IDENTIFICATION DIVISION

The IDENTIFICATION DIVISION must be the first division in each COBOL source program, factory definition, object definition, and method definition. The identification division names the program, class, or method and identifies the factory definition and object definition. The IDENTIFICATION DIVISION can include the date a program, class, or method was written, the date of compilation, and other such documentary information.

Program IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
For a program, the first paragraph of the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION must be the PROGRAM-ID paragraph. The other paragraphs are optional and can appear in any order.
Class IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
For a class, the first paragraph of the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION must be the CLASS-ID paragraph. The other paragraphs are optional and can appear in any order.
Factory IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
A factory IDENTIFICATION DIVISION contains only a factory paragraph header.
Object IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
An object IDENTIFICATION DIVISION contains only an object paragraph header.
Method IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
For a method, the first paragraph of the IDENTIFICATION DIVISION must be the METHOD-ID paragraph. The other paragraphs are optional and can appear in any order.

The following format is for a program IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

Format: program identification division

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramIDENTIFICATIONIDDIVISION.PROGRAM-ID.program-nameISRECURSIVECOMMONINITIALINITIALCOMMONPROGRAM.AUTHOR.comment-entryINSTALLATION.comment-entryDATE-WRITTEN.comment-entryDATE-COMPILED.comment-entrySECURITY.comment-entry

The following format is for a class IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

Format: class identification division

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.ID DIVISION. CLASS-ID.class-name-1 INHERITSclass-name-2.AUTHOR.comment-entryINSTALLATION.comment-entryDATE-WRITTEN.comment-entryDATE-COMPILED.comment-entrySECURITY.comment-entry

The following format is for a factory IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

Format: factory identification division

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramIDENTIFICATIONIDDIVISION.FACTORY.

The following format is for an object IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

Format: object identification division

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramIDENTIFICATIONIDDIVISION.OBJECT.

The following format is for a method IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

Format: method identification division

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramIDENTIFICATIONIDDIVISION.METHOD-ID.method-name-1 .AUTHOR.comment-entryINSTALLATION.comment-entryDATE-WRITTEN.comment-entryDATE-COMPILED.comment-entrySECURITY.comment-entry