# COBOL technical questions **URL:** https://community.openmainframeproject.org/c/cobol-technical-questions/16.md?page=1 [Latest](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/categories.md) **Page:** 2 --- ## [Best Practice Channel and Container Conversion](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/best-practice-channel-and-container-conversion/6463)
**Author:** [@cyberlill](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/cyberlill)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/best-practice-channel-and-container-conversion/6463 "2021-06-15T01:17:21Z")
Looking for technical guidance on Channels and Containers in COBOL on TS v5.5 Reviewing the Using IBM CICS TS Channels and Containers, it seems we have done exactly what IBM says NOT to do - we have created a gigantic C… --- ## [Determine IBM Compile Options From Load Module?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/determine-ibm-compile-options-from-load-module/6060)
**Author:** [@njsuburbs](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/njsuburbs)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/determine-ibm-compile-options-from-load-module/6060 "2021-03-24T19:24:00Z")
We have CICS and batch programs that may have been compiled with the IBM Cobol compile option YEARWINDOW in Enterprise COBOL for z/OS but we don’t have source listings for them all. Anyone know if we can figure out if th… --- ## [A clean way of evaluating several values (if value NOT = a or value = b etc)](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/a-clean-way-of-evaluating-several-values-if-value-not-a-or-value-b-etc/6284)
**Author:** [@daviddavey](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/daviddavey)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/a-clean-way-of-evaluating-several-values-if-value-not-a-or-value-b-etc/6284 "2021-02-19T12:29:32Z")
Was stuck for a long time trying to figure out a clean way of executing an action if three numbers are NOT the value of a variable (inside of a read loop). I first tried: IF NOT TS-TYPE = 1 OR 2 OR 3 and something s… --- ## [Json generation of comp-3 fields](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/json-generation-of-comp-3-fields/6271)
**Author:** [@Poppins](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Poppins)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/json-generation-of-comp-3-fields/6271 "2021-02-04T21:01:20Z")
Hello I’m a mainframer whose trying to do something new, but can’t seem to get this working, the program is cobol and I’m using the cobol ‘generate’ command that works unless the record being generated contains comp-3 f… --- ## [Call CICS from COBOL Batch program](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/call-cics-from-cobol-batch-program/6256)
**Author:** [@PerkinsS](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/PerkinsS)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/call-cics-from-cobol-batch-program/6256 "2021-01-27T12:38:16Z")
I need to call a CICS program from a COBOL batch program. I have looked at the EXCI information on the IBM Knowledge Base, but I would like to have an actual program example. Can anyone help? --- ## [Look for COBOL recruiters in European market](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/look-for-cobol-recruiters-in-european-market/5981)
**Author:** [@Cip2u](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Cip2u)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2020, 9:48am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/look-for-cobol-recruiters-in-european-market/5981 "2020-08-19T09:48:27Z")
Hi, I’m making the plunge to get back into the COBOL developer market. Can anyone recommend a good COBOL developer recruiters out there? Thanks in advance! --- ## [Open Source COBOL programs](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/open-source-cobol-programs/6046)
**Author:** [@iNayeem](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/iNayeem)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/open-source-cobol-programs/6046 "2021-01-06T19:55:36Z")
Hi Guys, I wanted to know is there any website where i can find open source COBOL programs, Sub programs, Copybooks which are fully functional. Like the CMS website has given access to complete application and its sourc… --- ## [Newbie question on Indices vs. Subscripts](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/newbie-question-on-indices-vs-subscripts/5823)
**Author:** [@alterkacker](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/alterkacker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/newbie-question-on-indices-vs-subscripts/5823 "2020-11-20T01:55:43Z")
I’ve been looking at table indices versus subscripts and can’t help wondering if the better performance of indices is something that might have been a real concern years ago but would be less so today considering improve… --- ## [Quality Assurance COBOL-CICS-DB2 code](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/quality-assurance-cobol-cics-db2-code/5905)
**Author:** [@lzrycki](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/lzrycki)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/quality-assurance-cobol-cics-db2-code/5905 "2020-11-20T01:26:37Z")
In your opinion, what are the quality rules for building COBOL-CICS-DB2 programs ? For example, indentation, not hardcore, numbered paragraphs nnnn-XXXX, not SQL SELECT \*, forbidden verbs as ALTER - GO TO, arrays with I… --- ## [Mainframe and .NET compatablility](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/mainframe-and-net-compatablility/6069)
**Author:** [@ronbl](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/ronbl)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/mainframe-and-net-compatablility/6069 "2020-11-19T23:19:59Z")
Curious I have 30+ years of mainframe experience and about 9 years of VB and C# in the .NET environment. I find the 2 can go together quite nicely. I would no longer consider writing a report in Easytrieve as I could do … --- ## [READ PARAMETERS from command line](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/read-parameters-from-command-line/5926)
**Author:** [@dirkturlach](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/dirkturlach)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/read-parameters-from-command-line/5926 "2020-11-19T21:06:58Z")
hey, i have to write a program that gets 1 to 5 parameters. Is there a possibility to get the count of the parameters before reading they with accept? I am using gnu-cobol. thanks Dirk --- ## [Pls help a newcomer](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/pls-help-a-newcomer/4266)
**Author:** [@Ekim](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Ekim)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/pls-help-a-newcomer/4266 "2020-11-19T20:36:16Z")
I read all over the web that IBM is trying hard to get people to learn Cobol. Well, I went to its website and found a link to a company called Interskill which offers Cobol training. But there's no info as to when it … --- ## [Submit JCL from JES spool](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/submit-jcl-from-jes-spool/5814)
**Author:** [@spufidoo](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/spufidoo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2020, 10:44am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/submit-jcl-from-jes-spool/5814 "2020-06-08T10:44:05Z")
I’m in Zowe Explorer in Visual Studio Code. I’m viewing job output on spool. I want to resubmit it (basically SJ it from SDSF). How can I do that? Once again, from Zowe Explorer. I have local JCL. How can I submit it? T… --- ## [Automate legacy COBOL conversions](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/automate-legacy-cobol-conversions/6102)
**Author:** [@Johndlow](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Johndlow)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/automate-legacy-cobol-conversions/6102 "2020-10-15T17:33:16Z")
Over the past three years I have developed methodology and tools for automating conversion efforts. Who specializes in this? Who’s good at it? Who cares? --- ## [Sabia da existência do Novo Compilador COBOL IBM?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sabia-da-existencia-do-novo-compilador-cobol-ibm/6075)
**Author:** [@PlinioMarcosMR](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/PlinioMarcosMR)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/sabia-da-existencia-do-novo-compilador-cobol-ibm/6075 "2020-10-03T23:34:21Z")
A IBM recentemente, ou não, desenvolveu um NOVO COMPILADOR COBOL que pode reduzir em até 75% o tempo de performance de um programa compilado com o Compilador Atual. Esta necessidade surgiu do simples fato de que as máqu… --- ## [Explicit vs Implicit termination](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/explicit-vs-implicit-termination/688)
**Author:** [@Arnold](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Arnold)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/explicit-vs-implicit-termination/688 "2020-09-28T17:49:12Z")
I’m revisiting some old assignments and I’m seeing a distinction between implicit (.) and explicit (letting the code structure terminate the block of code itself. I’m wondering if there is any performance reason to code … --- ## [COBOL Report Writer](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/cobol-report-writer/5782)
**Author:** [@tJ3l33s](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/tJ3l33s)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/cobol-report-writer/5782 "2020-09-28T17:05:06Z")
Please bear with me as I demonstrate my ignorance of things IBM. I searched the Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Version 6.3 manual for “Report Section”, but nothing of substance was found. IDz gave me a wag of the finger whe… --- ## [I'm looking for an opportunity](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/im-looking-for-an-opportunity/5999)
**Author:** [@Vilmar](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Vilmar)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/im-looking-for-an-opportunity/5999 "2020-09-02T21:35:43Z")
I want to go back. In the 80s and 90s I programmed in Cobol ANS and Cobol Command Level, in a large private bank in Brazil and a large provider of IT services. When I worked at IBM Brasil in the 2000s, I worked on many p… --- ## [Is CLIST's still a thing?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/is-clists-still-a-thing/4450)
**Author:** [@adavidc06](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/adavidc06)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/is-clists-still-a-thing/4450 "2020-08-31T19:04:26Z")
Is CLIST’S still used today? or is it in a phase out stage? --- ## [How do we improve dump analysis?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/how-do-we-improve-dump-analysis/5809)
**Author:** [@praveenkvma](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/praveenkvma)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/how-do-we-improve-dump-analysis/5809 "2020-08-31T19:01:07Z")
Hello Fellow Forum Members, I need your help! The Broadcom incubator team is researching ways to improve Mainframe dump analysis. We’re considering how to accelerate troubleshooting, increase the productivity of junior… --- ## [INVALID KEY on Rewrite to a Logical file](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/invalid-key-on-rewrite-to-a-logical-file/5904)
**Author:** [@nutz4fanz](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/nutz4fanz)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2020, 4:41am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/invalid-key-on-rewrite-to-a-logical-file/5904 "2020-08-08T04:41:04Z")
Hi, I am getting an Invalid key status of 20 when trying to do a REWRITE on a Logical file. The program had initially performed a successful read on the record. What would be causing this? Thank you for any inputs. --- ## [START READ NEXT when NO format specified](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/start-read-next-when-no-format-specified/5959)
**Author:** [@nutz4fanz](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/nutz4fanz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2020, 4:38am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/start-read-next-when-no-format-specified/5959 "2020-08-08T04:38:50Z")
Hi there, can anyone tell me what happens if you do a START on a logical file with different formats, and you only pass the key without specifying a format, then you do a next next? --- ## [Postgres\_fdw as solution, to migrate cobol data files to PostgreSQL](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/postgres-fdw-as-solution-to-migrate-cobol-data-files-to-postgresql/619)
**Author:** [@consolelog](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/consolelog)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2020, 12:40pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/postgres-fdw-as-solution-to-migrate-cobol-data-files-to-postgresql/619 "2020-07-30T12:40:37Z")
I’ve had experience when I migrated a cobol system to Linux (patch abi) so I saw that its data is plain text, even I executed scripts to get/put data to manipulate it. I think is an a good idea to test it (postgres\_fw… --- ## [Download Cobol and install on win 8.1](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/download-cobol-and-install-on-win-8-1/4917)
**Author:** [@iriecloud](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/iriecloud)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/download-cobol-and-install-on-win-8-1/4917 "2020-07-30T12:28:28Z")
Hi forum, Please tell me the link i can download cobol software. I have windowns 8.1 Thanks A.L. --- ## [VSAM bafflement - can load a file only once](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/vsam-bafflement-can-load-a-file-only-once/5850)
**Author:** [@alterkacker](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/alterkacker)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/vsam-bafflement-can-load-a-file-only-once/5850 "2020-06-29T20:37:19Z")
Hello! I’m playing around with VSAM and have run into a situation I don’t understand at all. Here’s the sequence of events, code excerpts below. Create the VSAM file using IDCAMS ‘DEFINE CLUSTER’. Load the file using C… --- ## [COBOL under HPE VMS or OPEN VMS?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/cobol-under-hpe-vms-or-open-vms/5854)
**Author:** [@rondtroy](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/rondtroy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/cobol-under-hpe-vms-or-open-vms/5854 "2020-06-21T06:09:08Z")
Does anyone still use what I know of as VAX COBOL under either OPEN VMS or HPE VMS? Is it more or less the same language I was still programming under in the mid to late 1990’s? Can one still get work with it in Manhat… --- ## [Beginners projects](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/beginners-projects/5743)
**Author:** [@Steven](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/Steven)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/beginners-projects/5743 "2020-06-10T12:56:51Z")
Hello, my name is Steve. I have managed to get myself a university placement year working on a mainframe using COBOL. I begin my job in September and have purchased a book I was recommended by a former COBOL dev. I wa… --- ## [Printing from IBM Developer for z/OS](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/printing-from-ibm-developer-for-z-os/5415)
**Author:** [@dsr140080](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/dsr140080)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/printing-from-ibm-developer-for-z-os/5415 "2020-05-17T19:19:31Z")
Is it possible to print output from programs created via the COBOL Programming with VSCode Labs system? I am using IBM Developer for z/OS, and can view printouts on my computer (Windows 10), but I am not able to see page… --- ## [Jobs for retired maintenance COBOL programmer?](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/jobs-for-retired-maintenance-cobol-programmer/5664)
**Author:** [@cobollives](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/cobollives)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/jobs-for-retired-maintenance-cobol-programmer/5664 "2020-05-14T02:42:28Z")
Just curious. Did maintenance work on legacy COBOL systems in the late 1980’s. IBM VM/SP OS. Work was thrown my way and no one else had COBOL training in that work environment. --- ## [Senior Developer looking for part time remote opportunity](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/senior-developer-looking-for-part-time-remote-opportunity/5656)
**Author:** [@eammahoney](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/eammahoney)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/senior-developer-looking-for-part-time-remote-opportunity/5656 "2020-05-13T16:08:29Z")
Edward Mahoney COBOL Experience - Intermediate to Expert - I started in mainframe but moved on years ago Location: Chicago but looking for remote with limited onsite Availability: Part-time Availability Type: Contract I… [Previous page](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/c/cobol-technical-questions/16.md) [Next page](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/c/cobol-technical-questions/16.md?page=2)