Fixed The Fixed format (also known as the Ansi format) divides the COBOL source row into 72 columns, that are used in the following way: Columns 1 to 6 Sequence number Column 7 Indicator area Columns 8 to 11 Area A Coulmns 12 to 72 Area B • Division headers, section headers and paragraph names must start in Area A. • Level numbers can appear either in Area A or Area B. • All other COBOL text must start in Area B. • Comments are identified by an asterisk, a slash or a dollar sign in the Indicator area (in this case the whole row is commented) or by a pipe in Area B (in this case only the text after the pipe is commented). • All text before column 7 and after column 72 is ignored by the Compiler.
