RE: gnubol: [micjones@state.de.us: GNU-COBOL - a note of intrigue]

["William M. Klein" <wmklein@ix.netcom.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
 <snip>

> PS:  On the subject of sections, IBM extension is to make them
> optional; thus, a program can start with a paragraph and then
> form and use segments later.  ANS COBOL usually requires all
> segments if you use a SORT/MERGE.
>

FYI,
  The ANSI '74 Standard did require that INPUT/OUTPUT PROCEDURES needed to be
SECTIONS (not paragraphs).  OS/VS COBOL (IBM's '74 compiler) had an extension
allowing it to be  paragraphs.

The ANS'85 Standard changed the rule to allow paragraphs as the INPUT/OUTPUT
procedures (of SORT/MERGE).  Therefore, allowing this (as the newer IBM
compilers do - AND as do all other ANS'85 conforming compilers) is no longer
an extension.

No ANSI Standard has ever required that your program include SECTIONS.
However, in the current '85 Standard, you must use SECTIONS in your program
if you have a DECLARATIVE portion of your procedure division.  Even this
restriction is being removed in the draft of the next Standard.

Bill Klein
  wmklein <at> ix.netcom.com


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