Using COPY statements

The compiler (or assembler) reads the translated version of your program as input, rather than your original source. This affects what you see on your compiler (assembler) listing. It also means that COPY statements in your source code must not bring in untranslated CICS® commands, because it is too late for the translator to convert them.

About this task

If you are using a separate translator and the source within any copybook contains CICS commands, you must translate it separately before translation and compilation of the program in which it will be included. If you are using the integrated CICS translator and the source within any copybook contains CICS commands, you do not have to translate it separately before compilation of the program in which it will be included.

The external program must always be passed through the CICS translator, or compiled with a compiler that has an integrated CICS translator, even if all the CICS commands are in included copybooks.