The
configuration section is an optional section for programs and classes,
and can describe the computer environment on which the program or
class is compiled and executed.
- Program configuration section
- The configuration section can be specified only in the environment
division of the outermost program of a COBOL source program.
You
should not specify the configuration section in a program that is
contained within another program. The entries specified in the configuration
section of a program apply to any program contained within that program.
- Class configuration section
- Specify the configuration section in the environment division
of a class definition. The repository paragraph can be specified in
the environment division of a class definition.
Entries in a class
configuration section apply to the entire class definition, including
all methods introduced by that class.
- Method configuration section
- The input-output section can be specified in a method configuration
section. The entries apply only to the method in which the configuration
section is specified.

Format:
>>-CONFIGURATION SECTION.--+---------------------------+-------->
'-source-computer-paragraph-'
>--+---------------------------+--+-------------------------+--->
'-object-computer-paragraph-' '-special-names-paragraph-'
>--+----------------------+------------------------------------><
'-repository-paragraph-'
The configuration section can:
- Relate IBM-defined environment-names to user-defined mnemonic
names
- Specify the collating sequence
- Specify a currency sign value, and the currency symbol used in
the PICTURE clause to represent the currency sign value
- Exchange the functions of the comma and the period in PICTURE
clauses and numeric literals
- Relate alphabet-names to character sets or collating sequences
- Specify symbolic characters
- Relate class-names to sets of characters
- Relate object-oriented class names to external class-names and
identify class-names that can be used in a class definition or program