Replaced arguments when programming with COBOL

You can replace the arguments as follows:
Table 1. Arguments used in COBOL
This argument: Can be replaced by:
data-value Any COBOL data name of the correct data type for the argument, or by a constant that can be converted to the correct type for the argument. You can specify the data type as one of the following:
  • 16-bit binary: PIC S9(4) COMP
  • 32-bit binary: PIC S9(8) COMP
  • Character string: PIC X(n), where n is the number of bytes
data-area Any COBOL data name of the correct data type for the argument. You can specify the data type as one of the following:
  • 16-bit binary: PIC S9(4) COMP
  • 32-bit binary: PIC S9(8) COMP
  • Character string: PIC X(n), where n is the number of bytes

If the data type is unspecified, the data area can refer to an elementary or group item.
cvda A CICS-value data area (CVDA). For more information, see CICS-value data areas (CVDA).
pointer-ref or ptr-ref A pointer variable or a COBOL data name preceded by ADDRESS OF.
name Either of the following:
  • A character string in single quotation marks (that is, a nonnumeric literal). If this is shorter than the required length, CICS® pads the string with blanks to the right of the string.
  • A COBOL data area with a length equal to the length that is required for the name. If the data area is shorter than the required length, the excess characters are undefined.
label Any COBOL paragraph name or a section name.
hhmmss Any COBOL data name of the data type PIC S9(7) COMP-3 or, for input arguments only, by a decimal constant that COBOL can convert to the same data type. The value, whether input or output, is of the form 0HHMMSS+, where:
  • hh represents hours 00 through 99
  • mm represents minutes 00 through 59
  • ss represents seconds 00 through 59

In COBOL, you need not code the LENGTH option unless you want the program to read or write data of a length that is different from that of the referenced variable. To avoid truncation of data, compile COBOL programs with the NOTRUNC option.

Note: BLL cells and SERVICE RELOAD statements are not supported in the COBOL products that are used with TXSeries for Multiplatforms and IBM® CICS for Windows. Therefore, you must modify any COBOL programs that use BLL cells or SERVICE RELOAD statements before migrating. For further information about migrating, see Migration of CICS applications to and from TXSeries for Multiplatforms.