Compaq COBOL
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Appendix B
Compaq COBOL on Three Platforms: Compatibility and Migration

Compaq COBOL on its Alpha platforms (OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX) is based on and is highly compatible with Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX. However, there are differences, which are summarized in this appendix.1 Knowing the differences can help you develop COBOL applications that are compatible with other platforms, and can help you migrate your Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX applications to Compaq COBOL on an Alpha platform.

Note

1 Because this appendix is comparative and full of system-specific information, the diamond (<>) that elsewhere in the manual signals the end of system-specific sections is not used here except once, at the end of the appendix.

B.1 Compatibility Matrix

Table B-1 shows the current (as of the date of publication of this manual) state of compatibility for numerous features in Compaq COBOL on its three platforms. Always check the Release Notes for the latest developments if there is a question about the availability of a given feature.


Legend 
 X       = Supported 
 N       = Not supported 
 P       = Partially supported 

Table B-1 Cross-Platform Compatibility of COBOL Features
  OpenVMS VAX OpenVMS Alpha Tru64 UNIX
/CHECK=DECIMAL N X X
/CHECK=(PERFORM,BOUNDS) X X X
/STANDARD=V3 X P P
18-digit intermediates X X X
31-digit user items N X X
32-digit intermediates N X X
64-bit pointers N P X
ACCEPT/DISPLAY BLINK X X X
ACCEPT/DISPLAY WITH CONVERSION X X X
ACCEPT/DISPLAY, extended X X X
ACCEPT support for four-digit years X X X
Alignment: Alpha natural, and padding N X X
Alignment: VAX compatible X X X
ANSI-74 FILE STATUS support X X X
ANSI-85 REPORT WRITER X X X
ANSI-85/-89/-93 HIGH X X X
Arithmetic, standard N P P
CALL USING BY DESCRIPTOR X X N
Floating point: "E" literal X X X
Floating point: F,D floating X X N
Floating point: G floating N X N
Floating point: IEEE S,T floating N X X
FUNCTION ARGCOUNT X X N
Internationalization (PIC N, etc.) X X X
Invalid decimal data checking P P P
ISAM key checking X X X
ISAM keys, segmented X X X
ISAM READ PRIOR/START LESS N X X
Little-endian COMP data X X X
Locking: UCX/NFS support (nolocking) N N X
Locking: file sharing and record locking X X X
Oracle CDD/DML support X X N
Reformat X X X
RMS special registers X X N
Symbolic debugger support X X X
SYS$CURRENCY X X N
Table sort N X X
Tape handling X X X
Terminal source format X X X
Tools:      
DECset PCA, LSE/SCA support X X N
DECset PDF support X N N
FUSE support N N X
Transarc Encina (-tps) support N N X
VFC, print control files with X X N
VFC, print control files without N X X
X/Open N P P
ASSIGN TO N X X
Command line N X X
COMP-5/COMP-X N X X
DISPLAY ON EXCEPTION N X X
Environment variables N X X
File sharing / record locking N X X
LINE SEQUENTIAL N X X
RETURN-CODE N X X
SCREEN SECTION N X X
Y2K intrinsic functions X X X
       

B.2 Differences in Extensions and Other Features

Compaq COBOL on Alpha contains the following language extensions and other features that are not in Compaq COBOL on VAX:

Compaq COBOL on Alpha does not contain the following VAX features:

Compaq COBOL on Alpha includes the following:

B.3 Command-Line Qualifiers (Options or Flags)

Sections B.3.1 , B.3.2 , and B.3.3 compare the Compaq COBOL command-line qualifiers and flags on the three operating systems. For more information about Compaq COBOL command-line qualifiers on the OpenVMS Alpha or VAX operating system, invoke the online help facility: Type HELP COBOL at the OpenVMS system prompt. For more information on the flags, refer to the man page: Type man cobol at the Tru64 UNIX system prompt.

B.3.1 Qualifiers and Flags Shared by Compaq COBOL on Alpha and VAX

Table B-2 lists the OpenVMS command-line qualifiers shared by Compaq COBOL on Alpha and VAX and the equivalent flags on Tru64 UNIX.

Table B-2 Qualifiers Shared by Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha and VAX and Equivalent Tru64 UNIX Flags and Options
OpenVMS Qualifier Equivalent Tru64 UNIX Flag1
/ANALYSIS_DATA None
/ANSI_FORMAT -ansi
/AUDIT None
/CHECK 2 -check
/CONDITIONALS -conditionals
/COPY_LIST -copy_list
/CROSS_REFERENCE -cross_reference
/DEBUG -g
/DEPENDENCY_DATA None
/DIAGNOSTICS None
/FIPS 2 -fips 74
/FLAGGER -flagger
/LIST -list
/MACHINE_CODE -machine_code
/MAP -map
/NATIONALITY={JAPAN|US} -nationality {japan|us}
/OBJECT None
/SEQUENCE_CHECK -sequence_check
/STANDARD 2 -std
/STANDARD=MIA -std mia
/TRUNCATE -trunc
/WARNINGS -warn


1The flags are generally equivalent in features to the qualifiers, except that flags do not have a negative form.
2There are some differences in behavior and features between Compaq COBOL on Alpha and VAX. See the specific documentation for details.

/NATIONALITY={JAPAN|US}, -nationality japan

When /NATIONALITY=JAPAN or -nationality japan is specified, the yen sign (¥) is the default currency sign and symbol, and Japanese Language Support features are enabled. Also, in this case /NODIAGNOSTICS and /NOANALYSIS_DATA are specified implicitly.

Oracle CDD/Repository is not supported when /NATIONALITY=JAPAN is used.

When /NATIONALITY=US or -nationality us is specified on the compile command line, the dollar sign ($) is the default currency sign and symbol, and Japanese Language Support features are disabled.

/STANDARD=MIA, -std mia

If /STANDARD=MIA or -std mia are present on the compile command line, the compiler will issue informational diagnostics for those language elements that do not conform to the MIA specifications:

To receive the diagnostics, the -warn all flag, /WARNINGS=ALL qualifier, -warn information flag, or /WARNING=INFORMATION qualifier is required.

The default is NOMIA.

B.3.2 Alpha-Specific COBOL Qualifiers and Flags

Table B-3 lists the command-line qualifiers and flags for features specific to Compaq COBOL on Alpha and not available on VAX.

Table B-3 Compaq COBOL on Alpha Options Not Available on VAX
OpenVMS Alpha Qualifier Tru64 UNIX Flag
/ALIGNMENT -align
/ARCHITECTURE= keyword -arch keyword
/ARITHMETIC=NATIVE -arithmetic native
/ARITHMETIC=STANDARD -arithmetic standard
No equivalent qualifier -c
No equivalent qualifier -call_shared
/CHECK=DECIMAL -check decimal
/CONVERT=LEADING_BLANKS -convert leading_blanks
No equivalent qualifier -cord
No equivalent qualifier -D num
/DISPLAY_FORMATTED -display_formatted
No equivalent qualifier -feedback file
/FLOAT=D_FLOAT No equivalent flag
/FLOAT=G_FLOAT No equivalent flag
/FLOAT=IEEE_FLOAT No equivalent flag
/GRANULARITY= keyword -granularity keyword
/INCLUDE -include
No equivalent qualifier -K
No equivalent qualifier -L
No equivalent qualifier -L dir
No equivalent qualifier -l string
/MATH_INTERMEDIATE=CIT3 -math_intermediate cit3
/MATH_INTERMEDIATE=CIT4 -math_intermediate cit4
/MATH_INTERMEDIATE=FLOAT -math_intermediate float
No equivalent qualifier -names as_is
No equivalent qualifier -names lowercase
No equivalent qualifier -names uppercase
No equivalent qualifier -nolocking
No equivalent qualifier -non_shared
/OPTIMIZE=LEVEL= n -O n
No equivalent qualifier -p[ n]
No equivalent qualifier -relax_key_checking
/RESERVED_WORDS=[NO]200X -rsv [no]200x
/RESERVED_WORDS=[NO]FOREIGN_EXTENSIONS -rsv [no]foreign_extensions
/RESERVED_WORDS=[NO]XOPEN -rsv [no]xopen
No equivalent qualifier -shared
No equivalent qualifier -T [ num]
No equivalent qualifier -taso
/TIE No equivalent flag
No equivalent qualifier -tps
/TUNE= keyword -tune keyword
No equivalent qualifier -V
No equivalent qualifier -v
No equivalent qualifier -xref , -xref_stdout


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