Getting mainframe applications to compile

If you move programs to the AIX workstation from the mainframe and compile them in the new environment, you need to choose the right compiler options and be aware of language features that differ from mainframe COBOL. You can also use the COPY statement to help port programs.

Choosing the right compiler options: The NOADV COBOL compiler option, available on the mainframe, is not applicable under COBOL for AIX, and is treated as a comment. It might yield unpredictable results. The compiler flags it with a W-level message:

NOADV
Programs that require the use of NOADV are sensitive to device control characters and almost certainly are not portable. If your program relies on NOADV, revise the program such that it does not assume a printer control character as the first character of level-01 records in a file.

For additional information about host compiler options that affect portability, see the related reference about compiler options.

Allowing for language features of mainframe COBOL: Several language features that are valid in mainframe COBOL programs can create errors or unpredictable results when compiled with COBOL for AIX. For details, see the related reference about language elements.

Using the COPY statement to help port programs: In many cases, you can avoid potential portability problems by using the COPY statement to isolate platform-specific code. For example, you can include platform-specific code in a compilation for a given platform and exclude it from compilation for a different platform. You can also use the COPY REPLACING phrase to globally change nonportable source code elements, such as file-names.

related tasks  
Setting environment variables
  

related references  
Compiler options  
Language elements  
COPY statement (COBOL for AIX Language Reference)