DIGITAL Read Before Installing or Using DIGITAL VAX COBOL Version 5.5 for OpenVMS VAX Systems AV-EE05Q-TE August 1998 Please take a moment to read this preinstallation letter for DIGITAL VAX COBOL Version 5.5 for OpenVMS VAX Systems (pre- viously known as VAX COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems). This preinstallation letter contains important information regarding: License Management Facility (LMF) Installation DIGITAL Services Release Notes Contents of the Media Kit Reader's Comments Please also take a moment to read the following announcement regarding a new documentation tool that will soon be available to all DIGITAL COBOL customers on all platforms. ANNOUNCEMENT DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Compatibility Guide (MPG) DIGITAL COBOL will soon offer a new manual that provides valu- able information for users operating on any of the following platforms: o OpenVMS VAX o OpenVMS Alpha o DIGITAL UNIX o Windows NT Alpha This manual, the DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview & Com- patibility Guide (also referred to as the MPG) will provide application developers, engineering and system managers, and COBOL users with information on: o Maintaining existing applications on their current plat- form(s) o Migrating chosen applications to a new platform ©Digital Equipment Corporation. 1998. All Rights Reserved. ___________________ [TM] Bookreader, DEC, DEC COBOL, DECwindows, OpenVMS, and the DIGITAL logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. The MPG will include an easy-to-reference summary of DIGITAL VAX COBOL's capabilities for: o Developing, debugging, and maintaining COBOL programs o Compiling, linking, and running COBOL programs o Modifying the COBOL command The MPG will also be an immediate source for valuable program- ming tools such as: o The ASCII and EBCDIC table o A comparative table of COBOL command modifiers for all four platforms For more information on obtaining your copy of the MPG, you can do either of the following: o Send electronic mail that includes the following: - Name (company, group, individual) - Regular U.S. Postal Service mailing address The email address to which you should send this information is: cobol_docs@bookie.enet.dec.com o Submit the ordering form that will be available at the DIGI- TAL VAX COBOL web site: http://www.openvms.digital.com/commercial/cobol License Management Facility (LMF) Information Before you can install DIGITAL VAX COBOL, an LMF PAK must be registered and loaded (see the DIGITAL VAX COBOL Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems). Before you can read documentation on the Layered Products Documentation CD-ROM (CD) using Bookreader, a BOOKBROWSER PAK must be activated (see the OpenVMS Alpha Layered Products Compact Disc User's Guide). Installation Information Installing DIGITAL VAX COBOL requires OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 or higher. The Layered Products Software Binaries Compact Disc (Media CD) contains the installation save sets (kit), the DIGITAL VAX COBOL Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems, and related docu- mentation in ASCII and POSTSCRIPT [R] form. Alternatively, you may have the Individual Product Offering (IPO) CD-ROM for DIGI- TAL VAX COBOL Version 5.5 for OpenVMS VAX Systems; installation instructions are identical for both CD-ROM packages. ___________________ [R] POSTSCRIPT is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. 2 ________________________________________________________________ OpenVMS VAX Backup Save Set, Version_5.5_Kit_Component_________File,_and_Directory___________ DIGITAL VAX COBOL for OpenVMS [COBOL055.KIT]COBOL055.A VAX Systems [COBOL055.KIT]COBOL055.B [COBOL055.KIT]COBOL055.C Installation Guide, the Read [COBOL055.DOCUMENTATION]*.PS Before Installing [COBOL055.DOCUMENTATION]*.TXT letter you are now reading, and_SPD_________________________________________________________ DIGITAL Services A variety of service and support options are available from DIGITAL. For more information, contact your local DIGITAL sales office. Release Notes Information The release notes for DIGITAL VAX COBOL Version 5.5 contain installation-related instructions and a summary of: o Known problems o Restrictions o Problems corrected o Differences between this product and DIGITAL VAX COBOL on DIGITAL UNIX[R] o RTL notes o Debugger notes To read the release notes before installing DIGITAL VAX COBOL, invoke VMSINSTAL and follow the instructions in the installation guide. After you install DIGITAL VAX COBOL, you can find the release notes in: SYS$HELP:COBOL055.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 DIGITAL representative. o Media The Media CD-ROM contains the DIGITAL VAX COBOL directory and save sets. For information about installing DIGITAL VAX COBOL, see the DIGITAL VAX COBOL Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems. ___________________ [R] UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd. X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company Limited. 3 o CD User's Guide and Read First Letter 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 DIGITAL VAX COBOL Documentation You can order additional current DIGITAL VAX COBOL manuals individually. To provide our customers with reliably lay-flat documentation, DIGITAL VAX COBOL still produces these manuals unbond, ready for insertion into 8-1/2 by 11 inch binders. Specify the following order numbers: AA-H632F-TK VAX COBOL User Manual AA-H631F-TE VAX COBOL Reference Manual AA-K026P-TE DIGITAL VAX COBOL Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems 99-07644-01 8-1/2 by 11 inch binder To order the complete DIGITAL VAX COBOL documentation set including two binders, specify order number QA-099AA-GZ. This kit includes the VAX COBOL Reference Manual, the VAX COBOL User Manual, the DIGITAL VAX COBOL Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems, and this letter. Bookreader-formatted files for these manuals are included on the Documentation CD. To read the DIGITAL VAX COBOL Version 5.5 documents with Bookreader: 1. Invoke Bookreader; the initial or navigation Bookreader window appears 2. Within the navigation window, select the topic "Programming Languages and Tools" 3. Select the DIGITAL VAX COBOL topic 4. Select the appropriate DIGITAL VAX COBOL document The Software Product Description (SPD) provides an overview of the DIGITAL VAX COBOL product and its features and de- scribes the technical environment in which the product is supported. The SPD is provided on line on the Media CD. Reader's Comments DIGITAL appreciates your comments. If you would like to comment about a DIGITAL VAX 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: Digital Equipment Corporation Languages Documentation, ZKO2-3/K35 110 Spit Brook Road Nashua, NH 03062-2698, USA 4