Upgrading OS/VS COBOL source programs
There are differences between OS/VS COBOL language and Enterprise COBOL language that might require that you upgrade your programs.
This information will help you upgrade your OS/VS COBOL programs to Enterprise COBOL.
Besides the specific topics listed in this section, there has also been a change in tape user Label support. Support for the format 2 declarative syntax: USE...AFTER...LABEL PROCEDURE..., and optionally the syntax: GO TO MORE-LABELS was removed in Enterprise COBOL V5.
Also consider changes in reserved words as described in COBOL reserved word comparison.
Enterprise COBOL provides 85 COBOL Standard support. When upgrading your OS/VS COBOL programs to Enterprise COBOL, you must convert them to 85 COBOL Standard programs in order to compile them with Enterprise COBOL.
This section is not intended to be a syntax guide. You can find complete descriptions and coding rules for the relevant COBOL language elements in:
- VS COBOL for OS/VS Reference, GC26-3857-04
- Enterprise COBOL Language Reference, SC27-8713
Tips:
- VS COBOL for OS/VS Reference is no longer available from IBM.
- There are special considerations related to CICS®. OS/VS COBOL programs no longer run under CICS. Any OS/VS programs to be run under CICS must be upgraded to Enterprise COBOL.
- In the following sections, any reference to 68 COBOL Standard is a reference to the COBOL language supported by IBM Full American National Standard COBOL Version 4 (Program 5734-CB2), or to LANGLVL(1) of OS/VS COBOL (Program 5740-CB1).
- Information throughout this Migration Guide about OS/VS COBOL applies to OS/VS COBOL Release 2.4, with the latest service updates applied.