Choosing how to debug old COBOL programs

Programs compiled with the OS/VS COBOL compiler can be debugged by doing one of the following:

• Debug them as LangX COBOL programs.
• Convert them to the 1985 COBOL Standard level and compile them with the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® and OS/390® or COBOL for OS/390 & VM compiler. You can identify OS/VS COBOL programs in a load module, then use COBOL and CICS® Command Level Conversion Aid (CCCA) to convert the programs.

To convert an OS/VS COBOL program to 1985 COBOL Standard, do the following steps:

1. Identify the OS/VS COBOL programs in your load module.
2. Convert your OS/VS COBOL source by using COBOL and CICS Command Level Conversion Aid (CCCA). For instructions on using CCCA, see COBOL and CICS Command Level Conversion Aid for OS/390 & MVS & VM User's Guide.
3. Compile the new source with either the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS and OS/390 or COBOL for OS/390 & VM.

   You can combine steps 2 and 3 by using the Convert and Compile option of IBM® z/OS Debugger Utilities.

4. Debug the object module by using z/OS Debugger.

After you convert and debug your program, you can do one of the following options:

• Continue to use the OS/VS COBOL compiler. Every time you want to debug your program, you need to do the steps described in this section.
• Use the new source that was produced by the steps described in this section. You can compile the source and debug it without repeating the steps described in this section.

CCCA can use any level of COBOL source program as input, including VS COBOL II, COBOL for MVS & VM, and COBOL for OS/390 & VM programs that were previously compiled with the CMPR2 compiler option.