COBOL programmable switches are numbered from 0 to 8. Each can be set to "off" or "on" when your application is started. Their state can be read by your application at any time when it is running.
The COBOL programmable switches must be defined using a condition name in the special-names paragraph. For example:
special-names.
switch-0 is job-origin on status is us-office
off status is uk-office
...
procedure division.
evaluate job-origin
when us-office...
when uk-office...
...