XML with COBOL Basics

Introduction to XML coding with COBOL

By the growing Global transactions, its need of an hour to introduce common language that can be used cross platform. Here comes introduction to XML on COBOL. This blog gives brief introduction on XML usage with COBOL. It includes:

1. XML Introduction

2. XML Tags

I have focus on how actually developer can code in COBOL language as you can find lot of literature online. 

XML : 

It is Extensible Markup Language. It can be used cross platform hence universal in nature.It has tag language.Tags can be single or nested depending upon requirements.

Eg: <a>...</a>

Tag documents can be designed in free flow way.Tags can't overlap each other. Eg <p><r>... </p></r> <--  This is not allowed. There are few more rules which I will point it out in my example.

Example:

<?xml version = "1.0"?>

<!--comment line-->

<p>

</p>

As you can see above XML are:

1. Text based can be saved as .txt file or .xml file or as PS file in Mainframe environments.

2. It is case sensitive

3. Contains one root

4. Starts and end with matching tags

5. Any attribute value should be in quotes

6. Properly nested

You will find usage of XML Parser and XML-COBOL coding in my up coming blogs.