl(db2setup)`
+The result is new JCL and CBL members copied into personal JCL and CBL libraries
+
+2. SUBMIT JCL(CRETBL)
+The result is a personal Db2 tablespace, table, indexspace, and index
+ 
+3. SUBMIT JCL(LOADTBL)
+The result is data loaded into the personal Db2 tablespace, table, indexspace, and index
+ 
+4. Edit each COBOL source code member in your CBL partition data set changing all occurrences of Z# to your personal ID. Example - If your ID was Z80001, then change all occurrences of Z#  to Z80001.
+ 
+5. SUBMIT JCL(CBLDB21C)
+The result is compile of CBL program CBLDB21 and a Db2 Plan needed for program execution
+ 
+6. SUBMIT JCL(CBLDB21R)
+The result is execution of COBOL program CBLDB21 to read the Db2 table and write each record from the Db2 table .
 
-As you have now handled some basic exercises, we have prepared a new section containing more advanced exercises that test your ability to resolve bugs and other issues in COBOL programs. Each exercise will have a short description and a goal to be accomplished.
+7. Two additional COBOL programs with Db2 API exist, CBLDB22 and CBLDB23 using the same Db2 table as the data source.
 
-In case you get stuck, a blog with instructions will be published shortly after each exercise.
+
+\newpage
+# COBOL Challenges
+As you have now handled some basic exercises, we have prepared a new section containing more advanced exercises that test your ability to resolve bugs and other issues in COBOL programs. Each exercise will have a short description and a goal to be accomplished.
 
 Happy Coding!
 
-\newpage
+- **COBOL Challenge - Debugging**
+- **COBOL Challenge - The COVID-19 Reports**
+- **COBOL Challenge - The Unemployment Claims**
+- **Hacker News Rankings for Mainframe/COBOL Posts**
 
+\newpage
 ## COBOL Challenge - Debugging
 
 It is 2020 in Washington, D.C. John Doe runs a program which provides financial reports on US Presidents and tallies the number of reports from the state of Virginia. Everything seems OK. (see below)
@@ -49,6 +223,7 @@ Can you fix the code to get the correct result? The new source code is named **C
 
 You can find them in the github repository for the COBOL course, in the subfolder **/COBOL Programming Course #2 - Advanced Topics/Challenges/Debugging**.
 
+\newpage
 ## COBOL Challenge - The COVID-19 Reports
 
 Today, you are tasked to create a COVID-19 Summary Report of all the countries around the world, using information from the COVID19API website.
@@ -65,7 +240,7 @@ Today, you are tasked to create a COVID-19 Summary Report of all the countries a
 
 3. Using Zowe, upload the CSV file to the mainframe.
 
-**Hint:** You can use the command `zowe files ul ftds “file location” “dataset name”` to upload the CSV file to the mainframe.
+**Hint:** You can use the command `zowe files ul ftds "file location" "dataset name"` to upload the CSV file to the mainframe.
 
 4. Create a new member in your *.CBL data set to write your COBOL program.
 
@@ -107,17 +282,18 @@ If you want a more challenging approach, try the optional tasks below:
 
 To check the solution, refer to the blog post [here](https://medium.com/@jessielaine.punongbayan/solution-covid-19-reports-cobol-challenge-6c509579e3fe?source=friends_link&sk=5a662034a03c91d639b77267ed6abfc9).
 
-Happy Coding! 😉
+Happy Coding!
 
 _Disclaimer: This challenge is also posted in [Medium.com](https://medium.com/@jessielaine.punongbayan/cobol-challenge-covid-19-reports-ee03a946bd23)._
 
+\newpage
 ## COBOL Challenge - The Unemployment Claims
 
 Now let's try a more advanced challenge! Your task is to create an end-to-end solution. Our end goal is to build an application that will fire Zowe APIs to the mainframe and display the result in the application. This is how the flow would look:
 
 ![](Images/cobolchClaims-img1.png)
 
-_Of course, you do not have to complete the whole challenge if you do not want to. But it would be great if you do_ 😉
+_Of course, you do not have to complete the whole challenge if you do not want to. But it would be great if you do_
 
 ### Our Data
 
@@ -200,12 +376,11 @@ Add more functionality to your COBOL Sub-routine like:
 
 I hope that by taking this challenge, you will be able to learn something new! 
 
-Happy Coding! 😉
+Happy Coding!
 
 _Disclaimer: This challenge is also posted in [Medium.com](https://medium.com/@jessielaine.punongbayan/zowe-cobol-challenge-the-unemployment-claims-2e35a42eabaa)._
 
 \newpage
-
 ## Hacker News Rankings for Mainframe/COBOL Posts
 
 ![](Images/hacker-img1.png)

README.md

@@ -36,3 +36,10 @@ This project is openly governed as defined in [GOVERNANCE.md](GOVERNANCE.md).
 ## Credits
 
 The courseware materials were made available through a joint collaboration IBM, it's clients, and American River College and proposed as a new project by IBM.
+
+## Video Course Links
+
+- [IBM Digital Learning Platform](https://learn.ibm.com/course/view.php?id=7552)
+- [Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/learn/cobol-programming-vscode?)
+- [Pluralsight](https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/learning-cobol-programming-vscode)
+- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdMAEdGvtLA)

TSC/Meeting - Agenda & Minutes/Meeting Minutes - Aug 11 2020.md

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+## Meeting Agenda:
+### Tues, Aug 11th 8:00 a.m PST / 11:00 a.m EST 
+
+- TSC Members Introductions - All
+- Project Update - Sudharsana
+- System Disk Storage guidelines - Paul
+- ZOWE Update - Mike
+- COBOL Working Group Update - Dr. Cameron Saey
+- Q&A
+
+## Meeting Minutes:
+Attendees: All Core team members & few community participants
+
+1. Core Team members introduced themselves
+2. Sudharsana shared a quick update on COBOL Course 
+   - requested for community help with getting content added to Course #2
+3. Paul shared that he is working on Disk Storage guidelines and will share soon
+   - Request to be mindful when allocating system resources
+4. Mike gave an overview on ZOWE, a sister project on OMP 
+5. Dr. Cameron Saey shared about the new initiative called COBOL Working group. This latest initiative on OMP is looking to bring academic attention to COBOL.
+5. Q&A - No questions 
+
+#### Next Meeting
+Tues, Sept 8th 8 a.m PST / 11 a.m EST

TSC/Meeting - Agenda & Minutes/Meeting Minutes - Oct 13 2020.md

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+## Meeting Agenda:
+### Tues, Oct 13th 8:00 a.m PST / 11:00 a.m EST 
+
+- TSC Members Introductions - All
+- Project Update & PDF Releases - Mike
+- Db2 API Demo - Radha
+- Q&A
+
+## Meeting Minutes:
+Attendees: All Core team members & few community participants
+
+1. Core Team members introduced themselves
+2. Mike shared a quick update on COBOL Course 
+   - requested community participation in building up content for Course #2
+   - shared the content in v2.1.0 of the COBOL Course PDF
+3. Radha went over the Db2 work she has been doing - check out a recording [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ufFW1ENFM_3EITLiAlGs7RmhOrfJxfoD/view?usp=sharing)!
+   - The recording of the session will be available soon, stay tuned!
+4. Q&A
+   - Q: Is this course content is available publicly?
+     A: Yes. This is open to anyone and everyone to use in their learning journey. There is also a video course of this COBOL content available
+        on IBM Digital Learning Platform at no cost, Coursera and Pluralsight.
+        
+5. September was a wealth of information shared through these various conferences:
+   - [IBM Z Day 2020 Replays](https://ibmzday-vconf.bemyapp.com/#/event)
+   - [Open Mainframe Summit Replays](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-WTXQQtz2m5iTflJLK59aw/videos)
+   - [SHARE Replays (for purchase)](https://event.share.org/home)
+
+#### Next Meeting
+Tues, Nov 10th 8 a.m PST / 11 a.m EST

TSC/Meeting - Agenda & Minutes/Meeting Minutes - Sep 8 2020.md

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+## Meeting Agenda:
+### Tues, Sept 8th 8:00 a.m PST / 11:00 a.m EST 
+
+- TSC Members Introductions - All
+- Project Update - Sudharsana & Mike
+- Db2 Project Update - Paul
+- Q&A
+
+## Meeting Minutes:
+Attendees: All Core team members & few community participants
+
+1. Core Team members introduced themselves
+2. Sudharsana shared a quick update on COBOL Course 
+   - requested community participation in building up content for Course #2
+3. Paul shared an update on the Db2 labs
+   - Raven was on the call and shared the work she has been doing with Paul
+4. Q&A
+   - No questions on this call. It was a fairly short call
+
+#### Next Meeting
+Tues, Oct 13th 8 a.m PST / 11 a.m EST