Teacher seeks replacement for out of print textbook 1

[BettyScherber]

I was using Mastering COBOL by Carol Baroudi for the COBOL course I use, but our college resource center has just informed me that the book is out of print. Can anyone recommend a good text that is in the forty dollar range? (If we can get them in that range, we give them to the students, if they cost much more, we have to use them on a check out basis only.) I really liked the fact that the Baroudi book because it came with a free compiler, but the quality of the book and the price range are the two most important criteria. Betty Scherber
Brainbench MVP for COBOL II

http://www.brainbench.com

 

[Crox]

Hi Betty,

The book I use to educate my own students and employees is 'COBOL from Micro to Mainframe' from Grauer-Villar / Prentice Hall. I don't know if it is out of print but I usually get it on a fair. At that time I buy it for only 12 Dutch guilder, say 5 US$.

It contains the CA-REALIA classroom COBOL compiler with a generous copyright rule: everybody in the classroom can use it's own copy on every PC even if only the teacher has the book.

There are lot's of examples inside, also on a floppy.

It goes as far as the mainframe COBOL II.

 

[MiggyD]

Hello there, I've just recently gone back to school, and I am currently taking a course entitled "Structured Cobol Programming".

Unfortunately, this course's requried reading cost me approximately $120.00 (US dollars).

I asked the book store why it was so much and their response was that the package included an installation CD worth approx. $60.00.

So here's what I ended up getting:

"Micro Focus: Personal Cobol for Windows 3.1 v.1.1 with Object Orientation & Personal Dialog System: Getting Started" --with a side note that it's compatible with Widnows 9x and NT.

"Micro Focus: Cobol REference Manual"

Installation CD..."Micro Focus: Personal Cobol for Windows 3.1 v.1.1 with Object Orientation & Personal Dialog System(tm) Compatible with Windows 95, 98, & NT" --yes that is all on the CD. Note: the copyright date on the CD is 1999.

All three above are from a company called MERANT by the way.

and FINALLY...

"Structured Cobol Programming Second Edition" by Shelly Cashman Foreman which has a copyright of 2000 (published by Thomson Learning) and some web sites listed with intros to them:

"Visit Course Technology online at" www.course.com
"To learn more about the Shelly Cashman Series, visit" www.scseries.com
"contact us by"

http://www.thomsonrights.com

/ Phone: (800) 730-2214 [USA] / Fax: (800) 730-2215 [USA]

Again, since the copyrights are somewhat recent, you may be able to get just what you need. It ended up this way for me, the "SECOND ED" book cost me $60 and the first three items cost me another $60.

Hope I've helped a bit and good luck in your search

-MiggyD

PS--I am not trying to sell you on these books nor am I advocating/promoting these companies. I'm only informing you of what I currently have in school and trying to assist you. Once again Good Luck!- MD.

PPS--I'll probably get flagged. Won't I? Well, I tried. "When the night has been to lonely, and the road has been too long." then you need to go to bed. (Quote is from the movie/soundtrack "The Rose&quot

 

[Thane]

Betty,

My book, Sams Teach Yourself COBOL in 24 Hours remains in print and is used as the primary text for several universities. Email me privately - thane@softwaresimple.com and I'll arrange to get you a review copy of the book and I cna send you the email addresses of some professors using the book.