COBOL Re-Engineering: A Preliminary Design Specification

Abstract

Because unstructured COBOL is so difficult to read and to maintain, a method is required to convert unstructured COBOL programs into structured programs, either in COBOL or another, more easily structured language. Addressing this need, this paper outlines a design specification for an automatic restructuring engine for COBOL. The main body of the paper is intended as a general overview of such a specification. Certain parts of the engine are discussed at greater length in the appendices, for readers with more specific interest.