DIGITAL Read Before Installing or Using Compaq COBOL Version 5.6 for OpenVMS VAX Systems AV-EE05R-TE June 1999 Please take a moment to read this preinstallation letter for Compaq COBOL Version 5.6 for OpenVMS VAX Systems (previously known as VAX COBOL and as DIGITAL VAX COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems). This preinstallation letter contains important information regarding: License Management Facility (LMF) Installation Compaq Services Release Notes Contents of the Media Kit Web Site Reader's Comments Please also take a moment to read the following description of a new manual now available to all Compaq COBOL customers on all platforms. DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Compatibility Guide (MPG) This new manual provides valuable information for users operat- ing on any of the following platforms: o OpenVMS VAX o OpenVMS Alpha o Compaq Tru64 UNIX (formerly DIGITAL UNIX) o Windows NT Alpha This manual (referred to as the MPG) provides application de- velopers, engineering and system managers, and COBOL users with concise, comparative information on maintaining existing ap- plications on their current platform(s) and migrating chosen applications to a new platform. © Digital Equipment Corporation. 1980, 1999. All Rights Reserved. The MPG includes an easy-to-reference summary of our COBOL compilers' capabilities for: o Developing, debugging, and maintaining COBOL programs o Compiling, linking, and running COBOL programs The MPG is also an immediate source for valuable programming tools such as: o The ASCII and EBCDIC table o A comparative table of COBOL command modifiers for all four platforms The order number of this manual is AA-RD7XA-TK. License Management Facility (LMF) Information Before you can install Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Sys- tems, an LMF PAK must be registered and loaded (see the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems Installation Guide). Before you can read documentation on the Layered Products Documenta- tion CD-ROM (CD) using Bookreader, a BOOKBROWSER PAK must be activated (see the CD-ROM User's Guide). To activate it, install the Bookshelf Navigation Utility (BNU). Note that in order to view the Acrobat readable .PDF file of the MPG manual, you must first save the file (as explained in the release notes in the BNU README directory). Installation Information Installing Compaq COBOL requires VAX/VMS Version 5.5-2 or Open- VMS VAX Version 6.1 or higher (VAX/VMS has been renamed to OpenVMS VAX). The Layered Products Software Binaries Compact Disc (Media CD) contains the installation save sets (kit), the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems Installation Guide, and related documenta- tion in ASCII and POSTSCRIPT form. Alternatively, you may have the TK50 or 9-track magtape media for Compaq COBOL Version 5.6 for OpenVMS VAX Systems; installation instructions are similar for the CD-ROM, TK50, and magtape. ________________________________________________________________ OpenVMS VAX Backup Save Set, Version_5.6_Kit_Component_________File,_and_Directory___________ Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX [COBOL056.KIT]COBOL056.A Systems [COBOL056.KIT]COBOL056.B [COBOL056.KIT]COBOL056.C Installation Guide, the Read [COBOL056.DOCUMENTATION]*.PS Before Installing [COBOL056.DOCUMENTATION]*.TXT letter you are now reading, and_SPD_________________________________________________________ 2 Compaq Services A variety of service and support options are available from Compaq. For more information, contact your local Compaq sales office. Release Notes Information The release notes for Compaq COBOL Version 5.6 contain installation-related instructions and a summary of: o Known problems o Restrictions o Problems corrected o Differences between this product and other Compaq COBOL products on Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT Alpha, and OpenVMS Alpha systems o RTL notes o Debugger notes To read the release notes before installing Compaq COBOL Ver- sion 5.6, invoke VMSINSTAL and follow the instructions in the installation guide. After you install Compaq COBOL, you can find the release notes in: SYS$HELP:COBOL056.RELEASE_NOTES Contents of the Media Kit o Bill of Materials (BOM) Please read the Bill of Materials (BOM) enclosed in this kit and check to see that all items listed are actually in your kit. If your kit is damaged or any items are missing, contact your Compaq representative. o Media The Media CD-ROM contains the Compaq COBOL directory and save sets. For information about installing Compaq COBOL, see the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems Installation Guide, which is on the Media CD-ROM. Alternatively, you may receive TK50 or magtape. 3 o CD User's Guide and Read First Letter If you get the Media CD-ROM, then the OpenVMS VAX Layered Products Compact Disc User's Guide and a "CD Read First" letter accompany the CD distribution kit. The CD User's Guide lists the directory names provided for each product on the Media CD. o Compaq COBOL Documentation You can order additional current Compaq COBOL manuals in- dividually. To provide our customers with convenient and durable lay-flat documentation, Compaq COBOL still produces these manuals unbound, ready for insertion into 8-1/2 by 11 inch binders (except for the Installation Guide and the MPG, which are 7 by 9 inch, bound books). Specify the following order numbers: AA-H632G-TK VAX COBOL User Manual AA-H631G-TE VAX COBOL Reference Manual AA-K026R-TE Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems In- stallation Guide, revised for Version 5.6 AA-RD7XA-TK DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Compatibility Guide (MPG) 99-07644-01 8-1/2 by 11 inch binder To order the complete Compaq COBOL documentation set in- cluding two binders, specify order number QA-099AA-GZ. This kit includes the VAX COBOL Reference Manual, the VAX COBOL User Manual, the DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Com- patibility Guide, the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems Installation Guide, and this letter. Bookreader-formatted files for these manuals are included on the Documentation CD (except for the MPG, which is on the CD in Acrobat .PDF format). To read the Compaq COBOL documents with Bookreader: 1. Invoke Bookreader; the initial or navigation Bookreader window appears. 2. Within the navigation window, select Programming Languages and Tools. 3. Select Compaq COBOL. 4. Select the appropriate Compaq COBOL document. The Software Product Description (SPD) provides an overview of the Compaq COBOL product and its features and describes the technical environment in which the product is supported. The SPD is provided on line on the Media CD. 4 Compaq COBOL Web Site Please look at our web page and give it a Bookmark. It has a wide variety of detailed information about the Compaq COBOL products, ranging (for example) from a compatibility matrix to Y2K information, and from product descriptions and release notes to the complete, Acrobat readable DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Comparison Guide. The URL is: http://www.openvms.digital.com/commercial/cobol/index.html Reader's Comments Compaq appreciates your comments. If you would like to comment about a Compaq COBOL manual, please send the manual title, order number, and your comments by one of the following methods: o Electronic Internet mail: cobol_docs@bookie.enet.dec.com o Fax: 603-884-0120 Attn: Languages Documentation, ZKO2-3/K35 o A letter sent to the following address: Compaq Computer Corporation Languages Documentation, ZKO2-3/K35 110 Spit Brook Road Nashua, NH 03062-2698 USA ___________________ [R] Compaq and the Compaq logo are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [TM] Bookreader, DEC, DIGITAL, OpenVMS, VAX, VAXcluster, VAX COBOL, VMS, and the DIGITAL logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. [R] UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other coun- tries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd. X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company Limited. [R] Acrobat Reader Copyright © 1987-1996 Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Display POSTSCRIPT and POSTSCRIPT are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incor- porated. 5