z/OS Debugger evaluation of COBOL expressions

z/OS® Debugger interprets COBOL expressions according to COBOL rules. Some restrictions do apply. For example, the following restrictions apply when arithmetic expressions are specified:
  • Floating-point operands are not supported (COMP-1, COMP-2, external floating point, floating-point literals).
  • Only integer exponents are supported.
  • Intrinsic functions and user defined functions are not supported.
  • Windowed date-field operands are not supported in arithmetic expressions in combination with any other operands.
  • Index name qualification is not supported.

When arithmetic expressions are used in relation conditions, both comparand attributes are considered. Relation conditions follow the IF rules rather than the EVALUATE rules.

Only simple relation conditions are supported. Sign conditions, class conditions, condition-name conditions, switch-status conditions, complex conditions, and abbreviated conditions are not supported. When either of the comparands in a relation condition is stated in the form of an arithmetic expression (using operators such as plus and minus), the restriction concerning floating-point operands applies to both comparands. See IBM® z/OS Debugger Reference and Messages for a table that describes the allowable comparisons for the IF command. See the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Programming Guide for a description of the COBOL rules of comparison.

Windowed date fields are not supported in relation conditions.

Refer to the following topics for more information related to the material discussed in this topic.

  • Related references
  • IBM z/OS Debugger Reference and Messages