COBOL language feature and compiler option support

Supported COBOL language features and compiler options

The vast majority of COBOL language features are supported using IBM® Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS®.

Here is a list of key COBOL features that are supported in IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS Version 2.1.
  • ARITH(EXTEND | COMPAT)
  • CICS®
  • CICS HANDLE ABEND
  • CICS HANDLE AID
  • CICS language translator generated SERVICE LABEL statements
  • CMPR2
  • DB2®
  • DLL
  • ENTRY
  • IMS
  • I/O and debugging declaratives
  • NOOPTIMIZE, OPTIMIZE(STD | FULL)
  • NUMPROC(NOPFD | PFD | MIG)
  • Program segmentation1
  • RECURSIVE
  • RENT and NORENT
  • SORT and MERGE
  • SQL
  • SSRANGE
  • TEST2
  • THREAD
  • TRUNC(STD | BIN | OPT)
  • User written SERVICE LABEL statements
  • XML

Unsupported COBOL language features and compiler options

IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS Version 2.1 does not optimize program modules that use the following COBOL features:
  • ACCEPT FROM SYSIPT used in the LABEL declarative
  • CLASS
  • DISPLAY UPON SYSLST used in the LABEL declarative
  • DISPLAY UPON SYSPCH used in the LABEL declarative
  • ENTER
  • INVOKE
  • Java-based object oriented (OO) syntax
  • RERUN
1 Most cases of Program Segmentation are supported. The remaining unsupported case is when the source for the CSECT processed by ABO contains independent segments, altered GO TO statements and GO TO DEPENDING ON statements. In this case, the message BOZ1455W: unsupported feature "Program Complexity 176" found is issued and the CSECT is skipped.
2 Although programs compiled with TEST and any sub-option can be optimized by ABO, LE will not produce a formatted variable dump for the ABO generated module. LE will produce this message instead <prog> was not compiled with the SYM suboption of the TEST. A formatted variable dump cannot be produced.