Main program

A main program is the program unit that receives control from the system when the executable program is invoked at run time.

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram>>-+-------------------+---------------------------------------><
   '-PROGRAM_statement-'
 
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   '-specification_part-'
 
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   '-execution_part-'
 
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   '-internal_subprogram_part-'
 
Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram>>-END_PROGRAM_statement---------------------------------------><
 
PROGRAM_statement
See PROGRAM for syntax details
specification_part
is a sequence of statements from the statement groups numbered  2 ,  4 , and  5  in Order of statements and execution sequence
execution_part
is a sequence of statements from the statement groups numbered  4  and  6  in Order of statements and execution sequence, and which must begin with a statement from statement group  6 
internal_subprogram_part
See Internal procedures for details
END_PROGRAM_statement
See END for syntax details

A main program cannot contain an ENTRY statement, nor can it specify an automatic object.

IBM Extension

A RETURN statement can appear in a main program. The execution of a RETURN statement has the same effect as the execution of an END statement.

End of IBM Extension