Enterprise COBOL for z/OS 6.4 and 6.3 documentation is refreshed today to include the following enhancements:

Documentation fixes in COBOL 6.4:

- In Programming Guide:

• Cleaned up read/write semantics for arrays of Java primitive types. (Array update semantics and restrictions in Java-interoperable applications)
• Updated the description of the MDECK compiler option. (MDECK)
• Amended to state that CONDCOMP(SKIPSRC) will cause compiled out source lines to be omitted from the listing and SYSMDECK.(CONDCOMP)
• Added an example to DLL to show how to build, link and run two COBOL programs, PROG1 and SUB1, on z/OS UNIX. (DLL)

• Corrected the example of setting the IGZPROUT ddname and added a note to clarify the program-name naming convention in the PROGRAM-ID paragraph or ENTRY statement for dynamic calls. (Generating a report of dynamically called COBOL programs)

• Added two newly supported DYNAMIC string types and PIC U BYTE-LENGTH m that are Java-compatible. (Mapping between COBOL and Java types)
• Clarified what delimiters are valid in COPY REPLACING. (Comparison and replacement rules and Comparison and replacement examples - Example 3)
• Added the examples for INSPECT statement with 4 different formats. (INSPECT statement)

- In Migration Guide:

• Added information about the IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS (ABO) product that can improve the performance of already compiled IBM COBOL programs without the need for recompilation and thus help reduce COBOL migration efforts. (IBM COBOL compilers by name and version)

- In Performance Tuning Guide:

• Updated the ABO information to state that the latest ABO 2.2 product can optimize COBOL 6 modules. (Using IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS (ABO) to improve COBOL application performance)

Documentation fixes in COBOL 6.3:

- In Programming Guide:

• Updated the description of the MDECK compiler option. (MDECK)
• Added an example to DLL to show how to build, link and run two COBOL programs, PROG1 and SUB1, on z/OS UNIX. (DLL)

- In Language Reference:

• Clarified what delimiters are valid in COPY REPLACING. (Comparison and replacement rules and Comparison and replacement examples - Example 3)

- In Migration Guide:

• Added information about the IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS (ABO) product that can improve the performance of already compiled IBM COBOL programs without the need for recompilation and thus help reduce COBOL migration efforts. (IBM COBOL compilers by name and version)

- In Customization Guide:

• Updated the description of the MDECK compiler option. (MDECK)

- In Performance Tuning Guide:

• Updated the ABO information to state that the latest ABO 2.2 product can optimize COBOL 6 modules. (Using IBM Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS (ABO) to improve COBOL application performance)

The English PDF files are also refreshed to include the updates above. You can find the latest English PDF files from the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS library page at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/611415.

If you have any comments regarding COBOL docs, please send them to compinfo@cn.ibm.com.