Functional Description, Program Description

Functional Description

In order to describe the COBOL lan- guage, the current standard docu- ments divide it into a nucleus and eleven functional modules, of which five are optional.

COBOL85 V2.3 supports the follow- ing levels:

Nucleus	2	NUC	1,2
Sequential I-O	2	SEQ	1,2
Relative I-O	2	REL	0,2
Indexed I-O	2	INX	0,2
Inter-Program	2	IPC	1,2
Communication
Sort Merge	1	SRT	0,1
Source Text	2	STM	0,2
Manipulation
Optional modules:
Report Writer	1	RPW	0,1
Segmentation	2	SEG	0,2

Intrinsic Function

The remaining optional modules, Communication and Debug, are covered in BS2000/OSD by openUTM and AID respectively.

POSIX support:

COBOL85 supports the POSIX functionality and the POSIX file sys- tem in BS2000/OSD.

FIPS flagging with COBOL85:

Certain language elements and dif- ferent language levels can be identi- fied in the COBOL programs by means of flags.

COBOL85 structurizer:

The COBOL85 source text can be formatted into a clearer structure using the Beautifier and edited with graphical structure lists and cross- references by means of a Pretty Printer.

COBOL DML:

The COBOL DML (Data Manipula- tion Language) enables statements in COBOL programs to be integrated into the UDS/SQL database system.

ESQL-COBOL:

The ESQL-COBOL preprocessor implements the COBOL program interface to the UDS/SQL and SESAM/SQL database systems via embedded SQL. This enables SQL functions to be called directly from COBOL programs (separate soft- ware product).

Year 2000 support:

COBOL85 supports Year 2000 con- versions with extended programming interfaces with four-digit year for- mats:

∙With the ACCEPT statement DATE-ISO4 a 4-digit century date function in the form YYYY-MM-

DDNNN.

∙With COBOL Intrinsic Functions:

CURRENT-DATE, DATE-OF-INTEGER, DAY-OF-INTEGER, NTEGER-OF-DATE, INTEGER-OF-DAY and

WHEN-COMPILED.

∙With COBOL standard functions

DATE-TO-YYYYMMDD, DAY-TO-YYYYDDD and YEAR-TO-YYYY using the sliding windows technique to expand two-digit years into four-digit for- mat by means of a sliding century window.

∙With the COBOL SORT/MERGE statement with sliding window technique.

Program Description

The COBOL85 development system is a combination of the COBOL85 compiler and the Common Runtime Environment CRTE. CRTE is the common runtime environment for COBOL85 and C/C++.

The COBOL source program can be input to the COBOL85 compiler via files assigned to SYSDTA, via pro- gram libraries (PLAM) or from the POSIX file system. The output gen- erated by the compiler is an object module and compiler listings. The object modules are output to the temporary object module file (OMF), to program libraries (PLAM) or to the POSIX file system. The object mod- ules from one or more independent compilation runs must be linked to- gether with CRTE to form a load module.

When generating /390 format, object compatibility of BS2000/OSD applications is granted also for coming changes of architecture.

The compilation is controlled via the SDF interface, the COMOPT control facility or from the POSIX shell. Error texts are output in English or Ger- man (user option).

The syntax and semantics of a COBOL program can be checked by starting a compiler run without code generation.

The objects generated by COBOL85 are reusable. This saves on storage space and reduces the number of load calls.

The objects generated by COBOL85 can be run above the 16 MB bound- ary.

COBOL85 applications can make use of an address space of max. 2 Gbytes (data, modules, Level 01).

A COBOL program can process files based on different organization schemes. The form of organization selected by the user determines the access method used by the BS2000/OSD DMS or the POSIX file system. BS2000/OSD and POSIX files can be accessed simultane- ously in a COBOL program.

POSIX extensions:

COBOL85 V2.2 and higher addition- ally supports POSIX and XPG4 in- terfaces. These permit the COBOL85 compiler and COBOL85 applications to be called from the POSIX shell and programs and data to be stored in the POSIX file sys- tem.

XPG4 extensions:

ACCEPT and DISPLAY can be used for environment variable and com- mand line processing.

CALL BY VALUE and RETURN CODE can be used to communicate with C/C++ programs.

Linking with other COBOL85 pro- grams and with C/C++, Fortran, Pascal, PL/I, RPG3 and Assembler programs is possible via the com- mon run-time environment CRTE.

Communication with other COBOL85 programs and with the operating system is supported by means of user and task switches, job variables, command line pa- rameters and shell variables.

COBOL85 also generates symbol information to allow symbolic inter- active debugging using AID.

COBOL85 specifications

Fujitsu COBOL85 is a robust implementation of the COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language), designed to facilitate business programming on various platforms. As a derivative of the traditional COBOL language, COBOL85 adheres to the standards established in the 1985 ANSI COBOL specification, enriching developers' ability to write reliable and efficient business applications.

One of the main features of Fujitsu COBOL85 is its support for structured programming. This allows developers to create modular programs that are easier to maintain and understand. The language promotes clarity and organization, enabling programmers to break down complex tasks into manageable subroutines. This structured approach contributes significantly to enhanced program readability and aids in debugging processes.

Fujitsu COBOL85 also integrates file handling capabilities that facilitate interaction with multiple data formats and storage systems. The language provides extensive support for indexed and sequential files, enabling developers to efficiently manage large volumes of data. With its robust I/O operations, developers can manipulate files with ease, which is crucial for business applications that require high data processing capabilities.

Another notable characteristic is the comprehensive support for structured data types, allowing programmers to define user-defined data structures. This feature enhances data handling and enables more complex data manipulation, aligning with modern programming practices. Additionally, COBOL85 supports the use of object-oriented programming principles, providing mechanisms for encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. This versatility allows developers to apply modern design techniques and develop applications that are more scalable and adaptable to future requirements.

Fujitsu COBOL85 is designed to operate seamlessly across various platforms, including mainframes, servers, and workstations. This cross-platform functionality ensures that applications written in COBOL85 can be easily deployed in diverse computing environments, which is critical for organizations with varying IT infrastructure.

Furthermore, Fujitsu offers an integrated development environment (IDE) that enhances the coding experience. The IDE includes features such as syntax highlighting, debugging tools, and project management capabilities, making it easier for developers to produce high-quality code efficiently.

In summary, Fujitsu COBOL85 represents a powerful tool for businesses looking to develop reliable and maintainable applications. With its structured programming capabilities, robust file handling, support for modern programming principles, cross-platform compatibility, and efficient development environment, Fujitsu COBOL85 continues to be a vital asset in the world of business computing. Its enduring legacy underscores the ongoing relevance of COBOL in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.