Changes in GC27-8715-02 (September 2023)

This topic lists the major changes that have been made to this document since Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® 6.3.

For a complete list of new and improved features in Enterprise COBOL for z/OS 6.3 and COBOL 6.3 with PTFs installed, see What is new in Enterprise COBOL for z/OS 6.3 and COBOL 6.3 with PTFs installed in the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS What's New.

An optional alternate logic path is introduced for VSAM files that use the ACCESS IS DYNAMIC mode. The alternate logic path uses a direct read-by-key request instead of a point to a record by key. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH56036 (AMODE 31) or PH56037 (AMODE 64) installed. (Changes at run time with Enterprise COBOL 6)

Changes in GC27-8715-02 (November 2022)

Updated the NUMCHECK compiler option to avoid generating runtime checking code of zoned-decimal senders in MOVE statements when the receiver is an alphanumeric data item and NUMCHECK(ZON(LAX)) is in effect. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH49715 installed.

The new CONDCOMP compiler option is introduced to control how conditional code will be displayed in the listing. For details, see Compiler option changes in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH49504 installed.

New suboptions DEC | HEX are added to the SOURCE option to control whether the generated sequence numbers for the listing of the source are in decimal or hexadecimal format. For details, see Compiler option changes in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH35643 installed.
The new INVDATA option replaces the deprecated ZONEDATA compiler option and provides users with fine-grained control over how the compiler generates code to handle USAGE DISPLAY and USAGE PACKED-DECIMAL data items that contain invalid data. For details, see Compiler option changes in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH37328 installed.

A new TUNE option is added that allows you to specify the architecture for which the executable program will be optimized. For details, see Compiler option changes in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH34804 installed.

Added General Availability (GA) and End of Support (EOS) dates for each COBOL compiler version in COBOL compiler versions, required runtimes, and support information.

Clarified that TRAP(ON) must be in effect when messages IGZ0268W and IGZ0269W have been issued in Taking an inventory of your applications.

A new option QSAMBUFFINITCHAR is added to the IGZUOPT module that allows you to control the initial character used for QSAM buffer initialization. For details, see Controlling initialization of QSAM buffer (IGZ4OPT). This support can be obtained in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with runtime LE PTF for APAR PH25917 installed.
Updated the references to PPA4 layout and WORKING-STORAGE location in WORKING-STORAGE SECTION changes.
Clarified the background of IBM® Report Writer, and added support details and version requirement in COBOL Report Writer Precompiler.

New suboptions LAX | STRICT are added to the INITCHECK option to control whether the compiler will issue warning messages for data items unless they are initialized on at least one, or on all, logical paths to a statement. For details, see Compiler option changes in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6. This change is introduced in Enterprise COBOL Version 6 Release 3 with PTF for APAR PH22581 installed.
Clarified INSPECT...TALLYING behavior changes in COBOL source code differences in Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6.
Provided details about migrating from PDS data sets to PDSE data sets in Move PDS data sets to PDSE data sets.
Clarified that programs compiled with TEST(...,NOSEPARATE) under CICS® require read access to DFHRPL libraries in DFHRPL setup differences with Enterprise COBOL 5 and 6.
Added a link to the COBOL Migration Information Portal, where you can find information about COBOL migration all in one place. For details, see COBOL compiler versions, required runtimes, and support information.
Updated IBM Developer for z Systems® to IBM Developer for z/OS in Accessibility features for Enterprise COBOL for z/OS.

The support for NOBLKSET and the conventional merge method for Enterprise COBOL V5 or later versions is obtained with runtime LE PTFs UI67483(V2R2)/UI67485(V2R3)/UI67486(V2R4) installed. For details, see Using DFSORT option NOBLKSET.
The use of passing a file-name to a subprogram with the USING phrase of the CALL statement is restored with PTF for APAR PH20724 installed. For details, see Use of file-name in CALL ... USING statement.
Added questions frequently asked before migration and their answers in FAQs before migration.

Added information about Enterprise COBOL V6.3 changes to the chapter Changes with Enterprise COBOL Version 6, and the changes mainly fall into the following topics:
- Prerequisite software level changes
- Compiler option changes
- Compiler behavior changes (listing changes, cataloged procedures changes, compiler phases in shared storage changes, CALL ... USING file-name changes)
- Changes that might affect vendor tools (PPA1 changes)