RBBS in a Box Volume 1 #2

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ RBBS in a Box Volume 1 #2 / RBBS_vol1_no2.iso / 007d / cobol85.txt < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1988-06-20 | 23KB | 658 lines

.op .he COBOL 85 - The new standard Page # Thσ Commoε Busines≤ OrienteΣ Language¼ COBOL¼ wil∞ celebratσ ì ì it≤ 30tΦ anniversar∙ iε Apri∞ oµ nex⌠ year« Thσ ne≈ standarΣ ì ì fo≥ COBO╠ compilers¼ hereafte≥ calleΣ COBO╠ 85¼ wa≤ announceΣ iε ì ì Septembe≥ oµ 198╡ afte≥ seveε year≤ oµ deliberation« Thi≤ ne≈ ì ì versioε oµ thσ world'≤ mos⌠ popula≥ languagσ present≤ man∙ ne≈ ì ì improvement≤ whicΦ wil∞ servσ t∩ furthe≥ promotσ thσ efficienc∙ ì ì oµ COBOL'≤ datß processinτ capabilities« However¼ nothinτ caε bσ ì ì gaineΣ withou⌠ sacrifice« B∙ improvinτ thσ programminτ ì ì efficienc∙ thi≤ ne≈ standarΣ haΣ t∩ givσ u≡ completσ upwarΣ ì ì compatibility« ì Iε 1959¼ mos⌠ programminτ task≤ werσ writteε iε machinσ ì ì codes« Thi≤ proveΣ t∩ bσ ver∙ timσ consuminτ anΣ costly╗ als∩ ì ì fe≈ peoplσ coulΣ understanΣ i⌠ enougΦ t∩ bσ productive« Wheε thσ ì ì assembler≤ camσ out¼ i⌠ markeΣ thσ beginninτ oµ highl∙ productivσ ì ì programming« However¼ therσ stil∞ existeΣ anothe≥ majo≥ problem║ ì ì aε assembl∙ languagσ prograφ i≤ machinσ specific« Programmer≤ ì ì haΣ t∩ learε almos⌠ completel∙ differen⌠ language≤ t∩ worδ witΦ ì ì differen⌠ computers« Fo≥ thi≤ purpose¼ anΣ ß couplσ oµ othe≥ ì ì reasons¼ ß conferencσ wa≤ organized« Thσ goa∞ oµ thi≤ ì ì conference¼ helΣ oε thσ campu≤ oµ thσ Universit∙ oµ Pennsylvania¼ ì ì wa≤ t∩ recommenΣ t∩ thσ Departmen⌠ oµ Defensσ t∩ havσ ß serie≤ oµ ì ì meeting≤ t∩ comσ u≡ witΦ a¼ "commoε busines≤ language.ó ì Thσ followinτ year¼ thσ Conferencσ oε Datß System≤ ì ì Languages¼ CODASYL¼ wa≤ held« Thσ resul⌠ wa≤ COBO╠ 60¼ thσ firs⌠ ìèì publisheΣ standarΣ oµ COBOL« Thσ goa∞ wa≤ t∩ creatσ ß standarΣ ì ì fo≥ COBO╠ compiler≤ tha⌠ woulΣ satisf∙ threσ maiε problems« Thσ ì ì firs⌠ wa≤ thσ probleφ oµ complicateΣ programming« COBO╠ provideΣ ì ì easσ oµ programming¼ readability¼ anΣ understandinτ t∩ peoplσ iε ì ì thσ compute≥ fielΣ b∙ usinτ opeε endeΣ EnglisΦ-typσ statements« ì ì Thσ seconΣ probleφ wa≤ tha⌠ oµ upwarΣ compatibility« Iε othe≥ ì ì words¼ thσ COBO╠ languagσ provideΣ fo≥ eas∙ modifications¼ anΣ ì ì program≤ writteε fo≥ aε earlie≥ compile≥ woulΣ bσ ablσ t∩ bσ ì ì compileΣ oε thσ ne≈ compiler« Thσ thirΣ anΣ fina∞ probleφ t∩ bσ ì ì solveΣ wa≤ transferability« B∙ publishinτ ß COBO╠ standard¼ thσ ì ì author≤ wanteΣ t∩ bσ ablσ t∩ takσ ß prograφ compileΣ oε onσ branΣ ì ì oµ compute≥ anΣ bσ ablσ t∩ compilσ anΣ executσ thσ samσ sourcσ ì ì codσ oε ß differen⌠ computer« Thus¼ COBO╠ wa≤ officiall∙ born« ì Thσ UniteΣ State≤ oµ Americß Standard≤ Institute¼ USASI¼ ì ì whicΦ becamσ ANSI¼ mergeΣ witΦ CODASY╠ t∩ comσ u≡ witΦ COBO╠ 68« ì ì Sincσ theε thσ tw∩ group≤ havσ publisheΣ COBO╠ 7┤ anΣ COBO╠ 85« ì ì Thσ Internationa∞ Standard≤ Organization¼ ISO¼ ha≤ accepteΣ AN╙ ì ì COBO╠ version≤ a≤ internationa∞ standards« ì Thσ rapiΣ acceptancσ anΣ continueΣ growtΦ iε thσ usσ oµ ì ì COBO╠ haΣ its root≤ iε ß changinτ programminτ environment« A⌠ ì ì thσ timσ oµ thσ introductioε oµ COBOL¼ CP╒ timσ wa≤ relativel∙ ì ì expensive¼ morσs∩ thaε programme≥ time« A≤ ß resul⌠ oµ this¼ ì ì programmer≤ madσ painstakinτ effort≤ t∩ makσ thei≥ program≤ morσ ì ì efficient¼ witΦ littlσ concerε fo≥ thσ timσ i⌠ tooδ t∩ accomplisΦ ì ì thσ codinτ task« Sincσ tha⌠ time¼ thσ role≤ havσ switched« Now¼ ì ì CP╒ timσ i≤ considereΣ cheap¼ anΣ prograφ efficienc∙ ha≤ giveε ì ìèwa∙ t∩ bette≥ documentatioε anΣ easσ oµ modification« COBO╠ ì ì standard≤ havσ continuall∙ adjusteΣ t∩ thi≤ changσ witΦ morσ ì ì descriptivσ reserveΣ word≤ anΣ easie≥ t∩ incorporatσ modularity« ì Thσ difference≤ betweeε COBO╠ 8╡ anΣ COBO╠ 74¼ thσ curren⌠ ì ì accepteΣ standard¼ arσ to∩ broaΣ fo≥ completσ coverage« Thi≤ ne≈ ì ì versioε bring≤ witΦ i⌠ ne≈ features¼ change≤ iε olΣ features¼ anΣ ì ì deletioε oµ obsoletσ features« Thσ scopσ oµ thi≤ pape≥ cover≤ ì ì onl∙ thσ majo≥ difference≤ tha⌠ wil∞ makσ programminτ iε COBO╠ ì ì morσ efficien⌠ anΣ productive« Thσ topic≤ covereΣ b∙ thi≤ pape≥ ì ì cu⌠ acros≤ two circle≤ oµ interest╗ bette≥ readabilit∙ oµ ì ì sourcσ code¼ anΣ easie≥ implementatioε oµ structureΣ logic.ì ì ì Simplσ thing≤ tha⌠ makσ readinτ ß COBO╠ prograφ ß littlσ ì ì easie≥ makσ u≡ onσ advantagσ thi≤ standarΣ ha≤ t∩ offer« WitΦ ì ì thσ fort∙-ninσ ne≈ reserveΣ words¼ tw∩ oµ theφ servσ onl∙ t∩ ì ì improvσ sourcσ codσ readability« Wheε programminτ unde≥ COBO╠ 7┤ ì ì anΣ describinτ datß item≤ a≤ packeΣ decima∞ o≥ binary¼ thσ USAG┼ ì ì clausσ mus⌠ bσ useΣ witΦ COMPUTATIONA╠ o≥ COMPUTATIONA╠-3« ì ì However¼ witΦ COBO╠ 8╡ therσ arσ bette≥ way≤ t∩ sho≈ thσ morσ ì ì efficien⌠ usσ oµ ß datß item« Thσ ne≈ reserveΣ word≤ arσ ì ì PACKE─-DECIMA╠ anΣ BINARY« Now¼ datß item≤ caε bσ declareΣ a≤ ì ì follows║ ì ì 0▒ FIELDS.ì 0▓ DISPLA┘-ITE═ PI├ S9(5⌐ USAG┼ I╙ DISPLAY.ì 0▓ PACKE─-ITE═ PI├ S9(5⌐ USAG┼ I╙ PACKE─-DECIMAL.ì 0▓ BINAR┘-ITEM PI├ S9(5⌐ USAG┼ I╙ BINARY.ì ì However¼ eveε thougΦ writinτ ou⌠ BINAR┘ o≥ PACKE─-DECIMA╠ ì ìècreate≤ bette≥ readabilit∙ fo≥ debugging¼ thσ ne≈ compiler≤ wil∞ ì ì stil∞ accep⌠ COM╨ anΣ COM╨-3« Eventuall∙ thσ latte≥ tw∩ reserveΣ ì ì word≤ wil∞ bσ eliminateΣ froφ thσ publisheΣ COBO╠ standard« ì ì ì Anothe≥ ne≈ advantagσ i≤ thσ numbe≥ oµ level≤ ß tablσ caε ì ì have« Pas⌠ COBO╠ standard≤ havσ haΣ ß limi⌠ oµ threσ level≤ oµ ì ì subscripting¼ whilσ COBO╠ 8╡ ha≤ thσ capacit∙ fo≥ aε additiona∞ ì ì fou≥ levels« ┴ tablσ ma∙ bσ describeΣ a≤ follows║ ì ì 0▒ NEW-TABLE-TYPE.ì 0▓ LEVEL-1 OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0│ LEVEL-2 OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0┤ LEVEL-3 OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0╡ LEVEL-4 OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES. ì 0╢ LEVEL-╡ OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0╖ LEVEL-╢ OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0╕ LEVEL-╖ OCCUR╙ ╡ TIMES.ì 0╣ DATA-ITE═ PI├ 9(5).ì ì Wheε ß prograφ i≤ designeΣ t∩ producσ ß repor⌠ tha⌠ wil∞ bσ ì ì seeε b∙ uppe≥ leve∞ management¼ whicΦ ma∙ bσ easil∙ impresseΣ b∙ ì ì smal∞ details¼ littlσ thing≤ sucΦ a≤ thσ datσ becomσ important« ì ì WitΦ COBO╠ 7┤ thσ compile≥ caε returε thσ datσ, anΣ witΦ somσ ì ì mino≥ codinτ thσ datσ caε bσ writteε iε ß a forφ managemen⌠ ì ì wil∞ like« Unde≥ COBO╠ 74¼ thσ datσ caε bσ obtaineΣ b∙ wa∙ oµ ì ì thσ MOV┼ statemen⌠ anΣ coulΣ bσ printeΣ iε thσ forφ 09/15/88« Iµ ì ì ß montΦ tablσ i≤ included¼ thσ datσ coulΣ bσ pu⌠ iε thσ forφ oµ ì ì Septembe≥ 15¼ 1988« Thi≤ forφ look≤ gooΣ t∩ management¼ bu⌠ ì ì COBO╠ 8╡ add≤ ß ne≈ leve∞ t∩ thσ aesthetic≤ oµ thσ date¼ thσ DA┘-ìèì O╞-WEE╦ reserveΣ word« Wheε DA┘-O╞-WEE╦ i≤ useΣ witΦ thσ ACCEP╘ ì ì statement¼ thσ compile≥ return≤ ß onσ digi⌠ characte≥ tha⌠ stand≤ ì ì for║ ì ▒ ¡ Monday ▓ ¡ Tuesday │ ¡ Wednesday ┤ ¡ Thursday ╡ ¡ Friday ╢ ¡ Saturday ╖ ¡ Sunday Thi≤ digi⌠ coulΣ bσ useΣ a≤ ß subscrip⌠ t∩ acces≤ ß da∙ table« ì ì WORKING-STORAG┼ SECTION. 0▒ DAYS-TABLE 02 DAYS-DEFINED. 03 PI├ X(9⌐ VALU┼ I╙ "MONDA┘ ". 03 PI├ X(9) VALU┼ I╙ "TUESDA┘ ". 03 PI├ X(9) VALU┼ I╙ "WEDNESDAY". 03 PI├ X(9⌐ VALU┼ I╙ "THURSDA┘ ". 03 PI├ X(9⌐ VALU┼ I╙ "FRIDA┘ ". 03 PI├ X(9⌐ VALU┼ I╙ "SATURDA┘ ". 03 PI├ X(9⌐ VALU┼ I╙ "SUNDA┘ ". 0▓ DAY-NAM┼-TABLE REDEFINE╙ DAYS-DEFINED. 0│ DAY-NAM┼ PI├ X(9⌐ OCCUR╙ ╖ TIMES. 77 DAY-CODE. . . ACCEP╘ DAY-COD┼ FRO═ DAY-OF-WEEK. DISPLA┘ "GOO─ MORNING¼ TODA┘ I╙ " DA┘-NAME(DA┘-CODE).ì ì Aε experienceΣ COBO╠ 7┤ programme≥ woulΣ immediatel∙ noticσ ì ì thσ absencσ oµ thσ FILLE╥ reserveΣ word« Anothe≥ onσ oµ COBO╠ ì ì 85'≤ improvement≤ ove≥ COBO╠ 7┤ i≤ it≤ morσ versatilσ usσ oµ thσ ì ì FILLE╥ ke∙ word« Iε previou≤ version≤ FILLE╥ coulΣ no⌠ bσ useΣ ì ìèa⌠ thσ grou≡ level« Als∩ includeΣ iε FILLER'≤ ne≈ rolσ i≤ ì ì optionability« FILLE╥ i≤ aε optiona∞ word¼ anΣ iµ i⌠ i≤ omitteΣ ì ì thσ compile≥ assume≤ it≤ presence« Comparσ thσ followinτ ì ì examples« ì ì COBO╠ 7┤ : COBO╠ 8╡ :ì 0▒ HEADER-LINE 0▒ HEADER-LINE.ì 0▓ FILLE╥ PI├ XXXX. 0▓ FILLER.ì 0▓ FILLE╥ PI├ XXXX« 0│ PI├ XXXX.ì 0▓ TOTALS PI├ 9999. 0│ PI├ XXXX.ì 0▓ FILLE╥ PI├ XXXX« 0│ TOTAL╙ PI├ 9999.ì 0│ PI├ XXXX.ì ì Thi≤ ne≈ featurσ add≤ bette≥ readabilit∙ fo≥ thσ programmer≤, ì ì anΣ i⌠ eliminate≤ thσ neeΣ t∩ typσ FILLE╥ ove≥ anΣ ove≥ agaiε fo≥ ì ì ß prograφ witΦ man∙ header≤ anΣ detai∞ lines« Sincσ thσ worΣ ì ì FILLE╥ wil∞ bσ absen⌠ froφ thσ fielΣ definitioε, thσ referenceablσ ì ì element≤ wil∞ bσ easie≥ t∩ recognize« ì ì A≤ ever∙ programme≥ knows¼ wheε dealinτ witΦ ß prograφ tha⌠ ì ì make≤ usσ oµ table≤ oµ accumulators¼ i⌠ i≤ necessar∙ t∩ usσ aε ì ì ou⌠-oµ-flo≈ loo≡ jus⌠ t∩ initializσ thσ field≤ t∩ zero« COBO╠ 8╡ ì ì ha≤ manageΣ t∩ overcomσ thi≤ inconvenience« WitΦ thi≤ ne≈ ì ì standard¼ thσ VALU┼ clausσ caε bσ placeΣ oε element≤ unde≥ aε ì ì OCCUR╙ clause« Thi≤ provide≤ ß simplσ methoΣ t∩ initializσ ß ì ì tablσ oµ value≤ t∩ an∙ numbe≥, a≤ showε here║ ì ì .paè 0▒.ì 0▓ EMPLOYEE-WAGE-TOTALS OCCUR╙ 10░ TIMES.ì 0│ EMPLOYEE-WAGES-TO-DATE PI├ S9(8)V99ì VALU┼ I╙ 0.ì ì ì Thσ feature≤ describeΣ s∩ fa≥ havσ al∞ resideΣ withiε thσ ì ì circlσ oµ bette≥ readability« Thesσ smal∞ change≤ wil∞ makσ ì ì prograφ maintenancσ aε easie≥ task¼ anΣ iε thσ lonτ run¼ thi≤ ì ì wil∞ savσ valuablσ programminτ time« Therσ i≤ stil∞ anothe≥ areß ì ì t∩ cover: bette≥ implementatioε oµ structureΣ logic« COBO╠ 8╡ ì ì bring≤ witΦ i⌠ tw∩ ne≈ powerfu∞ feature≤ neve≥ beforσ offereΣ b∙ ì ì COBOL« Thesσ feature≤ arσ nesteΣ program≤ anΣ instreaφ loops« ì ì Thσ firs⌠ feature¼ nesteΣ programs¼ i≤ ver∙ eas∙ t∩ ì ì implemen⌠ anΣ provide≤ ß wonderfu∞ wa∙ t∩ usσ differen⌠ module≤ ì ì createΣ b∙ member≤ oµ ß programminτ team« Thσ forma⌠ i≤ ì ì conceptually¼ anΣ actually¼ rathe≥ simple« Thσ ideß oµ nestedì ì program≤ i≤ illustrateΣ here║ ì ì ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ì ¢│ Maiε Prograφ │ ¢│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────¢┐ │ ¢│ ¢│ Inne≥ Prograφ ╔ ¢│ │ì ¢│ ¢│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────¢┐ ¢│ │ì ¢│ ¢│ ¢│ Inne≥ Prograφ Iß ¢│ ¢│ │ ¢│ ¢│ └──────────────────────────────────────¢┘ ¢│ │ì ¢│ ¢│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────¢┐ ¢│ │ì ¢│ ¢│ ¢│ Inne≥ Prograφ IΓ ¢│ ¢│ │ì ¢│ ¢│ └──────────────────────────────────────¢┘ ¢│ │ ¢│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────¢┘ │ ¢│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────¢┐ │ì ¢│ ¢│ Inne≥ Prograφ I╔ ¢│ │ ¢│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────¢┘ │ì └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ì è Thi≤ conceptua∞ figurσ caε easil∙ bσ transformeΣ int∩ ß ì ì COBO╠ skeletoε a≤ follows:ì IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISION. ───────────────┐ì PROGRA═ ID« MAI╬-PROGRAM. │ì │ . │ì . │ . │ì │ IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISION. ──────────┐ │ì PROGRA═ ID« INNE╥-PROGRAM-I. │ │ì │ │ . │ │ì . │ │ . │ │ì │ │ IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISION« ─────┐ │ │ì PROGRA═ ID« INNER-PROGRAM-IA« │ │ │ì │ │ │ « │ │ │ì « │ │ │ « │ │ │ì │ │ │ EN─ PROGRA═ INNER-PROGRAM-IA« ─────┘ │ │ì │ │ì │ │ IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISION« ─────┐ │ │ì PROGRA═ ID« INNER-PROGRAM-IB« │ │ │ì │ │ │ « │ │ │ì « │ │ │ « │ │ │ì │ │ │ EN─ PROGRA═ INNER-PROGRAM-IB« ─────┘ │ │ì │ │ │ │ì EN─ PROGRA═ INNER-PROGRAM-I« ──────────┘ │ì │ │ IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISION« ──────────¢┐ ¢│ì PROGRA═ ID« INNE╥-PROGRA═-II« ¢│ ¢│ ì ¢│ │ì . │ │ . │ │ . │ │ì │ │ EN─ PROGRA═ INNER-PROGRAM-II. ──────────┘ │ì │ │ì EN─ PROGRA═ MAIN-PROGRAM. ───────────────┘ì ì è Thσ nex⌠ ne≈ featurσ oµ COBO╠ 8╡ i≤ probabl∙ thσ singlσ ì ì greates⌠ improvemen⌠ ove≥ thσ previou≤ standards« Thi≤ additioε ì ì i≤ thσ ne≈ anΣ improveΣ function≤ oµ thσ PERFOR═ verb« Iε pas⌠ ì ì COBO╠ standards¼ therσ wa≤ n∩ wa∙ t∩ proces≤ loop≤ instream« Thσ ì ì flo≈ oµ contro∞ caε bσ illustrateΣ a≤ follows:ì ì ───────────────────ì Maiε Segment ───────────────────ì │ └────────────────────────┐ì │ ┌─────────────────────┐ │ì ¢│ ¢│ │ │ ─────────────────── │ì │ Nex⌠ Segment │ │ ──────────────────¢─ │ │ │ │ ┌───────────────────────┘ │ │ │ ──────────────────── │ Stmt≤« iε Loop │ ──────────────────── │ │ └──────────────────────┘ì ì However¼ witΦ COBO╠ 8╡ thσ flo≈ oµ contro∞ caε be instream:ì ì ──────────────────── Maiε Segment ──────────────────── │ ──────────────────── Stmt≤. iε Loop ──────────────────── │ ──────────────────── Nex⌠ Segment ──────────────────── ì Thi≤ differencσ caε bσ seeε clearl∙ iε thσ illustrations« ì ì Al∞ oµ thσ detail≤ oµ thσ ne≈ PERFOR═ statemen⌠ d∩ no⌠ neeΣ t∩ bσ ì ì discusseΣ a⌠ thi≤ time« Thσ majo≥ aspect≤ oµ thσ ne≈ PERFOR═ ìèì verΓ caε bσ seeε witΦ thσ followinτ tw∩ examples« ì ì ì PERFOR═ ╡ TIMESì DISPLA┘ ITEM(SUBSCRIPT)ì SUBSCRIP╘ ╜ SUBSCRIP╘ ½ 1ì END-PERFORM.ì ì PERFOR═ UNTI╠ EO╞-HA╙-OCCURRE─ ì AD─ NUMBE╥ T╧ SUB-TOTALì REA─ IN-FIL┼ A╘ EN─ MOV┼ 'Yº T╧ EOFì END-PERFORM.ì ì Thσ las⌠ tw∩ feature≤ fil∞ u≡ thσ empt∙ spacσ iε thσ realφ ì ì oµ implementinτ structureΣ logic« Fo≥ smal∞ routine≤ thi≤ wil∞ ì ì improvσ efficiency¼ anΣ readability¼ anΣ i⌠ wil∞ conforφ t∩ ì ì structureΣ logic« Branchinτ t∩ anothe≥ paragrapΦ caε bσ ì ì eliminated¼ s∩ visuall∙ thσ COBO╠ sourcσ code'≤ flo≈ oµ executioε ì ì wil∞ bσ easie≥ t∩ follo≈, resultinτ iε quicke≥ prograφ ì ì maintenance« ì COBO╠ 8╡ bring≤ witΦ i⌠ thσ alread∙ mentioneΣ feature≤ anΣ ì ì man∙ others¼ bu⌠ i⌠ als∩ ha≤ eliminateΣ somσ oµ thσ olΣ features« ì ì Thσ lis⌠ oµ thσ "obsoleteó feature≤ i≤ to∩ lonτ t∩ lis⌠ iε its ì ì entirety¼ ye⌠ therσ i≤ ß gooΣ examplσ oµ thσ theor∙ behinΣ this« ì ì Iε thσ IDENTIFICATIO╬ DIVISIO╬ therσ arσ man∙ paragraph≤ tha⌠ ì ì servσ onl∙ a≤ documentation« Thσ reserveΣ words╗ AUTHOR¼ ì ì INSTALLATION¼ DAT┼-WRITTEN¼ DAT┼-COMPILED¼ anΣ SECURIT┘ wil∞ n∩ ì ì longe≥ bσ accepteΣ b∙ COBO╠ compilers« Thσ COBO╠ 8╡ authorsº ì ìètheor∙ behinΣ thi≤ come≤ froφ compile≥ timσ efficiency« Thσ ì ì compile≥ coulΣ savσ timσ b∙ onl∙ havinτ t∩ proces≤ thσ necessar∙ ì ì paragraphs« Iµ programmer≤ wan⌠ thσ previousl∙ mentioneΣ ì ì documentatioε iε thei≥ prograφ, the∙ caε adΣ ß commen⌠ card« ì ì Othe≥ streamlininτ oµ thσ compile≥ ha≤ takeε placσ iε thσ ne≈ ì ì COBO╠ standard« ì ì WitΦ al∞ oµ thσ ne≈ features¼ change≤ iε olΣ features¼ anΣ ì ì thσ cancelinτ oµ obsoletσ features¼ convertinτ program≤ writteε ì ì fo≥ COBO╠ 7┤ t∩ COBO╠ 8╡ i≤ no⌠ aε eas∙ tasδ, iµ i⌠ caε bσ donσ a⌠ ì ì all« Onσ oµ thσ forementioneΣ purpose≤ oµ COBO╠ wa≤ upwarΣ ì ì compatibility« Thi≤ basiπ fundamenta∞ oµ thσ COBO╠ languagσ ha≤ ì ì beeε pu⌠ oε thσ roaΣ t∩ oblivion« Thσ convertinτ oµ presen⌠ ì ì program≤ t∩ COBO╠ 8╡ woulΣ takσ man∙ expensivσ programmer≤ lonτ ì ì labo≥ hours« ì ì Mos⌠ firm≤ wil∞ no⌠ takσ thσ timσ t∩ conver⌠ thei≥ olΣ ì ì programs╗ thu≤ the∙ arσ faceΣ witΦ ß tougΦ decision« Thσ choice≤ ì ì fo≥ eacΦ compan∙ arσ (1⌐ kee≡ programminτ witΦ ß COBO╠ 7┤ ì ì compile≥ anΣ ignorσ thσ ne≈ standard¼ (2⌐ kee≡ COBO╠ 7┤ anΣ als∩ ì ì star⌠ ne≈ program≤ unde≥ COBO╠ 85¼ o≥ (3⌐ conver⌠ COBO╠ 7┤ t∩ ì ì COBO╠ 8╡ anΣ codσ al∞ ne≈ program≤ fo≥ COBO╠ 85« Thi≤ decisioε ì ì i≤ onσ tha⌠ wil∞ bσ cominτ u≡ ver∙ shortl∙ iε al∞ COBO╠ ì ì programminτ environments« ì Thσ problem≤ oµ convertinτ sourcσ codσ t∩ COBO╠ 8╡ froφ ì ì COBO╠ 7┤ appears t∩ havσ thσ samσ difficult∙ a≤ convertinτ PL/╔ t∩ ì ì an∙ versioε oµ COBOL« Thi≤ similarit∙ throws ß ne≈ ligh⌠ oε thσ ì ì codinτ decision« Firm≤ ma∙ wisΦ t∩ trea⌠ COBO╠ 8╡ a≤ ß ìèì completel∙ separatσ languagσ froφ COBO╠ 7┤ anΣ le⌠ eacΦ ì ì peacefull∙ coexis⌠ iε thσ programminτ environment« A⌠ thσ ì ì presen⌠ time¼ thi≤ decisioε appear≤ t∩ bσ thσ mos⌠ reasonablσ ì ì one« ì ì Unlikσ previou≤ version≤ oµ COBOL¼ COBO╠ 8╡ wil∞ no⌠ bσ ì ì rapidl∙ implementeΣ int∩ mainstreaφ programming« I⌠ ma∙ takσ ì ì wel∞ int∩ thσ 1990'≤ beforσ thσ upgradσ i≤ finall∙ madσ t∩ bσ aε ì ì efficien⌠ alternativσ t∩ programminτ unde≥ COBO╠ 74« Thσ slo≈ ì ì changσ ma∙ causσ COBO╠ t∩ losσ somσ oµ it≤ popularit∙ t∩ newer¼ ì ì faster¼ anΣ morσ powerfu∞ languages« Onl∙ timσ wil∞ tell.ì ì Fo≥ now¼ programminτ iε COBO╠ wil∞ remaiε almos⌠ entirel∙ ì ì unde≥ thσ 197┤ standard« Thσ futurσ hold≤ promisinτ new≤ fo≥ ì ì COBO╠ programmer≤ iε thσ wa∙ oµ ne≈ feature≤ anΣ improvement≤ oµ ì ì olΣ features« Thσ ne≈ standarΣ oµ COBO╠ programminτ exists¼ ye⌠ ì ì i⌠ wil∞ bσ somσ timσ beforσ thσ accepteΣ standarΣ become≤ COBO╠ ì ì 85« Eveε thougΦ COBO╠ 8╡ bring≤ witΦ i⌠ instreaφ logic¼ bette≥ ì ì defineΣ verbs¼ anΣ bette≥ documentation¼ COBO╠ 7┤ stil∞ stand≤ ì ì alonσ a⌠ thσ to≡ oµ thσ programminτ hill.ì .paè.op .he .ul ì ì Work≤ Consulted Brown¼ P« R« anΣ Gwilliφ V.« User'≤ Guidσ t∩ COBO╠ 85« HalsteΣ ì Press║ Ne≈ York¼ Ne≈ York« 436p« 1985. Garfunkel¼ Jerome« Thσ COBO╠ 8╡ Examplσ Book« Johε Wile∙ ª Sons: Ne≈ York¼ Ne≈ York« 322p« 1987. I.B.M« IB═ V╙ COBO╠ fo≥ OS/VS¼ releasσ 2« Internationa∞ ì Busines≤ Machines║ Saε Jose¼ California« 544p« 1986. Nirmal¼ Barr∙ K.« Programminτ Standard≤ anΣ Guidelines║ COBO╠ Edition. Prentice-Hall« 226p« 1987.