COBOL for Dummies

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Summary: Should have addressed compilers bundled with book
Review: As a dummy, I make lots of typos and syntax errors. This makes Fujitsu compiler spout more syntax errors than the program has lines. Given the tremendous sensitivity (for beginner's programs)the compiler has toward errors, the examples should have been compiler specific. I'm still working through the book, but 90% of the programming time has been spent tracking down compiler related issues.

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Summary: A COBOL "returnee" review...
Review: As a former programmer in COBOL (along with other languages), and a physician writing his own patient information tracking software, I decided to return to COBOL for it's simple, yet powerful file handling capabilities. Not wanting to spend several hundreds or thousands of dollars for a compiler (or - gasp! - an interpreter), I performed a quick search of the Web and found a reference to "COBOL For DUMMIES". Had it not been for the enclosed CD, I probably would have passed this book by without giving it a second thought. However, having read the book and worked with the CD, I am convinced that this is absolutely the best programming deal around. The coverage of COBOL is not intensive enough for someone who wants to make the language dance and sing, but it's complete enough (and covers the history and arcane aspects of the language well) for the programmer who has forgotten how elegant COBOL can be, especially after working with numerous other languages.

Rating:
Summary: cobol for dummies
Review: Cobol for dummies is really for dummies. Smart people don't want to buy this book. This book only contain "parts" of program. But not a complete full reference. So people who has no experience in Cobol would finish reading it and end up being confused.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a good place to start
Review: I picked up this book before I started my mainframe training and it was nice to have as a reference. If you have never programmed in COBOL before then this book is for you.

I have passed this book off to a fellow co-worker who is interested in learning COBOL.

This book only gives you the very basics and that is it. But I would suggest that you read this book before trying to tackle a more involved book. Also, I don't think that this book will help you code very well, but it is good for definitions and simple explanations.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a good place to start
Review: We used this as a textbook for an Introduction to COBOL course during Fall Semester (August - December)1998. We sadly discovered that the Fujitsu compiler expired on October 31, 1998. Trick or treat? We use a different text this year... one that includes software that won't expire during the semester.