Gnucobol

GnuCOBOL Manual
for GnuCOBOL 3.2-dev
Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Brian Tiffin, Simon Sobisch

Edition 3.2-dev
Updated for GnuCOBOL 3.2-dev
9 October 2022
GnuCOBOL (formerly OpenCOBOL) is a free COBOL compiler and runtime. cobc translates
COBOL source to executable using intermediate C together with a designated C compiler and
linker. cobcrun is a module loader to run generated modules, libcob provides the necessary
runtime.
This manual corresponds to GnuCOBOL 3.2-dev.

Copyright c 2002-2012, 2014-2022 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Written by Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Brian Tiffin, Simon Sobisch.
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this manual provided the copy-
right notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this manual under the condi-
tions for verbatim copying, provided that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under
the terms of a permission notice identical to this one.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual into another language,
under the above conditions for modified versions, except that this permission notice may be
stated in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation.
i
Table of Contents
1 Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Hello, world! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Compile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1 Compiler options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1.1 Help options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1.2 Build target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1.3 Source format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1.4 Warning options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.5 Configuration options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.1.6 Listing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1.7 Debug switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.1.8 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2 Multiple sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.1 Static linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.2 Dynamic linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2.2.1 Driver program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2.2.2 Compiling programs separately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2.3 Building library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2.4 Using library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3 C interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3.1 Writing Main Program in C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3.2 Static linking with COBOL programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.3.3 Dynamic linking with COBOL programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.3.4 Static linking with C programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.3.5 Dynamic linking with C programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.3.6 Redirecting output to a (FILE *). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Customize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.1 Customizing compiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.2 Customizing library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4 Optimize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.1 Optimize options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.2 Optimize call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3 Optimize binary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5 Debug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.1 Debug options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.2 Source Level Debugger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.3 Memory Dumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.4 Tracing execution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6 Non-standard extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.1 SELECT ASSIGN TO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.1.1 Literal file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ii
6.1.2 <variable> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.1.3 <environment variable> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.2 Indexed file packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.3 Extended ACCEPT statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.3.1 LINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.2 COLUMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.3 AUTO-SKIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.4 BACKGROUND-COLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.5 BELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.6 BLINK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.7 FOREGROUND-COLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.8 LOWLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.9 PROMPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.10 PROTECTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3.11 SIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.3.12 UPDATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.3.13 ON EXCEPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.3.14 NOT ON EXCEPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4 ACCEPT special keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4.1 Arrow keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4.2 Backspace key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4.3 Delete keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4.4 End key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.4.5 Home key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.4.6 Insert key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.4.7 Tab keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.5 Extended DISPLAY statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.5.1 BELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.5.2 BLANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.5.3 ERASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.5.4 SIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.5.5 Figurative Constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.6 CONTENT-LENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.7 CONTENT-OF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7 System Routines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
7.1 CBL GC GETOPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
7.2 CBL GC HOSTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7.3 CBL GC NANOSLEEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7.4 CBL GC FORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7.5 CBL GC WAITPID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Appendix A Compiler cobc options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

A.1 Common Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
A.2 Warning options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
A.3 Compiler options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
A.4 Compiler dialect configuration options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Appendix B Reserved Words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

B.1 Common reserved words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
B.2 Internal registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
iii
Appendix C Intrinsic Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Appendix D System routines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Appendix E System names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

E.1 System names: device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
E.2 System names: feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
E.3 System names: switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Appendix F Exception names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Appendix G Compiler Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Appendix H Module loader cobcrun options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Appendix I Runtime configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

I.1 General instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
I.2 General environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
I.3 File I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
I.4 Screen I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
I.5 Report I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Appendix J GNU Free Documentation License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

1
1 Getting started
1.1 Hello, world!

This is a sample program that displays “Hello, world!”:
---- hello.cob -------------------------
* Sample COBOL program
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. hello.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
DISPLAY "Hello, world!".
STOP RUN.
----------------------------------------
The compiler, cobc, is executed as follows:

$ cobc -x hello.cob
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
The executable file name (hello in this case) is determined by removing the extension from the
source file name.
You can specify the executable file name by specifying the compiler option -o as follows:
$ cobc -x -o hello-world hello.cob
$ ./hello-world
Hello, world!
The program can be written in a more modern style, with free format code, inline comments,
the GOBACK verb and an optional END-DISPLAY terminator:
---- hellonew.cob ----------------
*> Sample GnuCOBOL program
identification division.
program-id. hellonew.
procedure division.
display
"Hello, new world!"
end-display
goback.
----------------------------------
To compile free-format code, you must use the compiler option -free.
$ cobc -x -free hellonew.cob
$ ./hellonew
Hello, new world!
2
2 Compile
This chapter describes how to compile COBOL programs using GnuCOBOL.
2.1 Compiler options

The compiler cobc accepts the options described in this section. The compiler arguments follow
the general syntax cobc options file [file ...]. A complete list of options can be displayed
by using the option --help.
2.1.1 Help options

The following switches display information about the compiler:
--help, -h
Display help screen (see Appendix A [Appendix A], page 34). No further actions
will be taken.
--version, -V
Display compiler version, author package date and executable build date. No further
actions will be taken.
-dumpversion
Display internal compiler version (plain string of numbers). No further actions will
be taken.
--info Display build information along with the default and current compiler configura-
tions. No further actions will be taken except for further display options.
--verbose, -v
Verbosely display the programs invoked during compilation and additional diagnos-
tics. Use multiple times to increase the verbosity.
--list-reserved
Display reserved words (see Appendix B [Appendix B], page 46). A Yes/No output
shows if the word is supported1 , context sensitive and its aliases. The given options
for reserved words specified for example by option -std=dialect will be taken into
account. No further actions will be taken except for further display options.
--list-intrinsics
Display intrinsic functions (see Appendix C [Appendix C], page 66). A Y/N field
shows if the function is implemented. No further actions will be taken except for
further display options.
--list-system
Display system routines (see Appendix D [Appendix D], page 69). No further actions
will be taken except for further display options.
--list-mnemonics
Display mnemonic names (see Appendix E [Appendix E], page 71). No further
actions will be taken except for further display options.
--list-exceptions
Display exception names (see Appendix F [Appendix F], page 72). No further
actions will be taken except for further display options.
1
Support may be partial or complete.
Chapter 2: Compile 3
2.1.2 Build target

The compiler cobc treats files like *.cob, *.cbl as COBOL source code, *.c as C source code,
*.o as object code, *.i as preprocessed code and *.so as dynamic modules and knows how to
handle such files in the generation, compilation, and linking steps.
The special input name - takes input from stdin which is assumed to be COBOL source,
and uses a default output name of a.out (or a.so/c/o/i, selected as appropriate) for the build
type.
By default, the compiler builds a dynamically loadable module.
The following options specify the target type produced by the compiler:
-E Preprocess only: compiler directives are executed, comment lines are removed and
COPY statements are expanded. The output is saved in file *.i.
-C Translation only. COBOL source files are translated into C files. The output is
saved in file *.c.
-S Compile only. Translated C files are compiled by the C compiler to assembler code.
The output is saved in file *.s.
-c Compile and assemble. This is equivalent to cc -c. The output is saved in file *.o.
-m Compile, assemble, and build a dynamically loadable module (i.e., a shared library).
The output is saved in file *.so.2 This is the default behaviour.
-b Compile, assemble, and combine all input files into a single dynamically loadable
module. Unless -o is also used, the output is saved using the first filename as *.so.
-x Include the main function in the output, creating an executable image. The main
entry point being the first program in the file.
This option takes effect at the translation stage. If you give this option with -C,
you will see the main function at the end of the generated C file.
-j, -job, -j=args, -job=args
Run job after compilation. Either from executable with -x, or with cobcrun when
compiling a module. Optional arguments args, if given, are passed to the program
or module command line.
-I directory
Add directory to copy/include search path.
-L directory
Add directory to library search path.
-l lib Link the library lib.
-D define Pass define to the COBOL compiler.
-o file Place the output into file.
2.1.3 Source format

GnuCOBOL supports fixed, free, Micro Focus’ Variable, X/Open Free-form, ICOBOL xCard
and Free-form, ACUCOBOL-GT Terminal, and COBOLX source formats. The default for-
mat is the fixed format. This can be overridden either by the >>SOURCE [FORMAT] [IS]
{FIXED|FREE|COBOL85|VARIABLE|XOPEN|XCARD|CRT|TERMINAL|COBOLX} directive, or by one of
the following options:
-free, -F, -fformat=free
Free format. The program-text area starts in column 1 and continues till the end
of line (effectively 255 characters in GnuCOBOL).
2
The extension varies depending on your host.
-fixed, -fformat=fixed
Fixed format. Source code is divided into: columns 1-6, the sequence number area;
column 7, the indicator area; columns 8-72, the program-text area; and columns
72-80 as the reference area.3
-fformat=cobol85
Fixed format with enforcements on the use of Area A.
-fformat=variable
Micro Focus’ Variable format. Identical to the fixed format above except for the
program-text area which extends up to column 250 instead of 72.
-fformat=xopen
X/Open Free-form format. The program-text area may start in column 1 unless
an indicator is present, and lines may contain up to 80 characters. Indicator for
debugging lines is D instead of D or d.
-fformat=xcard
ICOBOL xCard format. Variable format with right margin set at column 255 instead
of 250.
-fformat=crt
ICOBOL Free-form format (CRT). Similar to the X/Open format above, with lines
containing up to 320 characters and single-character debugging line indicators (D or
d).
-fformat=terminal
ACUCOBOL-GT Terminal format. Similar to the CRT format above, with indicator
for debugging lines being \D instead of D or d. This format is mostly compatible
with VAX COBOL terminal source format.
-fformat=cobolx
COBOLX format. This format is similar to the CRT format above, except that the
indicator area is always present in column 1; the program-text area starts in column
2 and extends up to the end of the record. Lines may contain up to 255 characters.
Note that with source formats XOPEN, CRT, TERMINAL, and COBOLX, missing spaces are not
inserted within continued alphanumeric literals that are truncated before the right margin.
Area A denotes the source code that spans between margin A and margin B, and Area B
spans from the latter to the end of the record. Area A enforcement checks the contents of
Area A, and reports any item that does not belong to the correct Area: this feature helps in
developping COBOL programs that are portable to actual mainframe environments.
In general, division, section, and paragraph names must start in Area A. In the DATA
DIVISION, level numbers 01 and 77, must also start in Area A. In the PROCEDURE DIVISIONs,
statements and separator periods must fit within Area B. Every source format listed above may
be subject to Area A enforcement, except FIXED and FREE.
Note that Area A enforcement enables recovery from missing periods between paragraphs
and sections.
2.1.4 Warning options

Warnings are diagnostic messages that report constructions that are not inherently erroneous
but that are risky or suggest there may have been an error.
3
Historically, fixed format was based on 80-character punch cards.
The following options do not enable specific warnings but control the kinds of diagnostics
produced by cobc.
-fsyntax-only
Check Check the code for syntax errors, but don’t do anything beyond that.
-fmax-errors=n
Limits the maximum number of error messages to n, at which point cobc bails out
rather than attempting to continue processing the source code. If n is 0, there is
no limit on the number of error messages produced. If -Wfatal-errors is also
specified, then -Wfatal-errors takes precedence over this option.
-w Inhibit all warning messages.
-Werror Make all warnings into errors.
-Werror=warning
Make the specified warning into an error. The specifier for a warning is appended;
for example -Werror=obsolete turns the warnings controlled by -Wobsolete into
errors. This switch takes a negative form, to be used to negate -Werror for specific
warnings; for example -Wno-error=obsolete makes -Wobsolete warnings not be
errors, even when -Werror is in effect.
The warning message for each controllable warning includes the option that controls
the warning. That option can then be used with -Werror= and -Wno-error= as
described above. (Printing of the option in the warning message can be disabled
using the -fno-diagnostics-show-option flag.)
Note that specifying -Werror=foo automatically implies -Wfoo. However, -Wno-
error=foo does not imply anything.
-Wfatal-errors
This option causes the compiler to abort compilation on the first error occurred
rather than trying to keep going and printing further error messages.
You can request many specific warnings with options beginning with ’-W’, for example
-Wimplicit-define to request warnings on implicit declarations. Each of these specific warn-
ing options also has a negative form beginning ’-Wno’ to turn off warnings; for example, -Wno-
implicit-define. This manual lists only one of the two forms, whichever is not the default.
Some options, such as -Wall and -Wextra, turn on other options, such as -Wtruncate. The
combined effect of positive and negative forms is that more specific options have priority over
less specific ones, independently of their position in the command-line. For options of the same
specificity, the last one takes effect.
-Wall Enable all the warnings about constructions that some users consider questionable,
and that are easy to avoid (or modify to prevent the warning).
The list of warning flags turned on by this option is shown in --help.
-Wextra, -W
Enable every possible warning that is not dialect specific. This includes more infor-
mation than -Wall would normally provide.
(This option used to be called -W. The older name is still supported, but the newer
name is more descriptive.)
-Wwarning
Enable single warning warning.
-Wno-warning
Disable single warning warning.
-Warchaic
Warn if archaic features are used, such as continuation lines or the NEXT SENTENCE
statement.
-Wcall-params
Warn if non-01/77-level items are used as arguments in a CALL statement. This is
not set with -Wall.
-Wcolumn-overflow
Warn if text after column 72 in FIXED format. This is not set with -Wall.
-Wconstant
Warn inconsistent constant
-Wimplicit-define
Warn if implicitly defined data items are used.
-Wlinkage
Warn dangling LINKAGE items. This is not set with -Wall.
-Wobsolete
Warn if obsolete features are used.
-Wparentheses
Warn about any lack of parentheses around AND within OR.
-Wredefinition
Warn about incompatible redefinitions of data items.
-Wstrict-typing
Warn about type mismatch strictly.
-Wterminator
Warn about the lack of scope terminator END-XXX. This is not set with -Wall.
-Wtruncate
Warn on possible field truncation. This is not set with -Wall.
-Wunreachable
Warn if statements are unreachable. This is not set with -Wall.
-Wadditional
Enable warnings that don’t have an own warning flag.
2.1.5 Configuration options

The compiler uses many dialect specific options. These may be set via a defined dialect by
-std=, a configuration file by -conf= or by using the single dialect flags directly.
See Appendix G [Compiler Configuration], page 76, and config/*.conf.
Note concerning the defined dialects: The GnuCOBOL compiler tries to limit both the
feature-set and reserved words to the specified compiler when the "strict" dialects are used.
COBOL sources compiled with these dialects are therefore likely to compile with the specified
compiler and vice versa: sources that were compiled on the specified compiler should compile
without any issues with GnuCOBOL.
With the "non-strict" dialects GnuCOBOL will activate the complete feature-set where it doesn’t
directly conflict with the specified dialect, including reserved words. COBOL sources compiled
with these dialects therefore may work only with GnuCOBOL. COBOL sources may need a
change because of reserved words in GnuCOBOL, otherwise offending words word-1 and word-2
may be removed by -fno-reserved=word-1,word-1.
The dialects COBOL-85, X/Open COBOL, COBOL 2002 and COBOL 2014 are always
"strict".
-std=dialect
Compiler uses the given dialect to determine certain compiler features and warnings.
-std=default
GnuCOBOL dialect, supporting many of the COBOL 2002 and COBOL 2014 fea-
tures, many extensions found in other dialects and its own feature-set
-std=cobol85
COBOL-85 without any extensions other than the amendment Intrinsic Function
Module (1989), source compiled with this dialect is likely to compile with most
COBOL compilers
-std=xopen
X/Open COBOL (based on COBOL-85) without any vendor extensions, source
compiled with this dialect is likely to compile with most COBOL compilers; will warn
items that "should not be used in a conforming X/Open COBOL source program"
-std=cobol2002, -std=cobol2014
COBOL 2002 / COBOL 2014 without any vendor extensions, use -Warchaic and
-Wobsolete if archaic/obsolete features should be flagged
-std=ibm-strict, -std=ibm
IBM compatible
-std=mvs-strict, -std=mvs
MVS compatible
-std=mf-strict, -std=mf
Micro Focus compatible
-std=bs2000-strict, -std=bs2000
BS2000 compatible
-std=acu-strict, -std=acu
ACUCOBOL-GT compatible
-std=rm-strict, -std=rm
RM/COBOL compatible
-std=realia-strict, -std=realia
CA Realia II compatible
-std=gcos-strict, -std=gcos
GCOS compatible
-freserved-words=dialect
Compiler uses the given dialect to determine the reserved words.
-conf=<file>
User-defined dialect configuration.
You can override each single configuration entry by using compiler configuration options on
the command line.
Examples:
-frelax-syntax-checks
-frenames-uncommon-levels=warning
-fnot-reserved=CHAIN,SCREEN
-ftab-width=4
See Appendix A [Compiler cobc options], page 34.
2.1.6 Listing options

-t=file Generate and place the standard print listing into file.
-T=file Generate and place a wide print listing into *file.
--tlines=lines
Specify lines per page in print listing, default = 55. Set to zero for no additional
page breaks.
-ftsymbols
Generate symbol table in listing.
-fno-theader
Suppress all headers from listing while keeping page breaks.
-fno-tmessages
Suppress warning and error summary from listing.
-fno-tsource
Suppress actual source from listing (for example to only produce the cross-reference).
-P, -Pdirectory, -P=file
Generate and place a preprocessed listing (old format) into filename.lst,
directory/filename.lst, file.
-Xref
-X Generate cross reference in the listing.
Here is an example program listing with the options -t -ftsymbols:
GnuCOBOL 3.0.0 test.cbl Mon May 14 10:23:45 2018 Page 0001
LINE PG/LN A...B...........................................................
000001 IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

000002 PROGRAM-ID. prog.
000003 ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
000004 CONFIGURATION SECTION.
000005 DATA DIVISION.
000006 WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
000007 COPY ’values.cpy’.
000001C 78 I VALUE 20.
000002C 78 J VALUE 5000.
000003C 78 M VALUE 5.
000008 01 SETUP-REC.
000009 05 FL1 PIC X(04).
000010 05 FL2 PIC ZZZZZ.
000011 05 FL3 PIC 9(04).
000012 05 FL4 PIC 9(08) COMP.
000013 05 FL5 PIC 9(04) COMP-4.
000014 05 FL6 PIC Z,ZZZ.99.
000015 05 FL7 PIC S9(05) SIGN LEADING SEPARATE.
000016 05 FL8 PIC X(04).
000017 05 FL9 REDEFINES FL8 PIC 9(04).
000018 05 FLA.
000019 10 FLB OCCURS I TIMES.
000020 15 FLC PIC X(02).
000021 10 FLD PIC X(20).
000022 05 FLD1 PIC X(100).
000023 05 FLD2 OCCURS M TO J TIMES DEPENDING ON FL5.
000024 10 FILLER PIC X(01).
000025 05 FLD3 PIC X(3).
000026 05 FLD4 PIC X(4).
000027 PROCEDURE DIVISION.
000028 STOP RUN.

The first part of the listing lists the program text. If the program text is a COPY the line
number reflects the COPY line number and is appended with a ’C’.
When the wide list option -T is specified, the SEQUENCE columns (for fixed-form reference-
format) are included in the listing.
The second part of the listing file is the listing of the Symbol Table:
GnuCOBOL 3.0.0 test.cbl Mon May 14 10:23:45 2018 Page 0002
SIZE TYPE LVL NAME PICTURE
5204 GROUP 01 SETUP-REC

0004 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL1 X(04)
0005 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL2 ZZZZZ
0004 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL3 9(04)
0004 NUMERIC 05 FL4 9(08) COMP
0002 NUMERIC 05 FL5 9(04) COMP
0008 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL6 Z,ZZZ.99
0006 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL7 S9(05)
0004 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FL8 X(04)
0004 ALPHANUMERIC-R 05 FL9 9(04)
0060 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FLA
0040 ALPHANUMERIC 10 FLB OCCURS 20
0002 ALPHANUMERIC 15 FLC X(02)
0020 ALPHANUMERIC 10 FLD X(20)
0100 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FLD1 X(100)
5000 ALPHANUMERIC 05 FLD2 OCCURS 5 TO 5000
0001 ALPHANUMERIC 10 FILLER X(01)
If the symbol redefines another variable the TYPE is marked with ’R’. If the symbol is an
array the OCCURS phrase is in the PICTURE field.
The last part of the listing file is the summary of warnings an error in the compilation group:
0 warnings in compilation group
2 errors in compilation group
2.1.7 Debug switches

-g Produce C debugging information in the output.
--debug, -d
Enable all run-time error checks.
-fec=exception-name, -fno=ec=exception-name
Enable/disable specified exception checks, see Appendix F [Exception Names],
page 72.
-fsource-location
Generate source location code (implied by --debug, -g and -fec); --debug implies
-fec=ALL.
-fstack-check
Enable PERFORM stack checking (implied by --debug or -g).
-ftrace Generate trace code (log executed procedures, if tracing is enabled).
-ftraceall
Generate trace code (log executed procedures and statements, if tracing is enabled).
-fdebugging-line
Enable debugging lines (D in indicator column; >>D directive).
-O Enable optimization of code size and execution speed. See your C compiler docu-
mentation, for example man gcc for details.
-O2 Optimize even more.
-Os Optimize for size. Optimizer will favour code size over execution speed.
-fnotrunc
Do not truncate binary fields according to PICTURE.
2.1.8 Miscellaneous
-ext <extension>
Add default file extension.
-fmfcomment
Treat lines with * or / in column 1 as comment (fixed-form reference-format only).
-acucomment
Treat | as an inline comment marker.
-fsign=ASCII
Numeric display sign ASCII (default on ASCII machines).
-fsign=EBCDIC
Numeric display sign EBCDIC (default on EBCDIC machines).
-fintrinsics=[ALL|intrinsic function name(,name,...)]
Allow use of all or specific intrinsic functions without FUNCTION keyword.
Note: defining this within your source with CONFIGURATION SECTION. REPOSITORY.
is preferred.
-ffold-copy=LOWER
Fold COPY subject to lower case (default no transformation).
-ffold-copy=UPPER
Fold COPY subject to upper case (default no transformation).
-save-temps(=<dir>)
Save intermediate files (by default, in current directory).
-fimplicit-init
Do automatic initialization of the COBOL runtime system.
2.2 Multiple sources

This section describes how to compile a program from multiple source files.
This section also describes how to build a shared library that can be used by any COBOL
program and how to use external libraries in COBOL programs.
2.2.1 Static linking

The easiest way of combining multiple files is to compile them into a single executable.
One way is to compile all the files in one command:
$ cobc -x -o prog main.cob subr1.cob subr2.cob
Another way is to compile each file with the option -c, and link them at the end. The
top-level program must be compiled with the option -x.
$ cobc -c subr1.cob
$ cobc -c subr2.cob
$ cobc -c -x main.cob
$ cobc -x -o prog main.o subr1.o subr2.o
You can link C routines as well using either method:
$ cobc -o prog main.cob subrs.c
or
$ cobc -c subrs.c
$ cobc -c -x main.cob
$ cobc -x -o prog main.o subrs.o
Any number of functions can be contained in a single C file.
The linked programs will be called dynamically; that is, the symbol will be resolved at run
time. For example, the following COBOL statement
CALL "subr" USING X.
will be converted into equivalent C code like this:
int (*func)() = cob_resolve("subr");
if (func != NULL)
func (X);
With the compiler option -fstatic-call, more efficient code will be generated:
subr(X);
Please notice that this option only takes effect when the called program name is in a literal
(like CALL "subr"). With a data name (like CALL SUBR), the program is still called dynamically.
2.2.2 Dynamic linking

There are two methods to achieve this: a driver program, or compiling the main program and
subprograms separately.
2.2.2.1 Driver program

Compile all programs with the option -m:
$ cobc -m main.cob subr.cob
This creates the shared object files main.so and subr.so.4
Before running the main program, install the module files in your library directory:
$ cp subr.so /your/cobol/lib
Set the runtime variable COB_LIBRARY_PATH to your library directory, and run the main
program:
$ export COB_LIBRARY_PATH=/your/cobol/lib
(Please notice: You may set the variable via a runtime configuration file, see Appendix I
[Runtime Configuration], page 83. You may also set the variable to directly point to the directory
where you compiled the sources.)
Now execute your program:
$ cobcrun main
4
The extension used depends on your operating system.
2.2.2.2 Compiling programs separately

The main program is compiled as usual:
$ cobc -x -o main main.cob
Subprograms are compiled with the option -m:
$ cobc -m subr.cob
This creates a module file subr.so5 .
Before running the main program, install the module files in your library directory:
$ cp subr.so /your/cobol/lib
Now, set the environment variable COB_LIBRARY_PATH to your library directory, and run the
main program:
$ export COB_LIBRARY_PATH=/your/cobol/lib
$ ./main
2.2.3 Building library

You can build a shared library by combining multiple COBOL programs and even C routines:
$ cobc -c subr1.cob
$ cobc -c subr2.cob
$ cc -c subr3.c
$ cc -shared -o libsubrs.so subr1.o subr2.o subr3.o
2.2.4 Using library

You can use a shared library by linking it with your main program.
Before linking the library, install it in your system library directory:
$ cp libsubrs.so /usr/lib
or install it somewhere else and set LD_LIBRARY_PATH:
$ cp libsubrs.so /your/cobol/lib
$ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/your/cobol/lib
Then, compile the main program, linking the library as follows:
$ cobc -x main.cob -L/your/cobol/lib -lsubrs
2.3 C interface
This chapter describes how to combine C programs with COBOL programs.
2.3.1 Writing Main Program in C

Include libcob.h in your C program and call cob_init before using any COBOL module. Do
a cleanup afterwards, either by calling cob_stop_run (if your program should terminate) or by
calling cob_tidy (if your program should execute further on without any more COBOL calls).
Calling cob_init, one or several GnuCOBOL modules and then cob_tidy in this sequence can
be done multiple times).
#include <libcob.h>
int
main (int argc, char **argv)
{
/* initialize your program */
5
The extension used depends on your operating system.
...
/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

cob_init (argc, argv);
/* rest of your program */

...
/* Clean up and terminate - This does not return */

cob_stop_run (return_status);
}
You can write cobc_init(0, NULL); if you do not want to pass command line arguments to
COBOL.
The easiest option to compile and/or link your C program is by passing the work to cobc as
follows:
cobc -x main.c
possibly running in verbose mode to see what cobc does:
cobc -x --verbose main.c # using -x -v or -xv would be also possible
or with several steps:
cobc -c main.c
cobc -x main.o
As an alternative you can use the cob-config tool to get the necessary options to be passed
to the C compiler / linker.
cc -c `cob-config --cflags` main.c # compile only
cc -o main main.o `cob-config --libs` # link only
2.3.2 Static linking with COBOL programs

Let’s call the following COBOL module from a C program:
---- say.cob ---------------------------
PROGRAM-ID. say.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
DATA DIVISION.
LINKAGE SECTION.
01 hello PIC X(7).
01 world PIC X(6).
PROCEDURE DIVISION USING hello world.
DISPLAY hello world.
GOBACK.
----------------------------------------
This program accepts two arguments, displays them, and exits.
From the viewpoint of C, this is equivalent to a function having the following prototype:
extern int say(char *hello, char *world);
So, your main program will look like as follows:
---- hello.c ---------------------------
#include <libcob.h>
extern int say(char *hello, char *world);
int
main()
{
int ret;
char hello[8] = "Hello, ";
char world[7] = "world!";

cob_init(0, NULL);
/* call the static module and store its return code */

ret = say(hello, world);
/* shutdown the COBOL run-time library, keep program running */

(void)cob_tidy();
return ret;
}
----------------------------------------
Compile and run these programs as follows:
$ cobc -x hello.c say.cob
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
or, more split and directly using the C compiler:
$ cc -c ‘cob-config --cflags‘ hello.c
$ cobc -c -static say.cob
$ cobc -x -o hello hello.o say.o
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
Note: The biggest benefits of static linking are that all programs are verified to be available
in the resulting binary. Furthermore there is a slightly performance benefit in this type of CALL
(not visible for "normal" programs).
2.3.3 Dynamic linking with COBOL programs

You can find a COBOL module having a specific name by using the C function cob_resolve,
which takes the module name as a string and returns a pointer to the module function.
cob_resolve returns NULL if there is no module. In this case, the function cob_resolve_
error returns the error message.
Let’s see an example:
---- hello-dynamic.c -------------------
#include <libcob.h>
static int (*say)(char *hello, char *world);
int main()
{
int ret;

cob_init(0, NULL);
/* Find the module with PROGRAM-ID "say". */

say = cob_resolve("say");
/* If there is no such module, show error and exit. */

if(say == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", cob_resolve_error());
exit(1);
}
/* Call the module found ... */

ret = say(hello, world);
/* ...and exit with the return code. */

cob_stop_run(ret);
}
----------------------------------------
Compile and run these programs as follows:
$ cobc -x -o hello hello-dynamic.c
$ cobc -m say.cob
$ export COB_LIBRARY_PATH=.
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
The check of the module load as written above can be directly done in libcob as follows:
---- hello-dynamic2.c ------------------
#include <libcob.h>
int main()
{
int ret;
void *cob_argv[2];
cob_argv[0] = hello;
cob_argv[1] = world;

cob_init(0, NULL);
/* do a CALL, expecting the module to exist,

otherwise exiting with an error. */
ret = cob_call ("say", 2, cob_argv);
/* ...and exit with the return code. */

cob_stop_run(ret);
}
----------------------------------------
In any case be aware that all errors that happen within COBOL will exit your program, as
same as a STOP RUN will do.
Depending on the application you possibly want to register C signal handlers; error and/or
exit handlers in C and/or COBOL to do cleanups, logging or anything else.
There is one way to handle all these scenarios with a call, too, using cob_call_with_
exception_check instead of cob_call as follows:
---- hello-dynamic3.c ------------------
#include <libcob.h>
int main()
{
int ret;
void *cob_argv[2];
cob_argv[0] = hello;
cob_argv[1] = world;

cob_init(0, NULL);
/* do a CALL, catching all possible results, */

ret = cob_call_with_exception_check ("say", 2, cob_argv);
switch (ret) {
case 0: /* program coming back */
/* Clean up and terminate runtime */

cob_runtime_hint("program exited with return code %d",
cob_last_exit_code ());
cob_tidy ();
break;
case 1: /* normal exit */

cob_runtime_hint("STOP RUN with return code %d",
cob_last_exit_code ());
break;
case -1: /* error exit */

cob_runtime_hint("error exit with return code %d and error \"%s\"",
cob_last_exit_code (), cob_last_runtime_error ());
break;
case -2: /* hard error exit */

cob_runtime_hint("hard error exit with return code %d and error \"%s\"",
break;
case -3: /* signal handler exit */

cob_runtime_hint("signal handler exit with signal %d and error \"%s\"",

break;
default:
cob_runtime_hint("unexpected return from cob_call_with_exception_check,"
" last exit code %d, last error \"%s\"",
break;
}
/* ...and exit with zero if no error happened */

exit(ret != 0 && ret != 1);
}
----------------------------------------
2.3.4 Static linking with C programs

Let’s call the following C function from COBOL:
---- say.c -----------------------------
int say(char *hello, char *world)
{
int i;
for(i = 0; i < 7; i++)
putchar(hello[i]);
for(i = 0; i < 6; i++)
putchar(world[i]);
putchar(’\n’);
return 0;
}
----------------------------------------
This program is equivalent to the program in say.cob above.
Note that, unlike C, the arguments passed from COBOL programs are not terminated by
the null character (i.e., ’\0’).
You can call this function in the same way you call COBOL programs:
---- hello.cob -------------------------
PROGRAM-ID. hello.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 hello PIC X(7) VALUE "Hello, ".
01 world PIC X(6) VALUE "world!".
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
CALL "say" USING hello world.
STOP RUN.
----------------------------------------
Compile these programs as follows:
$ cobc -x -o hello -static hello.cob say.c
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
or separate:
$ cc -c say.c
$ cobc -c -static -x hello.cob
$ cobc -x -o hello hello.o say.o
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
2.3.5 Dynamic linking with C programs

You can create a dynamically-linked module from a C program by compiling it with cobc ...
$ cobc -m say.c
$ cobc -x hello.cob
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
or with most C compilers by passing option -shared to the C compiler:
$ cc -shared -o say.so say.c
$ cobc -x hello.cob
$ ./hello
Hello, world!
Mind that for COBOL to be able to load the module via CALL the name of the binary must
either be identical to the CALL name or the binary containing the entry-point must have been
loaded before (by a previous call or COB PRE LOAD).
2.3.6 Redirecting output to a (FILE *)

From a module written in C you can call cob_set_runtime_option to set the exact (FILE *)
which is used to write trace data to. In common.h is the following:
enum cob_runtime_option_switch {
COB_SET_RUNTIME_TRACE_FILE /* ’p’ is FILE * */
COB_SET_RUNTIME_DISPLAY_PRINTER_FILE /* ’p’ is FILE * */
COB_SET_RUNTIME_RESCAN_ENV /* rescan environment variables */
COB_SET_RUNTIME_DISPLAY_PUNCH_FILE /* ’p’ is FILE * */
};
COB_EXPIMP void cob_set_runtime_option (enum cob_runtime_option_switch opt, void *p);
So from you C code you can tell the GnuCOBOL runtime to redirect TRACE output by:
cob_set_runtime_option (COB_SET_RUNTIME_TRACE_FILE,
(void*)((FILE*)myfd));
You could also redirect all DISPLAY UPON PRINTER output to a file by:
cob_set_runtime_option (COB_SET_RUNTIME_DISPLAY_PRINTER_FILE,
You could also redirect all DISPLAY UPON SYSPUNCH output to a file by:
cob_set_runtime_option (COB_SET_RUNTIME_DISPLAY_PUNCH_FILE,
Another routine can be used to return the current value of the option.
COB_EXPIMP void *
cob_get_runtime_option (enum cob_runtime_option_switch opt);
19
3 Customize
3.1 Customizing compiler

These settings are effective at compile-time.
Environment variables (default value in brackets):
COB_CC C compiler ("gcc")
COB_CFLAGS
Flags passed to the C compiler ("-I$(PREFIX)/include")
COB_LDFLAGS
Flags passed to the C compiler ("")
COB_LIBS Standard libraries linked with the program ("-L$(PREFIX)/lib -lcob")
COB_LDADD
Additional libraries linked with the program ("")
3.2 Customizing library

These settings are effective at run-time. You can set them either via the environment or by a
runtime configuration file.
To set the global runtime configuration file export COB_RUNTIME_CONFIG to point to your
configuration file. To set an explicit runtime configuration file for a single run via cobcrun you
can use its option -c file, --config=file.
For displaying the current runtime settings you can use the option -r, --runtime-env of
cobcrun.
For a complete list of runtime variables, aliases, their default values and options to set them
see Appendix I [Runtime Configuration], page 83.
20
4 Optimize
4.1 Optimize options

There are five compiler options for optimization: -O0, -O, -Os, -O2, -O3. These options enable
optimization at both translation (from COBOL to C) and compilation (C to assembly) levels.
Currently, there is no difference between these optimization options at the translation level.
The option -O, -Os or -O2 is passed to the C compiler as is and used for C level optimization.
4.2 Optimize call

When a CALL statement is executed, the called program is linked at run time. By specifying the
compiler option -fstatic-call, you can statically link the program at compile time and call it
efficiently. (see Section 2.2.1 [Static linking], page 10)
4.3 Optimize binary

By default, data items of usage binary or comp are stored in big-endian form. On those machines
whose native byte order is little-endian, this is not quite efficient.
If you prefer, you can store binary items in the native form of your machine. Set the config
option binary-byteorder to native in your config file (see Chapter 3 [Customize], page 19).
In addition, setting the option binary-size to 2-4-8 or 1-2-4-8 is more efficient than
others.
21
5 Debug
5.1 Debug options

The compiler option --debug can be used, especially during the development of your pro-
grams. It enables all run-time error checking, such as subscript boundary checks and numeric
data checks, and displays run-time errors with source locations. Exceptions may also be en-
abled/disabled separately. See Section 2.1.7 [Debug switches], page 9.
5.2 Source Level Debugger

Compiling with -g enables several kinds of debug information, allowing you to run your programs
with the system debugger. This allows you to step through the COBOL code and inspect the
call stack, but direct access to the COBOL variables is not available. Different GDB frontends
exist that provide access the COBOL variables directly.
Compiling with debug information also enables several tools to profile the code or test it, for
example against memory violations.
5.3 Memory Dumps

Memory Dumps can be enabled/disabled at runtime and will by default be executed in case of
runtime errors or handling of different signals.
They can also be requested via C interface.
Only modules that are explicit enabled for dump code will output their data.
5.4 Tracing execution

Tracing program execution, either in general or in specific parts can be enabled.
22
6 Non-standard extensions
6.1 SELECT ASSIGN TO

A file may be assigned to a literal file, a file in a variable, or a file in an environment variable.
6.1.1 Literal file.

Assign to a literal file.
Select file assign to "/tmp/myfile.txt".
6.1.2 <variable>
Assign to a file which name is read from a variable.
Select file assign to my-file.
01 my-file pic x(512).
Move "/tmp/myfile.txt" to my-file.

Open output <file>.
6.1.3 <environment variable>

Assign to a file in an environment variable.
export myfile=/tmp/myfile.txt
Select file assign to external myfile.
6.2 Indexed file packages

<This section is in progress.>
6.3 Extended ACCEPT statement

Extended ACCEPT statements allow for full control of items accepted from the screen. Items
accept by line and column positioning.
All commands following WITH are optional.
ACCEPT variable-1
LINE variable-2 | literal-1 COLUMN variable-3 | literal-2
WITH
AUTO-SKIP | AUTO
BACKGROUND-COLOR variable-4 | literal-3
BELL | BEEP
BLINK
FOREGROUND-COLOR variable-5 | literal-4
LOWLIGHT | HIGHLIGHT
PROMPT
PROTECTED
SIZE [IS] variable-6 | literal-5
UPDATE
ON EXCEPTION
exception processing
NOT ON EXCEPTION
normal processing
END-ACCEPT.
Chapter 6: Non-standard extensions 23
6.3.1 LINE
The line number of variable-2 or literal-1 to accept the field.
6.3.2 COLUMN
The column number of variable-3 or literal-2 to accept the field.
6.3.3 AUTO-SKIP
The word AUTO may be used for AUTO-SKIP.
With this option the ACCEPT statement returns after the last character is typed at the end
of the field. This is the same as if the Enter key were pressed.
Without this option the cursor remains at the end of the field and waits for the user to press
Enter.
The Right-Arrow key returns from the end of the field. The Left-Arrow key returns from the
beginning. See Section 6.4 [ACCEPT special], page 24.
The Alt-Right-Arrow and Alt-Left-Arrow keys never AUTO-SKIP.
6.3.4 BACKGROUND-COLOR
The background color is the color used behind the characters.
Variable-4 or literal-3 must be numeric. See file screenio.cpy for the color assignments to
variable-4 or literal-3.
6.3.5 BELL
The word BEEP may be used for BELL.
The system beeps when the cursor moves to accept from this field. On some systems, there
is no sound. Some other method may indicate a beep, such a flashing screen or pop up window.
6.3.6 BLINK
The field blinks while the user enters the data. This can help small menu selection fields to
stand out.
6.3.7 FOREGROUND-COLOR
The foreground color is the color used for the characters.
Variable-5 or literal-4 must be numeric. See file screenio.cpy for the color assignments to
variable-5 or literal-4.
6.3.8 LOWLIGHT
The LOWLIGHT and HIGHLIGHT phrases vary the intensity of the field.
LOWLIGHT displays with lower intensity and HIGHLIGHT displays with higher intensity. Having
neither LOWLIGHT nor HIGHLIGHT displays at normal intensity.
These may have different levels of intensity, if at all, depending on the make and model of
the screens.
6.3.9 PROMPT
Display the field with prompt characters as the cursor moves to accept from this field.
6.3.10 PROTECTED
PROTECTED is ignored.
6.3.11 SIZE
The size of variable-1 to accept from the screen.
Variable-6 or literal-5 must be numeric.
SIZE <greater than zero>
If variable-6 or literal-5 is less than the length of variable-1 then only the SIZE
number of characters accept into the field. Variable-1 pads with spaces after SIZE
to the end of the field.
If variable-6 or literal-5 is greater than variable-1, then the screen pads with spaces
after variable-1 to the SIZE length.
SIZE ZERO
<SIZE option not specified>
The variable-1 accepts to its field length.
6.3.12 UPDATE
The contents of variable-1 displays on the screen as the ACCEPT begins. This allows the user to
update the field without having to type it all again.
Without this option, the ACCEPT field is always blank.
6.3.13 ON EXCEPTION
Check the special register cob-crt-status for the special key that was pressed. This includes
Escape, Tab, Back-Tab, F-keys, arrows, etc... See screenio.cpy for the values.
6.3.14 NOT ON EXCEPTION

Reset any F-key indicator because no special key was pressed.
6.4 ACCEPT special keys

Special keys are available for extended ACCEPT statements.
The COB-CRT-STATUS values are in the screenio.cpy copy file.
6.4.1 Arrow keys

The Left-Arrow key moves the cursor to the left. Without AUTO-SKIP the cursor stops at the
beginning of the field. With AUTO-SKIP it returns with the COB-SCR-KEY-LEFT value of 2009.
See Section 6.3 [Extended ACCEPT], page 22.
The Alt-Left-Arrow key is the same as Left-Arrow except that it never returns, even for
AUTO-SKIP.
The Right-Arrow key moves the cursor to the right. Without AUTO-SKIP the cursor stops
at the end of the field. With AUTO-SKIP it returns with the COB-SCR-KEY-RIGHT value of 2010.
See Section 6.3 [Extended ACCEPT], page 22.
The Alt-Right-Arrow key is the same as Right-Arrow except that it never returns, even for
AUTO-SKIP.
6.4.2 Backspace key

The Backspace key moves the cursor, and the remainder of the text, to the left.
6.4.3 Delete keys

The Delete key deletes the cursor’s character and moves the remainder of the text to the left.
The cursor does not move.
The Alt-Delete key deletes all text from the cursor to the end of the field.
6.4.4 End key

The End key moves the cursor after the last non-space character. Pressing the End key again
moves the cursor to the end of the field. Repeated pressing moves the cursor back and forth.
6.4.5 Home key

The Home key moves the cursor to the first non-space character. Pressing the Home key again
moves the cursor to the beginning of the field. Repeated pressing moves the cursor back and
forth.
6.4.6 Insert key

The Insert key changes the insert mode.
The value of the insert mode is used in all following ACCEPT statements while the program is
running.
When the insert mode is on, typed characters move the existing characters to the right until
field is full. When it is off, typed characters type over existing characters.
Note: The insert mode is ignored for fields with a size of 1.
The insert mode can also be changed by the COB_INSERT_MODE setting at any time, see
Appendix I [Runtime Configuration], page 83.
6.4.7 Tab keys

The Tab key returns from the ACCEPT with the COB-SCR-TAB value of 2007.
The Shift-Tab key returns with the COB-SCR-BACK-TAB value of 2008.
6.5 Extended DISPLAY statement

Extended DISPLAY statements allow for full control of items that display on the screen. Items
display by line and column positioning.
DISPLAY variable-1 | literal-1 | figurative constant

LINE line COLUMN column
WITH BELL
BLANK LINE | SCREEN
ERASE EOL | EOS
SIZE [IS] variable-2 | literal-2
END-DISPLAY.
6.5.1 BELL
Ring the bell. It is optional.
6.5.2 BLANK
Clear the whole line or screen. It is optional.
BLANK LINE
Clear the line from the beginning of the line to the end of the line.
BLANK SCREEN
Clear the whole screen.
6.5.3 ERASE
Clear the line or screen from LINE and COLUMN. It is optional.
ERASE EOL
Clear the line from LINE and COLUMN to the end of the line.
ERASE EOS
Clear the screen from LINE and COLUMN to the end of the screen.
6.5.4 SIZE
The size of variable-1, literal-1, or figurative-constant to display onto the screen. It is optional.
SIZE positive-integer
If SIZE is less than the length of variable-1 or literal-1 then only the SIZE number
of characters display.
If SIZE is greater than the length of variable-1 or literal-1, then the screen pads
with spaces after the field to the SIZE length.
Figurative constants display repeatedly the number of times in SIZE. Except that
LOW-VALUES always positions the cursor (see SIZE ZERO below).
SIZE ZERO
<SIZE option not specified>
Variable-1 or literal-1 displays with the field length.
6.5.5 Figurative Constants

Certain figurative constants and values have special functions. All other figurative constants
display as a single character.
SPACE Display spaces from LINE and COLUMN to the end of the screen. This is the same
as WITH ERASE EOS.
LOW-VALUE
Position the cursor to LINE and COLUMN. The next DISPLAY statement does not
need a LINE or COLUMN to display at that position.
ALL X"01"
Display spaces from LINE and COLUMN to the end of the line. This is the same
as WITH ERASE EOL.
ALL X"02"
Clear the whole screen. This is the same as WITH BLANK SCREEN.
ALL X"07"
Ring the bell. This is the same as WITH BELL.
6.6 CONTENT-LENGTH
FUNCTION CONTENT-LENGTH returns the length of NUL byte terminated data given a pointer:
program-id. zlen.
data division.
working-storage section.
01 ptr usage pointer.
01 str pic x(4) value z"abc".
*> Testing CONTENT-LENGTH

procedure division.
set ptr to address of str

display content-length(ptr)
goback.
end program hosted.
6.7 CONTENT-OF
FUNCTION CONTENT-OF returns an alphanumeric field given a pointer and optional length:
Data from pointer is returned as a COBOL field either by scanning for a NUL byte or using
the optional length. Reference modification of result allowed.
program-id. contents.
data division.
01 ptr usage pointer.
01 str pic x(4) value z"abc".
*> Testing CONTENT-OF

procedure division.
set ptr to address of str

display content-of(ptr)
display content-of(ptr, 2)
display content-of(ptr)(2:2)
goback.
end program hosted.
28
7 System Routines
For a complete list of supported system routines, see Appendix D [System routines], page 69.
7.1 CBL GC GETOPT

CBL_GC_GETOPT provides the quite well-known option parser, getopt, for GnuCOBOL. The usage
of this system routine is described by the following example.
program-id. prog.
data division.
78 shortoptions value "jkl".
01 longoptions.
05 optionrecord occurs 2 times.
10 optionname pic x(25).
10 has-value pic 9.
10 valpoint pointer value NULL.
10 return-value pic x(4).
01 longind pic 99.

01 long-only pic 9 value 1.
01 return-char pic x(4).

01 opt-val pic x(10).
01 counter pic 9 value 0.

We first need to define the necessary fields for getopt’s shortoptions (so), longoptions (lo),
longoption index (longind), long-only-option (long-only) and also the fields for return values
return-char and opt-val (arbitrary size with trimming, see return codes).
The shortoptions are written down as an alphanumeric field (i.e., a string with arbitrary size)
as follows:
"ab:c::d"
This means we want getopt to look for shortoptions named a, b, c or d and we demand an
option value for b and we are accepting an optional one for c.
The longoptions are defined as a table of records with oname, has-value, valpoint and val.
• oname defines the name of a longoption.
• has-value defines if an option value is demanded (has-val = 1), optional (has-val = 2) or
not required (has-val = 0).
• valpoint is a pointer used to specify an address to save getopt’s return value to. The pointer
is optional. If it is NULL, getopt returns a value as usual. If you use the pointer it has to
point to a PIC X(4) field.
• The field val is a PIC X(4) character which is returned if the longoption was recognized.
The longoption structure is immutable! You can only vary the number of records.
Now we have the tools to run CBL_GC_GETOPT within the procedure division.
procedure division.
move "version" to optionname (1).
Chapter 7: System Routines 29
move 0 to has-value (1).

move "v" to return-value (1).
move "verbose" to optionname (2).

move 0 to has-value (2).
move "V" to return-value (2).
perform with test after until return-code = -1

call ’CBL_GC_GETOPT’ using
by reference shortoptions longoptions longind
by value long-only
by reference return-char opt-val
end-call
display return-char end-display

display opt-val end-display
end-perform
stop run.
The example shows how we initialize all parameters and call the routine until CBL_GC_GETOPT
runs out of options and returns -1.
If the option is recognized, return-char contains the option character. Otherwise,
return-char will contain one of the following:
? undefined or ambiguous option
1 non-option (only if first byte of so is ‘-’)
0 valpoint != NULL and we are writing the return value to the specified address
-1 no more options (or reached the first non-option if first byte of so is ‘+’)
The return-code of CBL_GC_GETOPT is one of:
1 a non-option (only if first byte of so is ‘-’)
0 valpoint != NULL and we are writing the return value to the specified address
-1 no more options (or reach the first non-option if first byte of so is ‘+’)
2 truncated option value in opt-val (because opt-val was too small)
3 regular answer from getopt
7.2 CBL GC HOSTED

CBL_GC_HOSTED provides access to the following C hosted variables:
• argc to binary-long by value
• argv to pointer to char **
• stdin, stdout, stderr to pointer
• errno giving address of errno in pointer to binary-long, use based for more direct access
and conditional access to the following variables:
• tzname pointer to pointer to array of two char pointers
• timezone C long, will be seconds west of UTC
• daylight C int, will be 1 during daylight savings
System will need to HAVE_TIMEZONE defined for these to return anything meaningful. At-
tempts made when they are not available return 1 from CBL_GC_HOSTED.
It returns 0 when match, 1 on failure, case matters as does length, arg won’t match.
The usage of this system routine is described by the following example.
HOSTED identification division.
program-id. hosted.
data division.
01 argc usage binary-long.
01 argv usage pointer.
01 stdin usage pointer.

01 stdout usage pointer.
01 stderr usage pointer.
01 errno usage pointer.

01 err usage binary-long based.
01 domain usage float-long value 3.0.
01 tzname usage pointer.

01 tznames usage pointer based.
05 tzs usage pointer occurs 2 times.
01 timezone usage binary-long.

01 daylight usage binary-short.
*> Testing CBL_GC_HOSTED

procedure division.
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using stdin "stdin"
display "stdin : " stdin
call "feof" using by value stdin
display "feof stdin : " return-code
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using stdout "stdout"

display "stdout : " stdout
call "fprintf" using by value stdout by content "Hello" & x"0a"
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using stderr "stderr"

display "stderr : " stderr
call "fprintf" using by value stderr by content "on err" & x"0a"
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using argc "argc"

display "argc : " argc
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using argv "argv"

display "argv : " argv
call "args" using by value argc argv

call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using errno "errno"

display "&errno : " errno
set address of err to errno
display "errno : " err
call "acos" using by value domain
display "errno after acos(3.0): " err ", EDOM is 33"
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using argc "arg"

display "’arg’ lookup : " return-code
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using null "argc"
display "null with argc : " return-code
display "argc is still : " argc
*> the following only returns zero if the system has HAVE_TIMEZONE set
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using daylight "daylight "

display "’timezone’ lookup : " return-code
if return-code not = 0
display "system doesn’t has timezone"
else
display "timezone is : " timezone
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using daylight "daylight "

display "’daylight’ lookup : " return-code
display "daylight is : " daylight
set environment "TZ" to "PST8PDT"

call static "tzset" returning omitted on exception continue end-call
call "CBL_GC_HOSTED" using tzname "tzname"

display "’tzname’ lookup : " return-code
*> tzs(1) will point to z"PST" and tzs(2) to z"PDT"

if return-code equal 0 and tzname not equal null then
set address of tznames to tzname
if tzs(1) not equal null then
display "tzs #1 : " tzs(1)
end-if
if tzs(2) not equal null then
display "tzs #2 : " tzs(2)
end-if
end-if
end-if
goback.
end program hosted.
7.3 CBL GC NANOSLEEP

CBL_GC_NANOSLEEP allows you to pause the program for nanoseconds. The actual precision
depends on the system.
*> Waiting a half second
call "CBL_GC_NANOSLEEP" using "500000000" end-call
*> Waiting five seconds using compiler string catenation for readability
call "CBL_GC_NANOSLEEP" using "500" & "0000000" end-call
7.4 CBL GC FORK

CBL_GC_FORK allows you to fork the current COBOL process to a new one. The current content
of the process’ storage (including LOCAL-STORAGE) will be identical, any file handles get invalid
in the new process, positions and file / record locks are only available to the original process.
This system routine is not available on Windows (exception: GCC on Cygwin).
Parameters
none
Returns PID (the child process gets ‘0’ returned, the calling process gets the PID of the
created children). Negative values are returned for system dependent error codes
and -1 if the function is not available on the current system.
PROGRAM-ID. prog.
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 CHILD-PID PIC S9(9) BINARY.
01 WAIT-STS PIC S9(9) BINARY.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
CALL "CBL_GC_FORK" RETURNING CHILD-PID END-CALL

EVALUATE TRUE
WHEN CHILD-PID = ZERO
PERFORM CHILD-CODE
WHEN CHILD-PID > ZERO
PERFORM PARENT-CODE
WHEN CHILD-PID = -1
DISPLAY ’CBL_GC_FORK is not available ’
’on the current system!’
END-DISPLAY
PERFORM CHILD-CODE
MOVE 0 TO CHILD-PID
PERFORM PARENT-CODE
WHEN OTHER
MULTIPLY CHILD-PID BY -1 END-MULTIPLY
DISPLAY ’CBL_GC_FORK returned system error: ’
CHILD-PID
END-DISPLAY
END-EVALUATE
STOP RUN.
CHILD-CODE.
CALL "C$SLEEP" USING 1 END-CALL
DISPLAY "Hello, I am the child"
END-DISPLAY
MOVE 2 TO RETURN-CODE
CONTINUE.
PARENT-CODE.
DISPLAY "Hello, I am the parent"
END-DISPLAY
CALL "CBL_GC_WAITPID" USING CHILD-PID RETURNING WAIT-STS
END-CALL
EVALUATE TRUE
WHEN WAIT-STS >= 0
DISPLAY ’Child ended with status: ’
WAIT-STS
END-DISPLAY
WHEN WAIT-STS = -1
DISPLAY ’CBL_GC_WAITPID is not available ’
’on the current system!’
END-DISPLAY
WHEN WAIT-STS < -1
MULTIPLY -1 BY WAIT-STS END-MULTIPLY
DISPLAY ’CBL_GC_WAITPID returned system error: ’ WAIT-STS
END-DISPLAY
END-EVALUATE
CONTINUE.
7.5 CBL GC WAITPID

CBL_GC_WAITPID allows you to wait until another system process ended. Additional you can
check the process’ return code.
Parameters: none Returns: function-status / child-status Negative values are returned for
system dependent error codes and -1 if the function is not available on the current system.
CALL "CBL_GC_WAITPID" USING CHILD-PID RETURNING WAIT-STS
END-CALL
DISPLAY ’CBL_GC_WAITPID ended with status: ’ WAIT-STS
END-DISPLAY
34
Appendix A Compiler cobc options

The following list of options was extracted from cobc --help and shows all available compiler
options with a short description.
A.1 Common Options

-h, --help
display this help and exit
-V, --version
display compiler version information and exit
-dumpversion
display compiler version and exit
-i, --info
display compiler information (build/environment) and exit
-v, --verbose
verbose mode, display additional information; multiple -v options increase the ver-
bosity, the maximum is 3 as follows: (1) display compiler version and the commands
invoked by the compiler, (2) pass verbose option to assembler/compiler (3) pass ver-
bose option to linker
-q, --brief
reduced displays, commands invoked not shown
-### like -v but commands not executed
-x build an executable program
-m build a dynamically loadable module (default)
-j [args], --job[=args]
run program after build, passing args
-std=dialect
warnings/features for a specific dialect dialect can be one of: default, cobol2014,
cobol2002, cobol85, xopen, ibm-strict, ibm, mvs-strict, mvs, mf-strict, mf, bs2000-
strict, bs2000, acu-strict, acu, rm-strict, rm, gcos-strict, gcos; see configuration files
in directory config
-F, --free
use free source format (alias for -fformat=free)
--fixed use fixed source format (default; alias for
-fformat=fixed)
-O, -O2, -O3, -Os
enable optimization
-O0 disable optimization
-g enable C compiler debug and stack check
-d, --debug
enable all run-time error checking, equal to -fstack-check -fec=EC-ALL
-fec=exception-name
enable code generation for exception-name, see –list-exceptions for the possible val-
ues, sets -fsource-location
Appendix A: Compiler cobc options 35
-fno-ec=exception-name
disable code generation for exception-name
-o file place the output into file
-b combine all input files into a single dynamically loadable module
-E preprocess only; do not compile or link
-C translation only; convert COBOL to C
-S compile only; output assembly file
-c compile and assemble, but do not link
-T file generate and place a wide program listing into file
-t file generate and place a program listing into file
--tlines=lines
specify lines per page in listing, default = 55
-P[=dir or file]
generate preprocessed program listing (.lst)
-X, --Xref
generate cross reference through ’cobxref’ (V. Coen’s ’cobxref’ must be in path)
-I directory
add directory to copy/include search path
-L directory
add directory to library search path
-l lib link the library lib
-A options
add options to the C compile phase
-Q options
add options to the C link phase
-D define define define for COBOL compilation
-K entry generate CALL to entry as static
--conf=file
user-defined dialect configuration; see -std
--list-reserved
display reserved words
--list-intrinsics
display intrinsic functions
--list-mnemonics
display mnemonic names
--list-exceptions
display exception names
--list-system
display system routines
--save-temps[=dir]
save intermediate files; default: current directory
-ext extension
add file extension for resolving COPY
A.2 Warning options

-Wall enable most warnings (all except as noted below)
-Wextra like -Wall but enable some extra warning flags
-w disable all warnings
-Wno-warning
disable warning enabled by default, -Wall or -Wextra
-Wadditional
additional warnings only raised with -Wall
-Wno-unfinished
do not warn if unfinished features are used; always active
-Wno-pending
do not warn if pending features are used; always active
-Wno-repository-checks
do not warn/check for program/function/external signature mismatch; always active
-Wno-ignored-error
do not warn about errors in code parts which are unreachable and so normally
ignored; always active
-Wobsolete
warn if obsolete features are used
-Warchaic
warn if archaic features are used
-Wredefinition
warn about non-referenced ambiguous data items
-Wtruncate
warn about field truncation from constant assignments
-Wpossible-truncate
warn about possible field truncation; not set with -Wall
-Woverlap
warn about overlapping MOVE of items
-Wpossible-overlap
warn about MOVE of items that may overlap depending on variables; not set with
-Wall
-Wparentheses
warn if parentheses are omitted around AND within OR
-Wstrict-typing
warn strictly about type mismatch
-Wimplicit-define
warn whenever data items are implicitly defined; not set with -Wall
-Wno-corresponding
do not warn about CORRESPONDING with no matching items; always active
-Winitial-value
warn if initial VALUE clause is ignored
-Wprototypes
warn about missing FUNCTION prototypes/definitions
-Warithmetic-osvs
warn if arithmetic expression precision has changed
-Wcall-params
warn about non 01/77 items for CALL parameters; not set with -Wall
-Wconstant-expression
warn about expressions that always resolve to true/false
-Wconstant-numlit-expression
warn about numeric expressions that always resolve to true/false
-Wlarger-01-redefines
warn about larger redefines allowed by COBOL standards
-Wcolumn-overflow
warn about text after program-text area, FIXED format; not set with -Wall
-Wterminator
warn about lack of scope terminator END-XXX; not set with -Wall
-Wlinkage
warn about dangling LINKAGE items; not set with -Wall
-Wunreachable
warn about likely unreachable statements; not set with -Wall
-Wno-dialect
do not warn about dialect specific issues; always active
-Wdangling-text
warn about source text after program-area; not set with -Wall
-Wno-missing-newline
do not warn about missing newlines; always active
-Wno-others
do not warn about different issues; always active
-Wno-unsupported
do not warn if runtime does not support a feature used
-Werror treat all warnings as errors
-Wno-error
don’t treat warnings as errors
-Werror=warning
treat specified warning as error
-Wno-error=warning
don’t treat specified warning as error
A.3 Compiler options

-fsign=[ASCII|EBCDIC]
define display sign representation; default: machine native
-ffold-copy=[UPPER|LOWER]
fold COPY subject to value; default: no transformation
-ffold-call=[UPPER|LOWER]
fold PROGRAM-ID, CALL, CANCEL subject to value; default: no transformation
-fmax-errors=number
maximum number of errors to report before compilation is aborted; default: 128
-fintrinsics=[ALL|intrinsic function name(,name,...)]
intrinsics to be used without FUNCTION keyword
-fdump=scope
dump data fields on abort, scope may be a combination of: ALL, WS, LS, RD, FD, SC,
LO
-fcallfh=name
specifies name to be used for I/O as external provided EXTFH interface module
-febcdic-table=[DEFAULT|RESTRICTED-GC|IBM|GCOS]
define EBCDIC translation table:; default: translation to extended ASCII as per MF;
restricted-gc: translation from restricted ASCII only; ibm: translation to restricted
ASCII as per IBM; gcos: translation to extended ASCII as per GCOS7
-fstack-extended
store origin of entrypoints and PERFORM; turned on by -debug/-dump
-fno-remove-unreachable
disable remove of unreachable code; turned off by -g
-ftrace generate trace code; scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH
-ftraceall
generate trace code; scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH/STATEMENTS
-fsyntax-only
syntax error checking only; don’t emit any output
-fdebugging-line
enable debugging lines; ‘D’ in indicator column or floating >>D
-fsource-location
generate source location code; turned on by -debug/-ftraceall/-fec/-dump
-fimplicit-init
automatic initialization of the COBOL runtime system
-fno-recursive-check
disable check of recursive program call; effectively compiling as RECURSIVE program
-fstack-check
PERFORM stack checking; turned on by -debug/-g
-fwrite-after
use AFTER 1 for WRITE of LINE SEQUENTIAL; default: BEFORE 1
-fmfcomment
‘*’ or ‘/’ in column 1 treated as comment; FIXED format only
-facucomment
‘$’ in indicator area treated as ‘*’, ‘|’ treated as floating comment
-fno-trunc
allow numeric field overflow; non-ANSI behaviour
-fsingle-quote
use a single quote (apostrophe) for QUOTE; default: double quote
-foptional-file
treat all files as OPTIONAL; unless NOT OPTIONAL specified
-fstatic-call
output static function calls for the CALL statement
-fno-gen-c-decl-static-call
disable generation of C function declations for subroutines with static CALL
-fgen-c-line-directives
generate source location directives in C code;; turned on by -g
-fgen-c-labels
generate extra labels in C sources;; turned on by -g
-fno-theaders
suppress all headers and output of compilation options from listing while keeping
page breaks
-fno-tsource
suppress source from listing
-fno-tmessages
suppress warning and error summary from listing
-ftsymbols
specify symbols in listing
-fno-diagnostics-show-option
suppress output of option that directly controls the diagnostic
A.4 Compiler dialect configuration options

-freserved-words=value
use of complete/fixed reserved words
-ftab-width=1..12
number of spaces that are assumed for tabs
-ftext-column=72..255
right margin column number for fixed-form reference-format
-fpic-length=number
maximum number of characters allowed in the PICTURE character-string
-fword-length=1..63
maximum word-length for COBOL (= programmer defined) words
-fliteral-length=number
maximum literal size in general
-fnumeric-literal-length=1..38
maximum numeric literal size
-fdefaultbyte=value
default initialization for fields without VALUE, may be one of; character in quotes;
decimal 0..255 representing a character; "init" to initialize to PICTURE/USAGE;
"none" to do no explicit initialization; default: "init"
-fformat=value
default reference-format, may be one of: FIXED, FREE, COBOL85, VARIABLE, XOPEN,
XCARD, CRT, TERMINAL, COBOLX
-fbinary-size=value
binary byte size - defines the allocated bytes according to PIC, may be one of: 2-4-8,
1-2-4-8, 1–8
-fbinary-byteorder=value
binary byte order, may be one of: native, big-endian
-fassign-clause=value
how to interpret ASSIGN word: as ASSIGN EXTERNAL word or ASSIGN DYNAMIC
word, may be one of: dynamic, external, ibm (= external), mf (= dynamic)
-fscreen-section-rules=value
which compiler’s rules to apply to SCREEN SECTION item clauses, may be one of:
acu, gc, mf, rm, std, xopen
-fdpc-in-data=value
whether DECIMAL-POINT IS COMMA has effect in XML/JSON GENERATE, may be one of:
none, xml, json, all
-ffilename-mapping
resolve file names at run time using environment variables
-fpretty-display
alternate formatting of numeric fields
-fbinary-truncate
numeric truncation according to ANSI
-fcomplex-odo
allow complex OCCURS DEPENDING ON
-fodoslide
adjust items following OCCURS DEPENDING (implies complex-odo)
-findirect-redefines
allow REDEFINES to other than last equal level number
-frelax-syntax-checks
allow certain syntax variations (e.g. REDEFINES position)
-fref-mod-zero-length
allow zero length reference-modification (only changed with EC-BOUND-REF-MOD ac-
tive)
-frelax-level-hierarchy
allow non-matching level numbers
-fselect-working
require ASSIGN USING items to be in WORKING-STORAGE
-flocal-implies-recursive
LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION implies RECURSIVE attribute
-fsticky-linkage
LINKAGE SECTION items remain allocated between invocations
-fmove-ibm
MOVE operates as on IBM (left to right, byte by byte)
-fperform-osvs
exit point of any currently executing perform is recognized if reached
-farithmetic-osvs
limit precision in intermediate results to precision of final result (less accurate)
-fconstant-folding
evaluate constant expressions at compile time
-fhostsign
allow hexadecimal value ‘F’ for NUMERIC test of signed PACKED DECIMAL field
-fprogram-name-redefinition
program names don’t lead to a reserved identifier
-faccept-update
set WITH UPDATE clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH NO UPDATE
-faccept-auto
set WITH AUTO clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH TAB
-fconsole-is-crt
assume CONSOLE IS CRT if not set otherwise
-fno-echo-means-secure
NO-ECHO hides input with asterisks like SECURE
-fline-col-zero-default
assume a field DISPLAY starts at LINE 0 COL 0 (i.e. at the cursor), not LINE 1 COL 1
-fdisplay-special-fig-consts
special behaviour of DISPLAY SPACE/ALL X’01’/ALL X’02’/ALL X’07’
-fbinary-comp-1
COMP-1 is a 16-bit signed integer
-fnumeric-pointer
POINTER is a 64-bit unsigned integer
-fmove-non-numeric-lit-to-numeric-is-zero
imply zero in move of non-numeric literal to numeric items
-fimplicit-assign-dynamic-var
implicitly define a variable if an ASSIGN DYNAMIC does not match any data item
-fdevice-mnemonics
specifying device by mnemonic
-fxml-parse-xmlss
XML PARSE XMLSS
-fareacheck
check contents of Area A (when reference format supports Area A enforcement),
enabled checks include:; division, section, paragraph names, level indicators (FD, SD,
RD, and CD), and toplevel numbers (01 and 77) must start in Area A;; statements
must not start in Area A; and; separator periods must not be within Area A.
-fcomment-paragraphs=support
comment paragraphs in IDENTIFICATION DIVISION (AUTHOR, DATE-WRITTEN, ...)
-fcontrol-division=support
CONTROL DIVISION
-fpartial-replacing-with-literal=support
partial replacing with literal
-fmemory-size-clause=support
MEMORY-SIZE clause
-fmultiple-file-tape-clause=support
MULTIPLE-FILE-TAPE clause
-flabel-records-clause=support
LABEL-RECORDS clause
-fvalue-of-clause=support
VALUE-OF clause
-fdata-records-clause=support
DATA-RECORDS clause
-ftop-level-occurs-clause=support
OCCURS clause on top-level
-fsame-as-clause=support
SAME AS clause
-ftype-to-clause=support
TYPE TO clause
-fusage-type=support
USAGE type-name
-fsynchronized-clause=support
SYNCHRONIZED clause
-fsync-left-right=support
LEFT/RIGHT phrases in SYNCHRONIZED clause
-fspecial-names-clause=support
SPECIAL-NAMES clause
-fgoto-statement-without-name=support
GOTO statement without name
-fstop-literal-statement=support
STOP-literal statement
-fstop-identifier-statement=support
STOP-identifier statement
-fstop-error-statement=support
STOP ERROR statement
-fdebugging-mode=support
DEBUGGING MODE and debugging indicator
-fuse-for-debugging=support
USE FOR DEBUGGING
-fpadding-character-clause=support
PADDING CHARACTER clause
-fnext-sentence-phrase=support
NEXT SENTENCE phrase
-flisting-statements=support
listing-directive statements EJECT, SKIP1, SKIP2, SKIP3
-ftitle-statement=support
listing-directive statement TITLE
-fentry-statement=support
ENTRY statement
-fmove-noninteger-to-alphanumeric=support
move noninteger to alphanumeric
-fmove-figurative-constant-to-numeric=support
move figurative constants to numeric
-fmove-figurative-space-to-numeric=support
move figurative constant SPACE to numeric
-fmove-figurative-quote-to-numeric=support
move figurative constant QUOTE to numeric
-fodo-without-to=support
OCCURS DEPENDING ON without to
-fsection-segments=support
section segments
-falter-statement=support
ALTER statement
-fcall-overflow=support
OVERFLOW clause for CALL
-fnumeric-boolean=support
boolean literals (B’1010’)
-fhexadecimal-boolean=support
hexadecimal-boolean literals (BX‘A’)
-fnational-literals=support
national literals (N’UTF-16 string’)
-fhexadecimal-national-literals=support
hexadecimal-national literals (NX’265E’)
-fnational-character-literals=support
non-standard national literals (NC’UTF-16 string’)
-fhp-octal-literals=support
HP COBOL octal literals (%377)
-facu-literals=support
ACUCOBOL-GT literals (#B #O #H #X)
-fword-continuation=support
continuation of COBOL words
-fnot-exception-before-exception=support
NOT ON EXCEPTION before ON EXCEPTION
-faccept-display-extensions=support
extensions to ACCEPT and DISPLAY
-frenames-uncommon-levels=support
RENAMES of 01-, 66- and 77-level items
-flarger-redefines=support
allow larger REDEFINES items
-fsymbolic-constant=support
constants defined in SPECIAL-NAMES
-fconstant-78=support
constant with level 78 item (note: has left to right precedence in expressions)
-fconstant-01=support
constant with level 01 CONSTANT AS/FROM item
-fperform-varying-without-by=support
PERFORM VARYING without BY phrase (implies BY 1)
-freference-out-of-declaratives=support
references to sections not in DECLARATIVES from within DECLARATIVES
-fprogram-prototypes=support
CALL/CANCEL with program-prototype-name
-fcall-convention-mnemonic=support
specifying call-convention by mnemonic
-fcall-convention-linkage=support
specifying call-convention by WITH ... LINKAGE
-fnumeric-value-for-edited-item=support
numeric literals in VALUE clause of numeric-edited items
-fincorrect-conf-sec-order=support
incorrect order of CONFIGURATION SECTION paragraphs
-fdefine-constant-directive=support
allow >> DEFINE CONSTANT var AS literal
-ffree-redefines-position=support
REDEFINES clause not following entry-name in definition
-frecords-mismatch-record-clause=support
record sizes does not match RECORD clause
-frecord-delimiter=support
RECORD DELIMITER clause
-fsequential-delimiters=support
BINARY-SEQUENTIAL and LINE-SEQUENTIAL phrases in RECORD DELIMITER
-frecord-delim-with-fixed-recs=support
RECORD DELIMITER clause on file with fixed-length records
-fmissing-statement=support
missing statement (e.g. empty IF / PERFORM)
-fmissing-period=support
missing period in PROCEDURE DIVISION (when reference format supports Area A
enforcement)
-fzero-length-literals=support
zero-length literals, e.g. ” and ""
-fxml-generate-extra-phrases=support
XML GENERATE’s phrases other than COUNT IN
-fcontinue-after=support
AFTER phrase in CONTINUE statement
-fgoto-entry=support
ENTRY FOR GOTO and GOTO ENTRY statements
-fassign-variable=support
ASSIGN [TO] variable in SELECT
-fassign-using-variable=support
ASSIGN USING/VARYING variable in SELECT
-fassign-ext-dyn=support
ASSIGN EXTERNAL/DYNAMIC in SELECT
-fassign-disk-from=support
ASSIGN DISK FROM variable in SELECT
-fvsam-status=support
VSAM status in FILE STATUS
-fself-call-recursive=support
CALL to own PROGRAM-ID implies RECURSIVE attribute
-frecord-contains-depending-clause=support
DEPENDING clause in RECORD CONTAINS
-fpicture-l=support
PICTURE string with ‘L’ character where support is one of: ok, warning, archaic,
obsolete, skip, ignore, error, unconformable
-fnot-reserved=word
word to be taken out of the reserved words list
-freserved=word
word to be added to reserved words list
-freserved=word:alias
word to be added to reserved words list as alias
-fnot-register=word
special register to disable
-fregister=word or word:definition, where definition uses backslash esca
special register to enable
46
Appendix B Reserved Words

The following list of reserved words was extracted from cobc --list-reserved and shows the
reserved words, an implementation
Please notice: This list is highly specific to the option -std=dialect and reserved word
options (-freserved=word, -fno-reserved=word) in effect. You can get the list for a given
dialect by calling cobc -std=dialect --list-reserved.
B.1 Common reserved words
Reserved word Implemented Aliases

3-D Yes (C/S)
ABSENT Yes
ACCEPT Yes
ACCESS Yes
ACTION Yes (C/S)
ACTIVATING No (C/S)
ACTIVE-CLASS No
ACTIVE-X Yes (C/S)
ACTUAL Yes (C/S)
ADD Yes
ADDRESS Yes
ADJUSTABLE-COLUMNS Yes (C/S)
ADVANCING Yes
AFTER Yes
ALIGNED No
ALIGNMENT Yes (C/S)
ALL Yes
ALLOCATE Yes
ALLOWING Yes (C/S)
ALPHABET Yes
ALPHABETIC Yes
ALPHABETIC-LOWER Yes
ALPHABETIC-UPPER Yes
ALPHANUMERIC Yes
ALPHANUMERIC-EDITED Yes
ALSO Yes
ALTER Yes
ALTERNATE Yes
AND Yes
ANUM No (C/S)
ANY Yes
ANYCASE No
APPLY Yes (C/S)
ARE Yes
AREA Yes AREAS
AREAS Yes AREA
ARGUMENT-NUMBER Yes
ARGUMENT-VALUE Yes
ARITHMETIC Yes (C/S)
AS Yes
Appendix B: Reserved Words 47
ASCENDING Yes
ASCII Yes (C/S)
ASSIGN Yes
AT Yes
ATTRIBUTE Yes (C/S)
ATTRIBUTES Yes (C/S)
AUTHOR Yes (C/S)
AUTO Yes (C/S) AUTO-SKIP, AUTOTERMINATE
AUTO-DECIMAL Yes (C/S)
AUTO-SKIP Yes AUTO, AUTOTERMINATE
AUTO-SPIN Yes (C/S)
AUTOMATIC Yes
AUTOTERMINATE Yes AUTO, AUTO-SKIP
AWAY-FROM-ZERO Yes (C/S)
B-AND Yes
B-NOT Yes
B-OR Yes
B-SHIFT-L Yes
B-SHIFT-LC Yes
B-SHIFT-R Yes
B-SHIFT-RC Yes
B-XOR Yes
BACKGROUND-COLOR Yes (C/S) BACKGROUND-COLOUR
BACKGROUND-COLOUR Yes BACKGROUND-COLOR
BACKGROUND-HIGH Yes
BACKGROUND-LOW Yes
BACKGROUND-STANDARD Yes
BACKWARD Yes (C/S)
BAR Yes (C/S)
BASED Yes
BEEP Yes BELL
BEFORE Yes
BELL Yes (C/S) BEEP
BINARY Yes
BINARY-C-LONG Yes
BINARY-CHAR Yes
BINARY-DOUBLE Yes BINARY-LONG-LONG
BINARY-INT Yes BINARY-LONG
BINARY-LONG Yes BINARY-INT
BINARY-LONG-LONG Yes BINARY-DOUBLE
BINARY-SEQUENTIAL Yes (C/S)
BINARY-SHORT Yes
BIT Yes
BITMAP Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-END Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-HANDLE Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-NUMBER Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-START Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-TIMER Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-TRAILING Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-TRANSPARENT-COLOR Yes (C/S)
BITMAP-WIDTH Yes (C/S)
BLANK Yes
BLINK Yes (C/S)
BLOCK Yes
BOOLEAN No
BOTTOM Yes
BOX Yes (C/S)
BOXED Yes (C/S)
BULK-ADDITION Yes (C/S)
BUSY Yes (C/S)
BUTTONS Yes (C/S)
BY Yes
BYTE No (C/S)
BYTE-LENGTH Yes (C/S)
BYTES No
C Yes (C/S)
CALENDAR-FONT Yes (C/S)
CALL Yes
CANCEL Yes
CANCEL-BUTTON Yes (C/S)
CAPACITY Yes (C/S)
CARD-PUNCH Yes (C/S)
CARD-READER Yes (C/S)
CASSETTE Yes (C/S)
CCOL Yes (C/S)
CD Yes
CELL Yes (C/S) CELLS
CELL-COLOR Yes (C/S)
CELL-DATA Yes (C/S)
CELL-FONT Yes (C/S)
CELL-PROTECTION Yes (C/S)
CELLS Yes CELL
CENTER Yes (C/S)
CENTERED Yes (C/S)
CENTERED-HEADINGS Yes (C/S)
CENTURY-DATE Yes (C/S)
CF Yes
CH Yes
CHAIN No
CHAINING Yes
CHANGED Yes (C/S)
CHARACTER Yes
CHARACTERS Yes
CHECK-BOX Yes (C/S)
CLASS Yes
CLASS-ID No
CLASSIFICATION Yes (C/S)
CLEAR-SELECTION Yes (C/S)
CLINE Yes (C/S)
CLINES Yes (C/S)
CLOSE Yes
COBOL Yes (C/S)
CODE Yes
CODE-SET Yes
COL Yes
COLLATING Yes
COLOR Yes
COLORS Yes (C/S) COLOURS
COLOURS Yes COLORS
COLS Yes
COLUMN Yes
COLUMN-COLOR Yes (C/S)
COLUMN-DIVIDERS Yes (C/S)
COLUMN-FONT Yes (C/S)
COLUMN-HEADINGS Yes (C/S)
COLUMN-PROTECTION Yes (C/S)
COLUMNS Yes
COMBO-BOX Yes (C/S)
COMMA Yes
COMMAND-LINE Yes
COMMIT Yes
COMMON Yes
COMMUNICATION Yes
COMP Yes COMPUTATIONAL
COMP-0 Yes COMPUTATIONAL-0
COMP-10 Yes COMP-15, DOUBLE, FLOAT-LONG
COMP-15 Yes COMP-10, DOUBLE, FLOAT-LONG
COMP-9 Yes FLOAT, FLOAT-SHORT
COMP-N Yes COMPUTATIONAL-N
COMP-X Yes COMPUTATIONAL-X
COMPUTATIONAL Yes COMP
COMPUTATIONAL-0 Yes COMP-0
COMPUTATIONAL-N Yes COMP-N
COMPUTATIONAL-X Yes COMP-X
COMPUTE Yes
CONDITION Yes
CONFIGURATION Yes
CONSTANT Yes
CONTAINS Yes
CONTENT Yes
CONTINUE Yes
CONTROL Yes
CONTROLS Yes
CONVERSION Yes (C/S)

CONVERTING Yes
COPY Yes
COPY-SELECTION Yes (C/S)
CORE-INDEX Yes (C/S)
CORR Yes CORRESPONDING
CORRESPONDING Yes CORR
COUNT Yes
CRT Yes
CRT-UNDER Yes
CSIZE Yes (C/S)
CURRENCY Yes
CURRENT No (C/S)
CURSOR Yes
CURSOR-COL Yes (C/S)
CURSOR-COLOR Yes (C/S)
CURSOR-FRAME-WIDTH Yes (C/S)
CURSOR-ROW Yes (C/S)
CURSOR-X Yes (C/S)
CURSOR-Y Yes (C/S)
CUSTOM-PRINT-TEMPLATE Yes (C/S)
CYCLE Yes (C/S)
CYL-INDEX Yes (C/S)
CYL-OVERFLOW Yes (C/S)
DASHED Yes (C/S)
DATA Yes
DATA-COLUMNS Yes (C/S)
DATA-POINTER No
DATA-TYPES Yes (C/S)
DATE Yes
DATE-COMPILED Yes (C/S)
DATE-ENTRY Yes (C/S)
DATE-MODIFIED Yes (C/S)
DATE-WRITTEN Yes (C/S)
DAY Yes
DAY-OF-WEEK Yes
DE Yes
DEBUGGING Yes
DECIMAL-POINT Yes
DECLARATIVES Yes
DEFAULT Yes
DEFAULT-BUTTON Yes (C/S)
DEFAULT-FONT Yes
DELETE Yes
DELIMITED Yes
DELIMITER Yes
DEPENDING Yes
DESCENDING Yes
DESTINATION Yes
DESTROY Yes
DETAIL Yes
DISABLE Yes
DISC Yes (C/S)

DISK Yes (C/S)
DISP Yes (C/S)
DISPLAY Yes
DISPLAY-COLUMNS Yes (C/S)
DISPLAY-FORMAT Yes (C/S)
DIVIDE Yes
DIVIDER-COLOR Yes (C/S)
DIVIDERS Yes (C/S)
DIVISION Yes
DOTDASH Yes (C/S)
DOTTED Yes (C/S)
DOUBLE Yes COMP-10, COMP-15, FLOAT-LONG
DOWN Yes
DRAG-COLOR Yes (C/S)
DROP-DOWN Yes (C/S)
DROP-LIST Yes (C/S)
DUPLICATES Yes
DYNAMIC Yes
EBCDIC Yes (C/S)
EC Yes
ECHO Yes
EDITING No
EGI Yes
ELEMENT Yes (C/S)
ELSE Yes
EMI Yes
EMPTY-CHECK Yes REQUIRED
ENABLE Yes
ENCODING Yes (C/S)
ENCRYPTION Yes (C/S)
END Yes
END-ACCEPT Yes
END-ADD Yes
END-CALL Yes
END-CHAIN No
END-COLOR Yes (C/S)
END-COMPUTE Yes
END-DELETE Yes
END-DISPLAY Yes
END-DIVIDE Yes
END-EVALUATE Yes
END-IF Yes
END-JSON Yes
END-MODIFY Yes (C/S)
END-MULTIPLY Yes
END-OF-PAGE Yes EOP
END-PERFORM Yes
END-READ Yes
END-RECEIVE Yes
END-RETURN Yes
END-REWRITE Yes
END-SEARCH Yes
END-SEND Yes
END-START Yes
END-STRING Yes
END-SUBTRACT Yes
END-UNSTRING Yes
END-WRITE Yes
END-XML Yes
ENGRAVED Yes (C/S)
ENSURE-VISIBLE Yes (C/S)
ENTRY Yes
ENTRY-CONVENTION Yes (C/S)
ENTRY-FIELD Yes (C/S)
ENTRY-REASON Yes (C/S)
ENVIRONMENT Yes
ENVIRONMENT-NAME Yes
ENVIRONMENT-VALUE Yes
EO No
EOL Yes (C/S)
EOP Yes END-OF-PAGE
EOS Yes (C/S)
EQUAL Yes EQUALS
EQUALS Yes EQUAL
ERASE Yes (C/S)
ERROR Yes
ESCAPE Yes
ESCAPE-BUTTON Yes (C/S)
ESI Yes
EVALUATE Yes
EVENT Yes
EVENT-LIST Yes (C/S)
EVERY Yes (C/S)
EXCEPTION Yes
EXCEPTION-OBJECT No
EXCEPTION-VALUE Yes (C/S)
EXCLUSIVE Yes
EXCLUSIVE-OR No
EXHIBIT Yes
EXIT Yes
EXPAND Yes (C/S)
EXPANDS No (C/S)
EXTEND Yes
EXTENDED-SEARCH Yes (C/S)
EXTERN Yes (C/S)
EXTERNAL Yes
EXTERNAL-FORM Yes
F Yes (C/S)
FACTORY No
FALSE Yes
FD Yes
FH--FCD Yes (C/S)
FH--KEYDEF Yes (C/S)
FILE Yes
FILE-CONTROL Yes
FILE-ID Yes
FILE-LIMIT Yes (C/S)
FILE-LIMITS Yes (C/S)
FILE-NAME Yes (C/S)
FILE-POS Yes (C/S)
FILL-COLOR Yes (C/S)
FILL-COLOR2 Yes (C/S)
FILL-PERCENT Yes (C/S)
FILLER Yes
FINAL Yes
FINALLY No
FINISH-REASON Yes (C/S)
FIRST Yes
FIXED Yes
FIXED-FONT Yes
FIXED-WIDTH Yes (C/S)
FLAT Yes (C/S)
FLAT-BUTTONS Yes (C/S)
FLOAT Yes COMP-9, FLOAT-SHORT
FLOAT-BINARY-128 No
FLOAT-BINARY-32 No
FLOAT-BINARY-64 No
FLOAT-DECIMAL-16 Yes
FLOAT-DECIMAL-34 Yes
FLOAT-EXTENDED No
FLOAT-INFINITY No
FLOAT-LONG Yes COMP-10, COMP-15, DOUBLE
FLOAT-NOT-A-NUMBER No (C/S)
FLOAT-SHORT Yes COMP-9, FLOAT
FLOATING Yes
FONT Yes
FOOTING Yes
FOR Yes
FOREGROUND-COLOR Yes (C/S) FOREGROUND-COLOUR
FOREGROUND-COLOUR Yes FOREGROUND-COLOR
FOREVER Yes (C/S)
FORMAT No
FRAME Yes (C/S)
FRAMED Yes (C/S)
FREE Yes
FROM Yes
FULL Yes (C/S) LENGTH-CHECK
FULL-HEIGHT Yes (C/S)
FUNCTION Yes
FUNCTION-ID Yes
FUNCTION-POINTER No
GENERATE Yes
GET No
GIVING Yes
GLOBAL Yes
GO Yes
GO-BACK Yes (C/S)
GO-FORWARD Yes (C/S)
GO-HOME Yes (C/S)
GO-SEARCH Yes (C/S)
GOBACK Yes
GRAPHICAL Yes (C/S)
GREATER Yes
GRID Yes (C/S)
GROUP Yes
GROUP-USAGE No
GROUP-VALUE Yes (C/S)
HANDLE Yes
HAS-CHILDREN Yes (C/S)
HEADING Yes
HEADING-COLOR Yes (C/S)
HEADING-DIVIDER-COLOR Yes (C/S)
HEADING-FONT Yes (C/S)
HEAVY Yes (C/S)
HEIGHT-IN-CELLS Yes (C/S)
HEX No (C/S)
HIDDEN-DATA Yes (C/S)
HIGH-COLOR Yes (C/S)
HIGH-VALUE Yes HIGH-VALUES
HIGH-VALUES Yes HIGH-VALUE
HIGHLIGHT Yes (C/S)
HOT-TRACK Yes (C/S)
HSCROLL Yes (C/S)
HSCROLL-POS Yes (C/S)
I-O Yes
I-O-CONTROL Yes
ICON Yes (C/S)
ID Yes
IDENTIFICATION Yes
IDENTIFIED Yes
IF Yes
IGNORE Yes
IGNORING Yes (C/S)
IMPLEMENTS No (C/S)
IN Yes
INDEPENDENT Yes (C/S)
INDEX Yes
INDEXED Yes
INDICATE Yes
INHERITS No
INITIAL Yes
INITIALISE Yes INITIALIZE
INITIALISED Yes INITIALIZED
INITIALIZE Yes INITIALISE
INITIALIZED Yes (C/S) INITIALISED
INITIATE Yes
INPUT Yes
INPUT-OUTPUT Yes
INQUIRE Yes
INSERT-ROWS Yes (C/S)
INSERTION-INDEX Yes (C/S)
INSPECT Yes
INSTALLATION Yes (C/S)
INTERFACE No
INTERFACE-ID No
INTERMEDIATE Yes (C/S)
INTO Yes
INTRINSIC Yes (C/S)
INVALID Yes
INVOKE No
IS Yes
ITEM Yes (C/S)
ITEM-TEXT Yes (C/S)
ITEM-TO-ADD Yes (C/S)
ITEM-TO-DELETE Yes (C/S)
ITEM-TO-EMPTY Yes (C/S)
ITEM-VALUE Yes (C/S)
JSON Yes
JUST Yes JUSTIFIED
JUSTIFIED Yes JUST
KEPT Yes
KEY Yes
KEYBOARD Yes (C/S)
LABEL Yes
LABEL-OFFSET Yes (C/S)
LARGE-FONT Yes
LARGE-OFFSET Yes (C/S)
LAST Yes
LAST-ROW Yes (C/S)
LAYOUT-DATA Yes (C/S)
LAYOUT-MANAGER Yes
LC_ALL No (C/S)
LC_COLLATE No (C/S)
LC_CTYPE No (C/S)
LC_MESSAGES No (C/S)
LC_MONETARY No (C/S)
LC_NUMERIC No (C/S)
LC_TIME No (C/S)
LEADING Yes
LEADING-SHIFT Yes (C/S)
LEAVE Yes (C/S)
LEFT Yes
LEFT-JUSTIFY No
LEFT-TEXT Yes (C/S)
LEFTLINE Yes
LENGTH Yes
LENGTH-CHECK Yes FULL
LESS Yes
LIKE Yes
LIMIT Yes
LIMITS Yes
LINAGE Yes
LINAGE-COUNTER Yes
LINE Yes
LINE-COUNTER Yes
LINE-SEQUENTIAL Yes (C/S)
LINES Yes
LINES-AT-ROOT Yes (C/S)
LINKAGE Yes
LIST-BOX Yes (C/S)
LM-RESIZE Yes
LOC Yes (C/S)
LOCAL-STORAGE Yes
LOCALE Yes
LOCATION No (C/S)
LOCK Yes
LOCK-HOLDING Yes (C/S)
LONG-DATE Yes (C/S)
LOW-COLOR Yes (C/S)
LOW-VALUE Yes LOW-VALUES
LOW-VALUES Yes LOW-VALUE
LOWER Yes (C/S)
LOWERED Yes (C/S)
LOWLIGHT Yes (C/S)
MAGNETIC-TAPE Yes (C/S)
MANUAL Yes
MASS-UPDATE Yes (C/S)
MASTER-INDEX Yes (C/S)
MAX-LINES Yes (C/S)
MAX-PROGRESS Yes (C/S)
MAX-TEXT Yes (C/S)
MAX-VAL Yes (C/S)
MEDIUM-FONT Yes
MEMORY Yes (C/S)
MENU Yes
MERGE Yes
MESSAGE Yes
MESSAGE-TAG No
METHOD No
METHOD-ID No
MIN-VAL Yes (C/S)
MINUS Yes
MODE Yes
MODIFY Yes
MODULES Yes (C/S)
MOVE Yes
MULTILINE Yes (C/S)
MULTIPLE Yes
MULTIPLY Yes
NAME Yes (C/S)
NAMED Yes (C/S)
NAMESPACE Yes (C/S)

NAMESPACE-PREFIX Yes (C/S)
NAT No (C/S)
NATIONAL Yes
NATIONAL-EDITED Yes
NATIVE Yes
NAVIGATE-URL Yes (C/S)
NEAREST-AWAY-FROM-ZERO Yes (C/S)
NEAREST-EVEN Yes (C/S)
NEAREST-TOWARD-ZERO Yes (C/S)
NEGATIVE Yes
NESTED Yes
NEW Yes
NEXT Yes
NEXT-ITEM Yes (C/S)
NO Yes
NO-AUTO-DEFAULT Yes (C/S)
NO-AUTOSEL Yes (C/S)
NO-BOX Yes (C/S)
NO-DIVIDERS Yes (C/S)
NO-ECHO Yes
NO-F4 Yes (C/S)
NO-FOCUS Yes (C/S)
NO-GROUP-TAB Yes (C/S)
NO-KEY-LETTER Yes (C/S)
NO-SEARCH Yes (C/S)
NO-UPDOWN Yes (C/S)
NOMINAL Yes (C/S)
NONE No (C/S)
NONNUMERIC Yes (C/S)
NORMAL Yes (C/S)
NOT Yes
NOTAB Yes (C/S)
NOTHING Yes
NOTIFY Yes (C/S)
NOTIFY-CHANGE Yes (C/S)
NOTIFY-DBLCLICK Yes (C/S)
NOTIFY-SELCHANGE Yes (C/S)
NULL Yes NULLS
NULLS Yes NULL
NUM-COL-HEADINGS Yes (C/S)
NUM-ROWS Yes (C/S)
NUMBER Yes
NUMBERS Yes
NUMERIC Yes
NUMERIC-EDITED Yes
OBJECT Yes
OBJECT-COMPUTER Yes
OBJECT-REFERENCE No
OCCURS Yes
OF Yes
OFF Yes
OK-BUTTON Yes (C/S)

OMITTED Yes
ON Yes
ONLY Yes
OPEN Yes
OPTIONAL Yes
OPTIONS Yes
OR Yes
ORDER Yes
ORGANISATION Yes ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION Yes ORGANISATION
OTHER Yes
OTHERS Yes (C/S)
OUTPUT Yes
OVERFLOW Yes
OVERLAP-LEFT Yes (C/S) OVERLAP-TOP
OVERLAP-TOP Yes (C/S) OVERLAP-LEFT
OVERLINE Yes
OVERRIDE No
PACKED-DECIMAL Yes
PADDING Yes
PAGE Yes
PAGE-COUNTER Yes
PAGE-SETUP Yes (C/S)
PAGED Yes (C/S)
PARAGRAPH Yes (C/S)
PARENT Yes (C/S)
PARSE Yes (C/S)
PASCAL Yes (C/S)
PASSWORD Yes (C/S)
PERFORM Yes
PERMANENT Yes (C/S)
PF Yes
PH Yes
PHYSICAL Yes
PIC Yes PICTURE
PICTURE Yes PIC
PIXEL Yes (C/S) PIXELS
PIXELS Yes PIXEL
PLACEMENT Yes (C/S)
PLUS Yes
POINTER Yes
POP-UP Yes (C/S)
POS Yes
POSITION Yes
POSITION-SHIFT Yes (C/S)
POSITIVE Yes
PREFIXED No (C/S)
PRESENT Yes
PREVIOUS Yes (C/S)
PRINT Yes (C/S)
PRINT-NO-PROMPT Yes (C/S)
PRINT-PREVIEW Yes (C/S)

PRINTER Yes (C/S)
PRINTER-1 Yes (C/S)
PRINTING Yes
PRIORITY Yes
PROCEDURE Yes
PROCEDURE-POINTER Yes PROGRAM-POINTER
PROCEDURES Yes
PROCEED Yes
PROCESSING Yes (C/S)
PROGRAM Yes
PROGRAM-ID Yes
PROGRAM-POINTER Yes PROCEDURE-POINTER
PROGRESS Yes (C/S)
PROHIBITED Yes (C/S)
PROMPT Yes
PROPERTIES Yes (C/S)
PROPERTY Yes
PROTECTED Yes (C/S)
PROTOTYPE Yes
PURGE Yes
PUSH-BUTTON Yes (C/S)
QUERY-INDEX Yes (C/S)
QUEUE Yes
QUOTE Yes QUOTES
QUOTES Yes QUOTE
RADIO-BUTTON Yes (C/S)
RAISE Yes
RAISED Yes (C/S)
RAISING Yes
RANDOM Yes
RD Yes
READ Yes
READ-ONLY Yes (C/S)
READERS Yes (C/S)
RECEIVE Yes
RECEIVED Yes
RECORD Yes
RECORD-DATA Yes (C/S)
RECORD-OVERFLOW Yes (C/S)
RECORD-TO-ADD Yes (C/S)
RECORD-TO-DELETE Yes (C/S)
RECORDING Yes
RECORDS Yes
RECURSIVE Yes (C/S)
REDEFINES Yes
REEL Yes
REFERENCE Yes
REFERENCES Yes
REFRESH Yes (C/S)
REGION-COLOR Yes (C/S)
RELATION No (C/S)
RELATIVE Yes
RELEASE Yes
REMAINDER Yes
REMARKS Yes (C/S)
REMOVAL Yes
RENAMES Yes
REORG-CRITERIA Yes (C/S)
REPLACE Yes
REPLACING Yes
REPORT Yes
REPORTING Yes
REPORTS Yes
REPOSITORY Yes
REQUIRED Yes (C/S) EMPTY-CHECK
REREAD Yes (C/S)
RERUN Yes (C/S)
RESERVE Yes
RESET Yes
RESET-GRID Yes (C/S)
RESET-LIST Yes (C/S)
RESET-TABS Yes (C/S)
RESUME No
RETRY Yes
RETURN Yes
RETURNING Yes
REVERSE Yes
REVERSE-VIDEO Yes (C/S)
REVERSED Yes
REWIND Yes
REWRITE Yes
RF Yes
RH Yes
RIGHT Yes
RIGHT-ALIGN Yes (C/S)
RIGHT-JUSTIFY No
RIMMED Yes (C/S)
ROLLBACK Yes
ROUNDED Yes
ROUNDING Yes (C/S)
ROW-COLOR Yes (C/S)
ROW-COLOR-PATTERN Yes (C/S)
ROW-DIVIDERS Yes (C/S)
ROW-FONT Yes (C/S)
ROW-HEADINGS Yes (C/S)
ROW-PROTECTION Yes (C/S)
RUN Yes
S Yes (C/S)
SAME Yes
SAVE-AS Yes (C/S)
SAVE-AS-NO-PROMPT Yes (C/S)
SCREEN Yes
SCROLL Yes (C/S)
SCROLL-BAR Yes (C/S)

SD Yes
SEARCH Yes
SEARCH-OPTIONS Yes (C/S)
SEARCH-TEXT Yes (C/S)
SECONDS Yes (C/S)
SECTION Yes
SECURE Yes (C/S)
SECURITY Yes (C/S)
SEGMENT Yes
SEGMENT-LIMIT Yes
SELECT Yes
SELECT-ALL Yes (C/S)
SELECTION-INDEX Yes (C/S)
SELECTION-TEXT Yes (C/S)
SELF No
SELF-ACT Yes (C/S)
SEND Yes
SENTENCE Yes
SEPARATE Yes
SEPARATION Yes (C/S)
SEQUENCE Yes
SEQUENTIAL Yes
SET Yes
SHADING Yes (C/S)
SHADOW Yes (C/S)
SHARING Yes
SHORT-DATE Yes (C/S)
SHOW-LINES Yes (C/S)
SHOW-NONE Yes (C/S)
SHOW-SEL-ALWAYS Yes (C/S)
SIGN Yes
SIGNED Yes
SIGNED-INT Yes
SIGNED-LONG Yes
SIGNED-SHORT Yes
SIZE Yes
SMALL-FONT Yes
SORT Yes
SORT-MERGE Yes
SORT-ORDER Yes (C/S)
SOURCE Yes
SOURCE-COMPUTER Yes
SOURCES No
SPACE Yes SPACES
SPACE-FILL No
SPACES Yes SPACE
SPECIAL-NAMES Yes
SPINNER Yes (C/S)
SQUARE Yes (C/S)
STACK No (C/S)
STANDARD Yes
STANDARD-1 Yes
STANDARD-2 Yes
STANDARD-BINARY Yes (C/S)
STANDARD-DECIMAL Yes (C/S)
START Yes
START-X Yes (C/S)
START-Y Yes (C/S)
STATEMENT No (C/S)
STATIC Yes (C/S)
STATIC-LIST Yes (C/S)
STATUS Yes
STATUS-BAR Yes (C/S)
STATUS-TEXT Yes (C/S)
STDCALL Yes (C/S)
STEP Yes (C/S)
STOP Yes
STRING Yes
STRONG Yes (C/S)
STYLE Yes (C/S)
SUB-QUEUE-1 Yes
SUB-QUEUE-2 Yes
SUB-QUEUE-3 Yes
SUBTRACT Yes
SUBWINDOW Yes
SUM Yes
SUPER No
SUPPRESS Yes
SYMBOL No (C/S)
SYMBOLIC Yes
SYNC Yes SYNCHRONISED, SYNCHRONIZED
SYNCHRONISED Yes SYNC, SYNCHRONIZED
SYNCHRONIZED Yes SYNC, SYNCHRONISED
SYSTEM-DEFAULT Yes
SYSTEM-INFO Yes (C/S)
SYSTEM-OFFSET Yes
TAB Yes (C/S)
TAB-TO-ADD Yes (C/S)
TAB-TO-DELETE Yes (C/S)
TABLE Yes
TALLYING Yes
TAPE Yes (C/S)
TEMPORARY Yes (C/S)
TERMINAL-INFO Yes (C/S)
TERMINATE Yes
TERMINATION-VALUE Yes (C/S)
TEST Yes
TEXT Yes
THAN Yes
THEN Yes
THREAD Yes
THREADS Yes
THROUGH Yes THRU
THRU Yes THROUGH

THUMB-POSITION Yes (C/S)
TILED-HEADINGS Yes (C/S)
TIME Yes
TIME-OUT Yes (C/S) TIMEOUT
TIMEOUT Yes TIME-OUT
TIMES Yes
TITLE Yes (C/S)
TITLE-POSITION Yes (C/S)
TO Yes
TOP Yes
TOP-LEVEL No (C/S)
TOWARD-GREATER Yes (C/S)
TOWARD-LESSER Yes (C/S)
TRACK Yes (C/S)
TRACK-AREA Yes (C/S)
TRACK-LIMIT Yes (C/S)
TRACKS Yes (C/S)
TRADITIONAL-FONT Yes
TRAILING Yes
TRAILING-SHIFT Yes (C/S)
TRAILING-SIGN No
TRANSFORM Yes
TRANSPARENT Yes (C/S)
TREE-VIEW Yes (C/S)
TRUE Yes
TRUNCATION Yes (C/S)
TYPE Yes
TYPEDEF Yes
U Yes (C/S)
UCS-4 Yes (C/S)
UNBOUNDED Yes (C/S)
UNDERLINE Yes (C/S)
UNFRAMED Yes (C/S)
UNIT Yes
UNIVERSAL No
UNLOCK Yes
UNSIGNED Yes
UNSIGNED-INT Yes
UNSIGNED-LONG Yes
UNSIGNED-SHORT Yes
UNSORTED Yes (C/S)
UNSTRING Yes
UNTIL Yes
UP Yes
UPDATE Yes
UPDATERS Yes (C/S)
UPON Yes
UPPER Yes (C/S)
USAGE Yes
USE Yes
USE-ALT Yes (C/S)
USE-RETURN Yes (C/S)

USE-TAB Yes (C/S)
USER Yes (C/S)
USER-DEFAULT Yes
USING Yes
UTF-16 Yes (C/S)
UTF-8 Yes (C/S)
V Yes (C/S)
VAL-STATUS No
VALID No
VALIDATE Yes
VALIDATE-STATUS No
VALIDATING Yes (C/S)
VALUE Yes
VALUE-FORMAT Yes (C/S)
VARIABLE Yes (C/S)
VARIANT Yes
VARYING Yes
VERTICAL Yes (C/S)
VERY-HEAVY Yes (C/S)
VIRTUAL-WIDTH Yes (C/S)
VOLATILE Yes
VPADDING Yes (C/S)
VSCROLL Yes (C/S)
VSCROLL-BAR Yes (C/S)
VSCROLL-POS Yes (C/S)
VTOP Yes (C/S)
WAIT Yes
WEB-BROWSER Yes (C/S)
WHEN Yes
WIDTH Yes (C/S)
WIDTH-IN-CELLS Yes (C/S)
WINDOW Yes
WITH Yes
WORDS Yes
WORKING-STORAGE Yes
WRAP Yes (C/S)
WRITE Yes
WRITE-ONLY Yes (C/S)
WRITE-VERIFY Yes (C/S)
WRITERS Yes (C/S)
X Yes (C/S)
XML Yes
XML-DECLARATION Yes (C/S)
XML-SCHEMA Yes (C/S)
XOR No
Y Yes (C/S)
YYYYDDD Yes (C/S)
YYYYMMDD Yes (C/S)
ZERO Yes ZEROES, ZEROS
ZERO-FILL No (C/S)
ZEROES Yes ZERO, ZEROS
ZEROS Yes ZERO, ZEROES
B.2 Internal registers
Register Implemented Definition

’ADDRESS OF’ phrase Yes USAGE POINTER
COB-CRT-STATUS Yes PICTURE 9(4) USAGE DISPLAY
VALUE ZERO
DEBUG-ITEM Yes PICTURE X(n) USAGE DISPLAY
’LENGTH OF’ phrase Yes CONSTANT USAGE BINARY-LONG
NUMBER-OF-CALL-PARAMETERS Yes USAGE BINARY-LONG
RETURN-CODE Yes GLOBAL USAGE BINARY-LONG VALUE
ZERO
SORT-RETURN Yes GLOBAL USAGE BINARY-LONG VALUE
ZERO
TALLY Yes GLOBAL PICTURE 9(5) USAGE
BINARY VALUE ZERO
WHEN-COMPILED Yes CONSTANT PICTURE X(16) USAGE
DISPLAY
XML-CODE Yes GLOBAL PICTURE S9(9) USAGE
BINARY VALUE 0
XML-EVENT Yes GLOBAL USAGE DISPLAY PICTURE
X(30) VALUE SPACE
XML-INFORMATION Yes GLOBAL PICTURE S9(9) USAGE
BINARY VALUE 0
XML-NAMESPACE Yes GLOBAL PIC X ANY LENGTH
XML-NAMESPACE-PREFIX Yes GLOBAL PIC X ANY LENGTH
XML-NNAMESPACE Yes GLOBAL PIC N ANY LENGTH
XML-NNAMESPACE-PREFIX Yes GLOBAL PIC N ANY LENGTH
XML-NTEXT Yes GLOBAL PIC N ANY LENGTH
XML-TEXT Yes GLOBAL PIC X ANY LENGTH
JSON-CODE Yes GLOBAL PICTURE S9(9) USAGE
BINARY VALUE 0
JSON-STATUS Yes GLOBAL PICTURE S9(9) USAGE
BINARY VALUE 0
66
Appendix C Intrinsic Functions

The following list of intrinsic functions was extracted from cobc --list-intrinsics and shows
the names of the available functions, an implementation note and the number of parameters.
Intrinsic Function Implemented

ABS Yes 1
ACOS Yes 1
ANNUITY Yes 2
ASIN Yes 1
ATAN Yes 1
BASECONVERT No 3
BIT-OF Yes 1
BIT-TO-CHAR Yes 1
BOOLEAN-OF-INTEGER No 2
BYTE-LENGTH Yes 1
CHAR Yes 1
CHAR-NATIONAL No 1
COMBINED-DATETIME Yes 2
CONCAT Yes Unlimited
CONCATENATE Yes Unlimited
CONTENT-LENGTH Yes 1
CONTENT-OF Yes 1
CONVERT No 3
COS Yes 1
CURRENCY-SYMBOL Yes 0
CURRENT-DATE Yes 0
DATE-OF-INTEGER Yes 1
DATE-TO-YYYYMMDD Yes 1
DAY-OF-INTEGER Yes 1
DAY-TO-YYYYDDD Yes 1
DISPLAY-OF No 1
E Yes 0
EXCEPTION-FILE Yes 0
EXCEPTION-FILE-N No 0
EXCEPTION-LOCATION Yes 0
EXCEPTION-LOCATION-N No 0
EXCEPTION-STATEMENT Yes 0
EXCEPTION-STATUS Yes 0
EXP Yes 1
EXP10 Yes 1
FACTORIAL Yes 1
FIND-STRING No 7
FORMATTED-CURRENT-DATE Yes 1
FORMATTED-DATE Yes 2
FORMATTED-DATETIME Yes 4
FORMATTED-TIME Yes 3
FRACTION-PART Yes 1
HEX-OF Yes 1
HEX-TO-CHAR Yes 1
HIGHEST-ALGEBRAIC Yes 1
INTEGER Yes 1
Appendix C: Intrinsic Functions 67
INTEGER-OF-BOOLEAN No 1
INTEGER-OF-DATE Yes 1
INTEGER-OF-DAY Yes 1
INTEGER-OF-FORMATTED-DATE Yes 2
INTEGER-PART Yes 1
LENGTH Yes 1
LENGTH-AN Yes 1
LOCALE-COMPARE Yes 2
LOCALE-DATE Yes 1
LOCALE-TIME Yes 1
LOCALE-TIME-FROM-SECONDS Yes 1
LOG Yes 1
LOG10 Yes 1
LOWER-CASE Yes 1
LOWEST-ALGEBRAIC Yes 1
MAX Yes Unlimited
MEAN Yes Unlimited
MEDIAN Yes Unlimited
MIDRANGE Yes Unlimited
MIN Yes Unlimited
MOD Yes 2
MODULE-CALLER-ID Yes 0
MODULE-DATE Yes 0
MODULE-FORMATTED-DATE Yes 0
MODULE-ID Yes 0
MODULE-NAME No 1
MODULE-PATH Yes 0
MODULE-SOURCE Yes 0
MODULE-TIME Yes 0
MONETARY-DECIMAL-POINT Yes 0
MONETARY-THOUSANDS-SEPARATOR Yes 0
NATIONAL-OF No 1
NUMERIC-DECIMAL-POINT Yes 0
NUMERIC-THOUSANDS-SEPARATOR Yes 0
NUMVAL Yes 1
NUMVAL-C Yes 2
NUMVAL-F Yes 1
ORD Yes 1
ORD-MAX Yes Unlimited
ORD-MIN Yes Unlimited
PI Yes 0
PRESENT-VALUE Yes Unlimited
RANDOM Yes 0
RANGE Yes Unlimited
REM Yes 2
REVERSE Yes 1
SECONDS-FROM-FORMATTED-TIME Yes 2
SECONDS-PAST-MIDNIGHT Yes 0
SIGN Yes 1
SIN Yes 1
SQRT Yes 1
STANDARD-COMPARE No 2
Appendix C: Intrinsic Functions 68
STANDARD-DEVIATION Yes Unlimited

STORED-CHAR-LENGTH Yes 1
SUBSTITUTE Yes Unlimited
SUBSTITUTE-CASE Yes Unlimited
SUM Yes Unlimited
TAN Yes 1
TEST-DATE-YYYYMMDD Yes 1
TEST-DAY-YYYYDDD Yes 1
TEST-FORMATTED-DATETIME Yes 2
TEST-NUMVAL Yes 1
TEST-NUMVAL-C Yes 2
TEST-NUMVAL-F Yes 1
TRIM Yes 1
UPPER-CASE Yes 1
VARIANCE Yes Unlimited
WHEN-COMPILED Yes 0
YEAR-TO-YYYY Yes 1
69
Appendix D System routines

The following list of system routines was extracted from cobc --list-system and shows the
names of the available system routines along with the number of parameters.
System routine Parameters

SYSTEM 1
CBL_AND 3
CBL_ALARM_SOUND 0
CBL_BELL_SOUND 0
CBL_CHANGE_DIR 1
CBL_CHECK_FILE_EXIST 2
CBL_CLOSE_FILE 1
CBL_COPY_FILE 2
CBL_CREATE_DIR 1
CBL_CREATE_FILE 5
CBL_DELETE_DIR 1
CBL_DELETE_FILE 1
CBL_EQ 3
CBL_ERROR_PROC 2
CBL_EXIT_PROC 2
CBL_FLUSH_FILE 1
CBL_GET_CSR_POS 1
CBL_GET_CURRENT_DIR 3
CBL_GET_SCR_SIZE 2
CBL_IMP 3
CBL_NIMP 3
CBL_NOR 3
CBL_NOT 2
CBL_OPEN_FILE 5
CBL_OR 3
CBL_READ_FILE 5
CBL_READ_KBD_CHAR 1
CBL_RENAME_FILE 2
CBL_SET_CSR_POS 1
CBL_TOLOWER 2
CBL_TOUPPER 2
CBL_WRITE_FILE 5
CBL_XOR 3
CBL_GC_FORK 0
CBL_GC_GETOPT 6
CBL_GC_HOSTED 2
CBL_GC_NANOSLEEP 1
CBL_GC_PRINTABLE 1-2
CBL_GC_WAITPID 1
CBL_OC_GETOPT 6
CBL_OC_HOSTED 2
CBL_OC_NANOSLEEP 1
C$CALLEDBY 1
C$CHDIR 2
C$COPY 3
C$DELETE 2
Appendix D: System routines 70
C$FILEINFO 2
C$GETPID 0
C$JUSTIFY 1-2
C$MAKEDIR 1
C$NARG 1
C$PARAMSIZE 1
C$PRINTABLE 1-2
C$SLEEP 1
C$TOLOWER 2
C$TOUPPER 2
EXTFH 2
X"91" 3
X"E4" 0
X"E5" 0
X"F4" 2
X"F5" 2
71
Appendix E System names

The following list of system names was extracted from cobc --list-mnemonics and shows the
system names categorized by their type.
E.1 System names: device

SYSIN, SYSIPT, STDIN, SYSOUT, SYSLIST, SYSLST, SYSPCH, SYSPUNCH, STDOUT, PRINT, PRINTER,
PRINTER-1, SYSERR, STDERR, CONSOLE, ALTERNATE-CONSOLE, ALTERNATE
E.2 System names: feature

C01, C02, C03, C04, C05, C06, C07, C08, C09, C10, C11, C12, S01, S02, S03, S04, S05, CSP,
FORMFEED, TOP, CALL-CONVENTION
E.3 System names: switch

SWITCH-0, SWITCH-1, SWITCH-2, SWITCH-3, SWITCH-4, SWITCH-5, SWITCH-6, SWITCH-7,
SWITCH-8, SWITCH-9, SWITCH-10, SWITCH-11, SWITCH-12, SWITCH-13, SWITCH-14, SWITCH-15,
SWITCH-16, SWITCH-17, SWITCH-18, SWITCH-19, SWITCH-20, SWITCH-21, SWITCH-22,
SWITCH-23, SWITCH-24, SWITCH-25, SWITCH-26, SWITCH-27, SWITCH-28, SWITCH-29,
SWITCH-30, SWITCH-31, SWITCH-32, SWITCH-33, SWITCH-34, SWITCH-35, SWITCH-36
72
Appendix F Exception names

The following list of exception names was extracted from cobc --list-exceptions and shows
the exception names and if those are fatal (lead to a program abort).
All of those can be activated and deactivated, both directly and at group level, using -fec.
Exception Name
EC-ALL
EC-ARGUMENT
EC-ARGUMENT-FUNCTION (f)
EC-ARGUMENT-IMP
EC-BOUND
EC-BOUND-FUNC-RET-VALUE
EC-BOUND-IMP
EC-BOUND-ODO (f)
EC-BOUND-OVERFLOW (f)
EC-BOUND-PTR (f)
EC-BOUND-REF-MOD (f)
EC-BOUND-SET (f)
EC-BOUND-SUBSCRIPT (f)
EC-BOUND-TABLE-LIMIT (f)
EC-CONTINUE
EC-CONTINUE-IMP
EC-CONTINUE-LESS-THAN-ZERO
EC-DATA
EC-DATA-CONVERSION
EC-DATA-IMP
EC-DATA-INCOMPATIBLE (f)
EC-DATA-NOT-FINITE (f)
EC-DATA-OVERFLOW (f)
EC-DATA-PTR-NULL (f)
EC-EXTERNAL
EC-EXTERNAL-DATA-MISMATCH (f)
EC-EXTERNAL-FILE-MISMATCH (f)
EC-EXTERNAL-FORMAT-CONFLICT (f)
EC-EXTERNAL-IMP
EC-FLOW
EC-FLOW-APPLY-COMMIT (f)
EC-FLOW-COMMIT (f)
EC-FLOW-GLOBAL-EXIT (f)
EC-FLOW-GLOBAL-GOBACK (f)
EC-FLOW-IMP
EC-FLOW-RELEASE (f)
EC-FLOW-REPORT (f)
EC-FLOW-RETURN (f)
EC-FLOW-ROLLBACK (f)
EC-FLOW-SEARCH (f)
EC-FLOW-USE (f)
EC-FUNCTION
EC-FUNCTION-ARG-OMITTED (f)
EC-FUNCTION-IMP
Appendix F: Exception names 73
EC-FUNCTION-NOT-FOUND (f)
EC-FUNCTION-PTR-INVALID (f)
EC-FUNCTION-PTR-NULL (f)
EC-I-O
EC-I-O-AT-END
EC-I-O-EOP
EC-I-O-EOP-OVERFLOW
EC-I-O-FILE-SHARING
EC-I-O-IMP
EC-I-O-INVALID-KEY
EC-I-O-LINAGE (f)
EC-I-O-LOGIC-ERROR (f)
EC-I-O-PERMANENT-ERROR (f)
EC-I-O-RECORD-CONTENT (f)
EC-I-O-RECORD-OPERATION
EC-I-O-RECORD-WARNING
EC-IMP
EC-IMP-ACCEPT
EC-IMP-DISPLAY
EC-IMP-UTC-UNKNOWN (f)
EC-IMP-FEATURE-DISABLED
EC-IMP-FEATURE-MISSING
EC-LOCALE
EC-LOCALE-IMP
EC-LOCALE-INCOMPATIBLE
EC-LOCALE-INVALID (f)
EC-LOCALE-INVALID-PTR (f)
EC-LOCALE-MISSING (f)
EC-LOCALE-SIZE (f)
EC-MCS
EC-MCS-ABNORMAL-TERMINATION
EC-MCS-IMP
EC-MCS-INVALID-TAG
EC-MCS-MESSAGE-LENGTH
EC-MCS-NO-REQUESTER
EC-MCS-NO-SERVER
EC-MCS-NORMAL-TERMINATION
EC-MCS-REQUESTOR-FAILED
EC-OO
EC-OO-ARG-OMITTED (f)
EC-OO-CONFORMANCE (f)
EC-OO-EXCEPTION (f)
EC-OO-IMP
EC-OO-METHOD (f)
EC-OO-NULL (f)
EC-OO-RESOURCE (f)
EC-OO-UNIVERSAL (f)
EC-ORDER
EC-ORDER-IMP
EC-ORDER-NOT-SUPPORTED (f)
EC-OVERFLOW
EC-OVERFLOW-IMP
EC-OVERFLOW-STRING
EC-OVERFLOW-UNSTRING
EC-PROGRAM
EC-PROGRAM-ARG-MISMATCH (f)
EC-PROGRAM-ARG-OMITTED (f)
EC-PROGRAM-CANCEL-ACTIVE (f)
EC-PROGRAM-IMP
EC-PROGRAM-NOT-FOUND (f)
EC-PROGRAM-PTR-NULL (f)
EC-PROGRAM-RECURSIVE-CALL (f)
EC-PROGRAM-RESOURCES (f)
EC-RAISING
EC-RAISING-IMP
EC-RAISING-NOT-SPECIFIED (f)
EC-RANGE
EC-RANGE-IMP
EC-RANGE-INDEX (f)
EC-RANGE-INSPECT-SIZE (f)
EC-RANGE-INVALID
EC-RANGE-PERFORM-VARYING (f)
EC-RANGE-PTR (f)
EC-RANGE-SEARCH-INDEX
EC-RANGE-SEARCH-NO-MATCH
EC-REPORT
EC-REPORT-ACTIVE (f)
EC-REPORT-COLUMN-OVERLAP (f)
EC-REPORT-FILE-MODE (f)
EC-REPORT-IMP
EC-REPORT-INACTIVE (f)
EC-REPORT-LINE-OVERLAP
EC-REPORT-NOT-TERMINATED
EC-REPORT-PAGE-LIMIT
EC-REPORT-PAGE-WIDTH
EC-REPORT-SUM-SIZE (f)
EC-REPORT-VARYING (f)
EC-SCREEN
EC-SCREEN-FIELD-OVERLAP
EC-SCREEN-IMP
EC-SCREEN-ITEM-TRUNCATED
EC-SCREEN-LINE-NUMBER
EC-SCREEN-STARTING-COLUMN
EC-SIZE
EC-SIZE-ADDRESS (f)
EC-SIZE-EXPONENTIATION (f)
EC-SIZE-IMP
EC-SIZE-OVERFLOW (f)
EC-SIZE-TRUNCATION (f)
EC-SIZE-UNDERFLOW (f)
EC-SIZE-ZERO-DIVIDE (f)
EC-SORT-MERGE
EC-SORT-MERGE-ACTIVE (f)
EC-SORT-MERGE-FILE-OPEN (f)
EC-SORT-MERGE-IMP
EC-SORT-MERGE-RELEASE (f)
EC-SORT-MERGE-RETURN (f)
EC-SORT-MERGE-SEQUENCE (f)
EC-STORAGE
EC-STORAGE-IMP
EC-STORAGE-NOT-ALLOC
EC-STORAGE-NOT-AVAIL
EC-USER
EC-VALIDATE
EC-VALIDATE-CONTENT
EC-VALIDATE-FORMAT
EC-VALIDATE-IMP
EC-VALIDATE-RELATION
EC-VALIDATE-VARYING (f)
EC-XML
EC-XML-CODESET (f)
EC-XML-CODESET-CONVERSION (f)
EC-XML-COUNT (f)
EC-XML-DOCUMENT-TYPE (f)
EC-XML-IMPLICIT-CLOSE (f)
EC-XML-INVALID (f)
EC-XML-NAMESPACE (f)
EC-XML-STACKED-OPEN (f)
EC-XML-RANGE (f)
EC-XML-IMP (f)
EC-JSON
EC-JSON-IMP (f)
76
Appendix G Compiler Configuration

The following list was extracted from config/default.conf.
# Value: any string

name: "GnuCOBOL"
# Value: enum
standard-define 0
# NOTE: see enum cb_std_def, defined in cobc/cobc.h.
# CB_STD_GC = 0,
# CB_STD_MF,
# CB_STD_IBM,
# CB_STD_MVS,
# CB_STD_BS2000,
# CB_STD_ACU,
# CB_STD_RM,
# CB_STD_85,
# CB_STD_2002,
# CB_STD_2014
# Default source reference-format; values: FIXED, FREE, COBOL85,

# VARIABLE, XOPEN, XCARD, CRT, TERMINAL, COBOLX
format: fixed
# Value: int
tab-width: 8
text-column: 72
# Maximum word-length for COBOL words / Programmer defined words
# Be aware that GC checks the word length against COB_MAX_WORDLEN
# first (currently 63)
word-length: 63
# Maximum literal size in general

literal-length: 8191
# Maximum numeric literal size (absolute maximum: 38)

numeric-literal-length: 38
# Maximum number of characters allowed in the character-string (max. 255)

pic-length: 255
# Enable AREACHECK by default, for reference formats other than {fixed,free}

areacheck: no
# Default assign type

# Value: ’dynamic’, ’external’
assign-clause: dynamic
# If yes, file names are resolved at run time using

# environment variables.
Appendix G: Compiler Configuration 77
# For example, given ASSIGN TO "DATAFILE", the file name will be

# 1. the value of environment variable ’DD_DATAFILE’ or
# 2. the value of environment variable ’dd_DATAFILE’ or
# 3. the value of environment variable ’DATAFILE’ or
# 4. the literal "DATAFILE"
# If no, the value of the assign clause is the file name.
#
filename-mapping: yes
# Alternate formatting of numeric fields

pretty-display: yes
# Allow complex OCCURS DEPENDING ON

complex-odo: no
# Adjust position of items following OCCURS DEPENDING

odoslide: no
# Allow REDEFINES to other than last equal level number

indirect-redefines: no
# Binary byte size - defines the allocated bytes according to PIC

# Value: signed unsigned bytes
# ------ -------- -----
# ’2-4-8’ 1 - 4 same 2
# 5 - 9 same 4
# 10 - 18 same 8
#
# ’1-2-4-8’ 1 - 2 same 1
# 3 - 4 same 2
# 5 - 9 same 4
# 10 - 18 same 8
#
# ’1--8’ 1 - 2 1 - 2 1
# 3 - 4 3 - 4 2
# 5 - 6 5 - 7 3
# 7 - 9 8 - 9 4
# 10 - 11 10 - 12 5
# 12 - 14 13 - 14 6
# 15 - 16 15 - 16 7
# 17 - 18 17 - 18 8
#
binary-size: 1-2-4-8
# Numeric truncation according to ANSI

binary-truncate: yes
# Binary byte order

# Value: ’native’, ’big-endian’
binary-byteorder: big-endian
# Allow larger REDEFINES items other than 01 non-external

larger-redefines: error
# Allow certain syntax variations (eg. REDEFINES position)

relax-syntax-checks: no
# Allow zero length reference-modification

# (only checked with active EC-BOUND-REF-MOD)
ref-mod-zero-length: yes
# Perform type OSVS - If yes, the exit point of any currently

# executing perform is recognized if reached.
perform-osvs: no
# Compute intermediate decimal results like IBM OSVS

arithmetic-osvs: no
# MOVE like IBM (mvc); left to right, byte by byte

move-ibm: no
# SELECT RELATIVE KEY and ASSIGN fields must be in WORKING-STORAGE

select-working: no
# LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION implies RECURSIVE attribute

local-implies-recursive: no
# If yes, LINKAGE SECTION items remain allocated

# between invocations.
sticky-linkage: no
# If yes, allow non-matching level numbers

relax-level-hierarchy: no
# If yes, evaluate constant expressions at compile time

constant-folding: yes
# Allow Hex ’F’ for NUMERIC test of signed PACKED DECIMAL field
hostsign: no
# If yes, set WITH UPDATE clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item,

# except if WITH NO UPDATE clause is used
accept-update: no
# If yes, set WITH AUTO clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item,

# except if WITH TAB clause is used
accept-auto: no
# If yes, DISPLAYs and ACCEPTs are, by default, done on the CRT (i.e., using
# curses).
console-is-crt: no
# If yes, allow redefinition of the current program’s name. This prevents its
# use in a prototype-format CALL/CANCEL statement.
program-name-redefinition: yes
# If yes, NO ECHO/NO-ECHO/OFF is the same as SECURE (hiding input with

# asterisks, not spaces).
no-echo-means-secure: no
# If yes, the first item in a field screen ACCEPT/DISPLAY (e.g. DISPLAY x UPON
# CRT) is located after the previous ACCEPT/DISPLAY (as though LINE 0 COL 0 had
# been specified).
line-col-zero-default: yes
# If yes, DISPLAY SPACES acts as ERASE EOS, DISPLAY X"01" acts as ERASE EOL,
# DISPLAY X"02" acts as BLANK SCREEEN and DISPLAY X"07" acts as BELL. Note
# DISPLAY LOW-VALUE is excluded from this; it will always just position the
# cursor.
display-special-fig-consts: no
# If yes, COMP-1 is a signed 16-bit integer and any PICTURE clause is ignored.
binary-comp-1: no
# If yes, POINTER is handled as BINARY-DOUBLE UNSIGNED instead of its own class

numeric-pointer: no
# auto-adjust to zero like MicroFocus does

move-non-numeric-lit-to-numeric-is-zero: no
# If yes, implicitly define a variable for an ASSIGN DYNAMIC which does not
# match an existing data item.
implicit-assign-dynamic-var: yes
# If yes, ACCEPT and DISPLAY statements accept device names using mnemonics
device-mnemonics: no
# full clauses in XML PARSE - and adjusted XML-EVENTs

xml-parse-xmlss: yes
# What rules to apply to SCREEN SECTION items clauses

screen-section-rules: gc
# Whether DECIMAL-POINT IS COMMA has effect in XML/JSON GENERATE

dpc-in-data: xml
# Dialect features
# Value: ’ok’, ’warning’, ’archaic’, ’obsolete’, ’skip’, ’ignore’, ’error’,
# ’unconformable’
alter-statement: obsolete
comment-paragraphs: obsolete
control-division: unconformable
partial-replacing-with-literal: obsolete
call-overflow: archaic
data-records-clause: obsolete
debugging-mode: ok
use-for-debugging: ok
listing-statements: skip # may be a user-defined word
title-statement: skip # may be a user-defined word
entry-statement: ok
goto-statement-without-name: obsolete
label-records-clause: obsolete
memory-size-clause: obsolete
move-noninteger-to-alphanumeric: error
move-figurative-constant-to-numeric: archaic
move-figurative-space-to-numeric: error
move-figurative-quote-to-numeric: obsolete
multiple-file-tape-clause: obsolete
next-sentence-phrase: archaic
odo-without-to: warning
padding-character-clause: obsolete
section-segments: ignore
stop-literal-statement: obsolete
stop-identifier-statement: obsolete
stop-error-statement: unconformable
same-as-clause: ok
type-to-clause: ok
usage-type: ok
synchronized-clause: ok
sync-left-right: ok
special-names-clause: ok
top-level-occurs-clause: ok
value-of-clause: obsolete
numeric-boolean: ok
hexadecimal-boolean: ok
national-literals: ok
hexadecimal-national-literals: ok
national-character-literals: warning
acu-literals: unconformable
hp-octal-literals: unconformable
word-continuation: warning
not-exception-before-exception: ok
accept-display-extensions: ok
renames-uncommon-levels: ok
symbolic-constant: ok
constant-78: ok
constant-01: ok
perform-varying-without-by: ok
reference-out-of-declaratives: warning
program-prototypes: ok
call-convention-mnemonic: ok
call-convention-linkage: ok
numeric-value-for-edited-item: ok
incorrect-conf-sec-order: ok
define-constant-directive: archaic
free-redefines-position: warning
records-mismatch-record-clause warning
record-delimiter: ok
sequential-delimiters: ok
record-delim-with-fixed-recs: ok
missing-statement: warning
missing-period: warning #when format not in {fixed,free}
zero-length-literals: ok
xml-generate-extra-phrases: ok
continue-after: ok
goto-entry: warning
assign-variable: ok
assign-using-variable: ok
assign-ext-dyn: ok
assign-disk-from: ok
vsam-status: ignore
self-call-recursive: warning
record-contains-depending-clause: unconformable
defaultbyte: init
picture-l: ok
# use complete word list; synonyms and exceptions are specified below
reserved-words: default
# not-reserved:
# Value: Word to be taken out of the reserved words list
not-reserved: TERMINAL
not-reserved: EXAMINE
# reserved:
# Entries of the form word-1=word-2 define word-1 as an alias for default
# reserved word word-2. No spaces are allowed around the equal sign.
reserved: AUTO-SKIP=AUTO
reserved: AUTOTERMINATE=AUTO
reserved: BACKGROUND-COLOUR=BACKGROUND-COLOR
reserved: BEEP=BELL
reserved: BINARY-INT=BINARY-LONG
reserved: BINARY-LONG-LONG=BINARY-DOUBLE
reserved: CELLS=CELL
reserved: COLOURS=COLORS
reserved: EMPTY-CHECK=REQUIRED
reserved: EQUALS=EQUAL
reserved: FOREGROUND-COLOUR=FOREGROUND-COLOR
reserved: HIGH-VALUES=HIGH-VALUE
reserved: INITIALISE=INITIALIZE
reserved: INITIALISED=INITIALIZED
reserved: LENGTH-CHECK=FULL
reserved: LOW-VALUES=LOW-VALUE
reserved: ORGANISATION=ORGANIZATION
reserved: PIXELS=PIXEL
reserved: SYNCHRONISED=SYNCHRONIZED
reserved: TIMEOUT=TIME-OUT
reserved: ZEROES=ZERO
reserved: ZEROS=ZERO
82
Appendix H Module loader cobcrun options

The following list of options was extracted from cobcrun --help and shows all available options
for the module loader with a short description.
-h, --help
display this help and exit
-V, --version
display version information for cobcrun + runtime and exit
-dumpversion
display runtime version and exit
-i, --info
display runtime information (build/environment)
-v, --verbose
display extended output with –info
-c file, --config=file
set runtime configuration from file
-r, --runtime-config
display current runtime configuration (value and origin for all settings)
-M module, --module=module
set entry point module name and/or load path where -M module prepends any
directory to the dynamic link loader library search path and any basename to the
module preload list (COB_LIBRARY_PATH and/or COB_PRELOAD)
83
Appendix I Runtime configuration
The following list was extracted from config/runtime.cfg.
I.1 General instructions

The initial runtime.cfg file is found in the $COB_CONFIG_DIR , which defaults to
installdir/gnucobol/config (see cobcrun --info for the local path that is configured). The
environment variable COB_RUNTIME_CONFIG may define a different runtime configuration file to
read.
If settings are included in the runtime environment file multiple times then the last setting
value is used, no warning occurs.
Settings via environment variables always take precedence over settings that are given in
runtime configuration files. And the environment is checked after completing processing of the
runtime configuration file(s)
All values set to string variables or environment variables are checked for ${envvar} and
replacement is done at the time of the setting. You can also specify a default value for the case
that envvar is not set: ${envvar:default} (the format ${envvar:-default} is supported,
too).
Any environment variable may be set with the directive setenv .
Example setenv COB_LIBARAY_PATH ${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}
Any environment variable may be unset with the directive unsetenv (one var per line).
Example unsetenv COB_LIBRARY_PATH
Runtime configuration files can include other files with the directive include .
Example include my-runtime-configuration-file
To include another configuration file only if it is present use the directive includeif . You
can also use ${envvar} inside this.
Example includeif ${HOME}/mygc.cfg
If you want to reset a parameter to its default value use reset parametername .
Most runtime variables have boolean values, some are switches, some have string values,
integer values (if not explicit noted: unsigned) and some are size values. The boolean values
will be evaluated as following: to true: 1, Y, ON, YES, TRUE (no matter of case) to false: 0, N,
OFF.
A size value is an unsigned integer optionally followed by ‘K’, ‘M’, or ‘G’ for ‘kilo’, ‘mega’ or
‘giga’.
For convenience a parameter in the runtime.cfg file may be defined by using either the
environment variable name or the parameter name. In most cases the environment variable
name is the parameter name (in upper case) with the prefix COB_ .
For a complete list of the settings in use see cobcrun --runtime-config .
Note: If you want to slightly speed up a program’s startup time, remove all of the comments
from the actual real configuration file that is processed.
Appendix I: Runtime configuration 84
I.2 General environment
Environment name: COB_DISABLE_WARNINGS

Parameter name: disable_warnings
Purpose: turn off runtime warning messages
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: DISABLE_WARNINGS TRUE
Environment name: COB_ENV_MANGLE

Parameter name: env_mangle
Purpose: names checked in the environment would get non alphanumeric
change to ’_’
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: ENV_MANGLE TRUE
Environment name: COB_SET_DEBUG

Parameter name: debugging_mode
Purpose: to enable USE ON DEBUGGING procedures that were active
during compile-time because of WITH DEBUGGING MODE,
otherwise the code generated will be skipped
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: COB_SET_DEBUG 1
Environment name: COB_SET_TRACE

Parameter name: set_trace
Purpose: to enable COBOL trace feature
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: SET_TRACE TRUE
Environment name: COB_TRACE_FILE

Parameter name: trace_file
Purpose: to define where COBOL trace output should go
Type: string : $$ is replaced by process id
Note: file is opened for append if name starts with "+"
Default: stderr
Example: TRACE_FILE ${HOME}/mytrace.$$
Environment name: COB_TRACE_FORMAT

Parameter name: trace_format
Purpose: to define format of COBOL trace output
Type: string
Default: "%P %S Line: %L"
%P is replaced by Program-Id/Function-Id minimal length 29
with prefix
%I is replaced by Program-Id/Function-Id variable length,
without prefix
%L is replaced by Line number, right justified, length 6
%S is replaced by statement type and name
%F is replaced by source file name
Example: TRACE_FORMAT "Line: %L %S"
Note: format of GC2.2 and older:
"PROGRAM-ID: %I Line: %L %S"
Environment name: COB_CORE_ON_ERROR

Parameter name: core_on_error
Purpose: to enable operating system handling of signals and to
raise an ABORT signal on runtime error instead of the
default error handling, which will commonly kill the
process after creating a coredump
Type: 0 means catching all default signals and do full
internal error handling as done in versions pre 3.2
along with full internal handling of COBOL runtime
errors
1 means to forward any signals; whatever happens
by means of system signal handers will happen,
which may include creating coredumps and killing
the process before libcob does any cleanup; preserve
full internal handling of COBOL runtime errors
2 is identical to 1, but on runtime errors explicit
raises SIGABRT after displaying it along with the
stacktrace and after doing minimal cleanup
3 similar to 2, but instead of raising SIGABRT execute
"gcore -a -o NAME $$" (where $$ is the process id and
NAME is specified by COB_CORE_FILENAME) as early as
possible before doing the normal internal error
handling; if the command does not work or if a signal
handler was executed before a SIGABRT is raised
Default: 0
Example: core_on_error 3
Note: If the operating system kills the process as part of the
signal handling no COBOL centric dump will be created and
no cleanup will be done either.
When catching a signal (for example 11) it will be
returned as exit code of the process, the generated
coredumps store the reason for the error in the variable
"runtime_err_str".
Environment name: COB_CORE_FILENAME

Parameter name: core_filename
Purpose: to adjust the default name or specify a folder for a
COB_CORE_ON_ERROR=3 generated coredump
Type: string
Default: ./core.libcob
Example: core_filename /home/me/SomeApp.core
Environment name: COB_STACKTRACE

Parameter name: stracktrace
Purpose: to disable stracktrace creation on abort

Type: boolean
Default: true
Example: STRACKTRACE no
Environment name: COB_DUMP_FILE

Parameter name: dump_file
Purpose: to define where COBOL dump output should go
Note: the -fdump=all compile option prepares for dump;
file is opened for append if name starts with "+";
may be disabled by setting it to "NONE"
Default: stderr
Example: DUMP_FILE ${HOME}/mytrace.log
Environment name: COB_DUMP_WIDTH

Parameter name: dump_width
Purpose: to define COBOL dump line length
Type: integer
Default: 100
Example: dump_width 120
Environment name: COB_CURRENT_DATE

Parameter name: current_date
Purpose: specify an alternate Date/Time to be returned to ACCEPT
clauses this is used for testing purposes or to tweak
a missing offset; partial setting is allowed
Type: numeric string in format YYYYDDMMHH24MISS or date string
Default: the operating system date is used
Example: COB_CURRENT_DATE "2016/03/16 16:40:52"
current_date YYYYMMDDHHMMSS+01:00
@section Call environment

@verbatim
Environment name: COB_LIBRARY_PATH

Parameter name: library_path
Purpose: paths for dynamically-loadable modules
Type: string
Note: the default paths .:/installpath/extras are always
added to the given paths
Example: LIBRARY_PATH /opt/myapp/test:/opt/myapp/production
Environment name: COB_PRE_LOAD

Parameter name: pre_load
Purpose: modules that are loaded during startup, can be used
to CALL COBOL programs or C functions that are part
of a module library
Type: string
Note: the modules listed should NOT include extensions, the
runtime will use the right ones on the various platforms,

COB_LIBRARY_PATH is used to locate the modules
Example: PRE_LOAD COBOL_function_library:external_c_library
Environment name: COB_LOAD_CASE

Parameter name: load_case
Purpose: resolve ALL called program names to UPPER or LOWER case
Type: Only use UPPER or LOWER
Default: if not set program names in CALL are case sensitive
Example: LOAD_CASE UPPER
Environment name: COB_PHYSICAL_CANCEL

Parameter name: physical_cancel
Purpose: physically unload a dynamically-loadable module on CANCEL,
this frees some RAM and allows the change of modules during
run-time but needs more time to resolve CALLs (both to
active and not-active programs)
Alias: default_cancel_mode, LOGICAL_CANCELS (0 = yes)
Type: boolean (evaluated for true only)
Default: false
Example: PHYSICAL_CANCEL TRUE
I.3 File I/O
Environment name: COB_VARSEQ_FORMAT

Parameter name: varseq_format
Purpose: declare format used for variable length sequential files
- different types and lengths precede each record
- ’length’ is the data length, does not include the prefix
Type: 0 means 2 byte record length (big-endian) + 2 NULs
1 means 4 byte record length (big-endian)
2 means 4 byte record length (local machine int)
3 means 2 byte record length (big-endian)
Default: 0
Example: VARSEQ_FORMAT 1
Environment name: COB_FILE_PATH

Parameter name: file_path
Purpose: define default location where data files are stored
Type: file path directory
Default: . (current directory)
Example: FILE_PATH ${HOME}/mydata
Environment name: COB_LS_FIXED

Parameter name: ls_fixed
Purpose: Defines if LINE SEQUENTIAL files should be fixed length
(or variable, by removing trailing spaces)
Alias: STRIP_TRAILING_SPACES (0 = yes)
Type: boolean
Default: false
Note: This setting is most useful if you want to REWRITE those
files.
Example: LS_FIXED TRUE
Environment name: COB_LS_VALIDATE

Parameter name: ls_validate
Purpose: Defines for LINE SEQUENTIAL files that the data should be
validated as it is read (status 09) / written (status 71).
Type: boolean
Default: true (per COBOL 2022)
Note: If active effectively disables COB_LS_NULLS.
Example: LS_VALIDATE FALSE
Environment name: COB_LS_NULLS

Parameter name: ls_nulls
Purpose: Defines for LINE SEQUENTIAL files what to do with data
which is not DISPLAY type. This could happen if a LINE
SEQUENTIAL record has BINARY/COMP data fields in it.
Type: boolean
Default: false
Note: The TRUE setting will insert a null character x"00" before
those values to escape them, and redo on read-in plus
validating that they only occur after a null character.
Decreases LINE SEQUENTIAL performance and prevents writing
escape sequences or formatting within the data.
Only checked if COB_LS_VALIDATE is disabled.
Example: LS_NULL = TRUE
Environment name: COB_LS_SPLIT

Parameter name: ls_split
Purpose: Defines for LINE SEQUENTIAL files what to do when a record
is longer than the program handles. If ’ls_split=true’ then
the data is returned as multiple records with io status 06,
otherwise the record is truncated, io status set to 04 and
the file skips to the next LF.
Type: boolean
Default: true (per COBOL 2022)
Example: LS_SPLIT = FALSE
Environment name: COB_SYNC

Parameter name: sync
Purpose: Should the file be synced to disk after each write/update
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: SYNC: TRUE
Environment name: COB_SORT_MEMORY

Parameter name: sort_memory
Purpose: Defines how much RAM to assign for sorting data
if this size is exceeded the SORT will be done
on disk instead of memory

Type: size but must be more than 1M
Default: 128M
Example: SORT_MEMORY 64M
Environment name: COB_SORT_CHUNK

Parameter name: sort_chunk
Purpose: Defines how much RAM to assign for sorting data in chunks
Type: size but must be within 128K and 16M
Default: 256K
Example: SORT_CHUNK 1M
Environment name: COB_SEQ_CONCAT_NAME

Parameter name: seq_concat_name
Purpose: Does DD_asgname hold multiple input file names
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: seq_concat_name = true
Environment name: COB_SEQ_CONCAT_SEP

Parameter name: seq_concat_sep
Purpose: Character separating file names
Type: char
Default: +
Example: seq_concat_name = ’&’
I.4 Screen I/O
Environment name: COB_BELL

Parameter name: bell
Purpose: Defines how a request for the screen to beep is handled
Type: FLASH, SPEAKER, FALSE, BEEP
Default: BEEP
Example: BELL SPEAKER
Environment name: COB_REDIRECT_DISPLAY

Parameter name: redirect_display
Purpose: Defines if DISPLAY output should be sent to ’stderr’
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: redirect_display Yes
Environment name: COB_SCREEN_ESC

Parameter name: screen_esc
Purpose: Enable handling of ESC key during ACCEPT
Type: boolean
Default: false
Note: is only evaluated if COB_SCREEN_EXCEPTIONS is active
Example: screen_esc Yes
Environment name: COB_SCREEN_EXCEPTIONS

Parameter name: screen_exceptions
Purpose: enable exceptions for function keys during ACCEPT
Type: boolean
Default: false
Example: screen_exceptions Yes
Environment name: COB_TIMEOUT_SCALE

Parameter name: timeout_scale
Purpose: specify translation in milliseconds for ACCEPT clauses
BEFORE TIME value / AFTER TIMEOUT
Type: integer
0 means 1000 (Micro Focus COBOL compatible), 1 means 100
(ACUCOBOL compatible), 2 means 10, 3 means 1
Default: 0
Note: the minimum and possible maximum value depend on the
screenio library used
Example: timeout_scale 3
Environment name: COB_INSERT_MODE

Parameter name: insert_mode
Purpose: specify default insert mode for ACCEPT; 0=off, 1=on
Type: boolean
Default: false
Note: also sets the cursor type (if available)
Example: insert_mode Y
Environment name: COB_MOUSE_FLAGS

Parameter name: mouse_flags
Purpose: specify which mouse events will be sent as function key
to the application during ACCEPT and how they will be
handled
Type: int (by bits)
Default: 1
Note: 0 disables the mouse cursor, any other value enables it,
any value containing 1 will enable internal handling (click
to position, double-click to enter).
See copy/screenio.cpy for list of events and their values.
Alias: MOUSE_FLAGS
Example: 11 (enable internal handling => 1, left press => 2,
double-click => 8; 1+2+8=11)
Environment name: COB_MOUSE_INTERVAL

Parameter name: mouse_interval
Purpose: specifies the maximum time (in thousands of a second)
that can elapse between press and release events for them
to be recognized as a click.
Type: int (0 - 166)
Default: 100
Note: 0 disables the click resolution (instead press + release
are recognized), also disables positioning by mouse click
Environment name: COB_DISPLAY_PRINT_PIPE

Parameter name: display_print_pipe
Purpose: Defines command line used for sending output of
DISPLAY UPON PRINTER to (via pipe)
This is very similar to Micro Focus COBPRINTER
Note: Each executed DISPLAY UPON PRINTER statement causes a
new invocation of command-line (= new process start).
Each invocation receives the data referenced in
the DISPLAY statement and is followed by an
end-of-file condition.
COB_DISPLAY_PRINT_FILE, if set, takes precedence
over COB_DISPLAY_PRINT_PIPE.
Alias: COBPRINTER
Type: string
Default: not set
Example: print ’cat >>/tmp/myprt.log’
Environment name: COB_DISPLAY_PRINT_FILE

Parameter name: display_print_file
Purpose: Defines file to be appended to by DISPLAY UPON PRINTER
Note: Each DISPLAY UPON PRINTER opens, appends and closes the file.
Default: not set
Example: display_printer ’/tmp/myprt.log’
Environment name: COB_DISPLAY_PUNCH_FILE

Parameter name: display_punch_file
Purpose: Defines file to be created on first
DISPLAY UPON SYSPUNCH/SYSPCH
Note: The file will be only be closed on runtime exit.
Default: not set
Example: display_punch ’./punch_$$.out’
Environment name: COB_LEGACY

Parameter name: legacy
Purpose: keep behavior of former runtime versions, currently only
for setting screen attributes for non input fields
Type: boolean
Default: not set
Example: legacy true
Environment name: COB_EXIT_WAIT

Parameter name: exit_wait
Purpose: to wait on main program exit if an extended screenio
DISPLAY was issued without an ACCEPT following
Type: boolean
Default: true
Example: COB_EXIT_WAIT off
Environment name: COB_EXIT_MSG

Parameter name: exit_msg
Purpose: string to display if COB_EXIT_WAIT is processed, set to ’’
if no actual display but an ACCEPT should be done
Type: string
Default: ’end of program, please press a key to exit’ (localized)
Example: COB_EXIT_MSG ’’
I.5 Report I/O
Environment name: COB_COL_JUST_LRC

Parameter name: col_just_lrc
Purpose: If true, then COLUMN defined as LEFT, RIGHT or CENTER
will have the data justified within the field limits
If false, then the data is just copied into the column as is
Type: boolean
Default: TRUE
Example: col_just_lrc True
93
Appendix J GNU Free Documentation License

Version 1.3, 3 November 2008
Copyright c 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
https://fsf.org/
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies

of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
0. PREAMBLE
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Appendix J: GNU Free Documentation License 94
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GnuCOBOL Manual

for GnuCOBOL 3.2-dev

Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Brian Tiffin, Simon Sobisch

This manual corresponds to GnuCOBOL 3.2-dev.

Appendix A Compiler cobc options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Appendix B Reserved Words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Appendix C Intrinsic Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Appendix D System routines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Appendix E System names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Appendix F Exception names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Appendix G Compiler Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Appendix H Module loader cobcrun options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Appendix I Runtime configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Appendix J GNU Free Documentation License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

1.1 Hello, world!

The compiler, cobc, is executed as follows:

2.1 Compiler options

2.1.1 Help options

2.1.2 Build target

2.1.3 Source format

2.1.4 Warning options

2.1.5 Configuration options

2.1.6 Listing options

LINE PG/LN A...B...........................................................

000001 IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

000028 STOP RUN.

SIZE TYPE LVL NAME PICTURE

5204 GROUP 01 SETUP-REC

2.1.7 Debug switches

2.2 Multiple sources

2.2.1 Static linking

2.2.2 Dynamic linking

2.2.2.1 Driver program

2.2.2.2 Compiling programs separately

2.2.3 Building library

2.2.4 Using library

2.3.1 Writing Main Program in C

/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

/* rest of your program */

/* Clean up and terminate - This does not return */

2.3.2 Static linking with COBOL programs

extern int say(char *hello, char *world);

/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

/* call the static module and store its return code */

/* shutdown the COBOL run-time library, keep program running */

2.3.3 Dynamic linking with COBOL programs

static int (*say)(char *hello, char *world);

char world[7] = "world!";

/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

/* Find the module with PROGRAM-ID "say". */

/* If there is no such module, show error and exit. */

/* Call the module found ... */

/* ...and exit with the return code. */

/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

/* do a CALL, expecting the module to exist,

/* ...and exit with the return code. */

/* initialize the COBOL run-time library */

extern int say(char hello, char world);

static int (say)(char hello, char *world);