Developing COBOL applications

Use this information to help you code, translate, and compile COBOL programs that you want to use as CICS application programs.

High-level language and compiler support lists the COBOL compilers that are supported by CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS®, Version 5 Release 4 , and their service status on z/OS.

All references to COBOL in CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 5 Release 4 documentation imply the use of a supported Language Environment-conforming compiler such as Enterprise COBOL for z/OS , unless stated otherwise. The only COBOL compiler that has runtime support in CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 5 Release 4 , but is not Language Environment-conforming, is the VS COBOL II compiler.

See the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Migration Guide for information about migrating between COBOL compilers.

Support for VS COBOL II

In CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 5 Release 4 , applications compiled with a VS COBOL II compiler run using the Language Environment® runtime library routines. The runtime library provided with VS COBOL II is not supported.

VS COBOL II programs lists some restrictions and considerations associated with programs compiled with the VS COBOL II compiler.

The VS COBOL II compiler can adjust Language Environment runtime options to allow these applications to run correctly. For more information, see the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Migration Guide.

Support for OO COBOL

In CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 5 Release 4 , COBOL class definitions and methods (object-oriented COBOL) cannot be used. This restriction includes both Java™ classes and COBOL classes.

Modules compiled in earlier CICS releases with the OOCOBOL translator option cannot run in CICS Transaction Server for z/OS, Version 5 Release 4. The OOCOBOL translator option was used for the older SOM-based (System Object Manager-based) OO COBOL, and runtime support for this form of OO COBOL was withdrawn in z/OS V1.2. The newer Java-based OO COBOL, which is used in Enterprise COBOL, is not supported by the CICS translator.

If you have existing SOM-based OO COBOL programs, rewrite your OO COBOL into procedural (non-OO) COBOL in order to use the Enterprise COBOL compiler. Java-based OO COBOL is not compatible with SOM-based OO COBOL programs, and is not intended as a migration path for SOM-based OO COBOL programs.

Working storage

With compiler option DATA(24), the working storage is allocated below the 16 MB line. With compiler option DATA(31), the working storage is allocated above the 16 MB line.


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