COMPAQ Read Before Installing or Using Compaq COBOL Version 2.6 for OpenVMS Alpha Systems AV-PXE8J-TE August 1999 Please take a moment to read the following information about Compaq COBOL Version 2.6 for OpenVMS Alpha Systems, including the following description of a new manual. 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 developers, engineering and system managers, and COBOL users with concise, comparative information on: o Maintaining existing applications on their current plat- form(s) o Migrating chosen applications to a new platform The MPG includes an easy-to-reference summary of our 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. © Digital Equipment Corporation. 1994, 1999. All Rights Reserved. License Management Facility (LMF) Information Before you can install Compaq COBOL, an LMF PAK must be regis- tered and loaded (see the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems Installation Guide). 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 Compaq COBOL requires OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2 or higher. The Layered Products Software Binaries Compact Disc (Media CD) contains the installation save sets (kit), the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems Installation Guide, and related documenta- tion in ASCII and POSTSCRIPT form. ________________________________________________________________ Version_2.6_Kit_Component_________Save_Set,_File,_or_Directory__ Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha [COBOL026.KIT]COBOL026.A Systems [COBOL026.KIT]COBOL026.B Compaq COBOL RTL for OpenVMS [COBOL026.KIT]COBOLRTL026.A Alpha Systems Installation Guide, this Read [COBOL026.DOCUMENTATION]*.PS Before Installing [COBOL026.DOCUMENTATION]*.TXT letter,_and_SPD_________________________________________________ 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 2.6 contain installation-related instructions and a summary of known prob- lems, restrictions, problems corrected, RTL notes, and debugger notes, as well as a summary of differences between this product and Compaq COBOL on Compaq Tru64 UNIX, Windows NT Alpha, and OpenVMS VAX. To read the release notes before installing Compaq COBOL, invoke VMSINSTAL and follow the instructions in the in- stallation guide. After you install Compaq COBOL, the release notes will be located in: SYS$HELP:COBOL026.RELEASE_NOTES The RTL shipped on the Version 2.6 kit for Compaq COBOL on OpenVMS Alpha is V2.6-470. The number referenced in the release notes is V2.6-467. The V2.6-467 RTL had a problem (involving READ PRIOR with RFAs exceeding a signed word) that is corrected in V2.6-470. 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, call 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 Alpha Systems Installation Guide. o CD User's Guide and Read First Letter The OpenVMS Alpha 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 The DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview and Compatibility Guide is a new manual. The Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems Installation Guide has been revised for this release. The other manuals have not been revised. Manual files for- matted for Bookreader (or, in the case of the new MPG, an Acrobat readable .PDF file) are included on the Documentation CD. If you purchased the DBMS Database Programming option, the kit includes the DIGITAL COBOL DBMS Database Programming manual, which fits into the User Manual binder. To order additional current Compaq COBOL manuals individually (and ready for insertion into an 8-1/2 by 11 inch binder that you supply), specify the following order numbers: AA-Q2G1E-TK DIGITAL COBOL User Manual AA-Q2G0E-TK DIGITAL COBOL Reference Manual AA-Q6PGB-TE DIGITAL COBOL DBMS Database Programming AA-PXE7H-TE Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems Installation Guide AA-RD7XA-TK DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview and Compatibility Guide To order one 8-1/2 by 11 inch binder, specify order number 99-07644-01. To order the complete Compaq COBOL documentation set includ- ing two binders, specify order number QA-0JUAA-GZ.2.6. This kit includes the DIGITAL COBOL Reference Manual, the DIGITAL COBOL User Manual, the Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems Installation Guide, the DIGITAL COBOL Multiplatform Overview and Compatibility Guide, and this letter. To read the Compaq COBOL documents with Bookreader: 1. Invoke Bookreader; the initial or navigation Bookreader window appears. 2. Within the navigation window, select the topic "Program- ming Languages and Tools." 3. Select the Compaq COBOL topic. 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. 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 Y2K suggestions to a com- patibility matrix, and from product descriptions and release notes to the complete, Acrobat readable DIGITAL COBOL Multiplat- form Overview and Compatibility 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. Alpha, Bookreader, DBMS, DEC, DIGITAL, DIGITAL UNIX, OpenVMS, VAX, and the DIGITAL logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. 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 Incorporated. 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. Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.