COBC(1)

NAME
cobc - manual page for cobc 3.2.0

SYNOPSIS
cobc [options]... file...

DESCRIPTION
GnuCOBOL compiler for most COBOL dialects with lots of extensions

OPTIONS

-h, --help
    display this help and exit

-V, --version
    display compiler version information and exit

-dumpversion
    display compiler version and exit

-i, --info
    display compiler information (build/environment) and exit

-v, --verbose
    verbose mode, display additional information; multiple -v options increase the verbosity, the maximum is 3 as follows: (1) display compiler version and the commands invoked by the compiler, (2) pass verbose option to assembler/compiler (3) pass verbose option to linker

-q, --brief
    reduced displays, commands invoked not shown

-###
    like -v but commands not executed

-x  build an executable program

-m  build a dynamically loadable module (default)

-j [<args>], --job[=<args>]
    run program after build, passing <args>

-std=<dialect>
    warnings/features for a specific dialect <dialect> can be one of: default, cobol2014, cobol2002, cobol85, xopen, ibm-strict, ibm, mvs-strict, mvs, mf-strict, mf, bs2000-strict, bs2000, acu-strict, acu, rm-strict, rm, gcos-strict, gcos; see configuration files in directory config

-F, --free
    use free source format (alias for -fformat=free)

--fixed
    use fixed source format (default; alias for -fformat=fixed)

-O, -O2, -O3, -Os
    enable optimization

-O0 disable optimization

-g  enable C compiler debug and stack check

-d, --debug
    enable all run-time error checking, equal to -fstack-check -fec=EC-ALL

-fec=<exception-name> enable code generation for <exception-name>,
    see --list-exceptions for the possible values, sets -fsource-location

-fno-ec=<exception-name>
    disable code generation for <exception-name>

-o <file>
    place the output into <file>

-b  combine all input files into a single dynamically loadable module

-E  preprocess only; do not compile or link

-C  translation only; convert COBOL to C

-S  compile only; output assembly file

-c  compile and assemble, but do not link

-T <file>
    generate and place a wide program listing into <file>

-t <file>
    generate and place a program listing into <file>

--tlines=<lines>
    specify lines per page in listing, default = 55

-P[=<dir or file>]
    generate preprocessed program listing (.lst)

-X, --Xref
    specify cross reference in listing

-I <directory>
    add <directory> to copy/include search path

-L <directory>
    add <directory> to library search path

-l <lib>
    link the library <lib>

-K <entry>
    generate CALL to <entry> as static

-D <define>
    define <define> for COBOL compilation

-A <options>
    add <options> to the C compile phase

-Q <options>
    add <options> to the C link phase

--coverage
    instrument generated binaries for coverage

--conf=<file>
    user-defined dialect configuration; see -std

--list-reserved
    display reserved words

--list-intrinsics
    display intrinsic functions

--list-mnemonics
    display mnemonic names

--list-exceptions
    display exception names

--list-system
    display system routines

--save-temps[=<dir>]
    save intermediate files * default: current directory

-MT <target>
    set/add target file used in dependency list

-MF <file>
    place dependency list into <file>

-ext <extension>
    add file extension for resolving COPY

  Warning options:

-Wall
    enable most warnings (all except as noted below)

-Wextra
    like -Wall but enable some extra warning flags

-w  disable all warnings

-Wno-<warning>
    disable warning enabled by default, -Wall or -Wextra

-Wadditional
    additional warnings only raised with -Wall

-Wno-unfinished
    do not warn if unfinished features are used * ALWAYS active

-Wno-pending
    do not warn if pending features are used * ALWAYS active

-Wno-repository-checks
    do not warn/check for program/function/external signature mismatch * ALWAYS active

-Wno-ignored-error
    do not warn about errors in code parts which are unreachable and so normally ignored * ALWAYS active

-Wobsolete
    warn if obsolete features are used

-Warchaic
    warn if archaic features are used

-Wredefinition
    warn about non-referenced ambiguous data items

-Wtruncate
    warn about field truncation from constant assignments

-Wpossible-truncate
    warn about possible field truncation * NOT set with -Wall

-Woverlap
    warn about overlapping MOVE of items

-Wpossible-overlap
    warn about MOVE of items that may overlap depending on variables * NOT set with -Wall

-Wparentheses
    warn if parentheses are omitted around AND within OR

-Wstrict-typing
    warn strictly about type mismatch, even when same size * NOT set with -Wall

-Wtyping
    warn about type mismatch

-Wimplicit-define
    warn whenever data items are implicitly defined * NOT set with -Wall

-Wno-corresponding
    do not warn about CORRESPONDING with no matching items * ALWAYS active

-Winitial-value
    warn if initial VALUE clause is ignored

-Wprototypes
    warn about missing FUNCTION prototypes/definitions

-Warithmetic-osvs
    warn if arithmetic expression precision has changed

-Wcall-params
    warn about non 01/77 items for CALL parameters * NOT set with -Wall

-Wconstant-expression
    warn about expressions that always resolve to true/false

-Wconstant-numlit-expression
    warn about numeric expressions that always resolve to true/false

-Wlarger-01-redefines
    warn about larger redefines allowed by COBOL standards

-Wcolumn-overflow
    warn about text after program-text area, FIXED format * NOT set with -Wall

-Wterminator
    warn about lack of scope terminator END-XXX * NOT set with -Wall

-Wlinkage
    warn about dangling LINKAGE items * NOT set with -Wall

-Wunreachable
    warn about likely unreachable statements * NOT set with -Wall

-Wno-dialect
    do not warn about dialect specific issues * ALWAYS active

-Wno-goto-section
    do not warn about GO TO section-name * ALWAYS active

-Wgoto-different-section
    warn about GO TO a praragraph defined in a different section

-Wsuspicious-perform-thru
    warn if PERFORM THRU references procedures not in ascending order or multiple sections * ALWAYS active

-Wdangling-text
    warn about source text after program-area * NOT set with -Wall

-Wno-missing-newline
    do not warn about missing newlines * ALWAYS active

-Wno-others
    do not warn about different issues * ALWAYS active

-Wno-unsupported
    do not warn if runtime does not support a feature used

-fdiagnostics-plain-output
    make diagnostic output as plain as possible

-Werror
    treat all warnings as errors

-Wno-error
    don't treat warnings as errors

-Werror=<warning>
    treat specified <warning> as error

-Wno-error=<warning>
    don't treat specified <warning> as error

  Compiler options:

-fsign=[ASCII|EBCDIC] define display sign representation
    * default: machine native

-ffold-copy=[UPPER|LOWER]
    fold COPY subject to value * default: no transformation

-ffold-call=[UPPER|LOWER]
    fold PROGRAM-ID, CALL, CANCEL subject to value * default: no transformation

-fmax-errors=<number> maximum number of errors to report before
    compilation is aborted * default: 128

-fintrinsics=[ALL|intrinsic function name(,name,...)]
    intrinsics to be used without FUNCTION keyword

-fdump=<scope>
    dump data fields on abort, <scope> may be a combination of: ALL, WS, LS, RD, FD, SC, LO

-fcallfh=<name>
    specifies <name> to be used for I/O as external provided EXTFH interface module

-febcdic-table=<cconv-table>/<file>
    EBCDIC/ASCII translation table * e.g. default, ebcdic500_latin1...

-fdefault-colseq=[ASCII|EBCDIC|NATIVE]
    define default collating sequence * default: NATIVE

-fstack-extended
    store origin of entrypoints and PERFORM * turned on by --debug/-fdump

-fno-remove-unreachable
    disable remove of unreachable code * turned off by -g

-ftrace
    generate trace code * scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH

-ftraceall
    generate trace code * scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH/STATEMENTS

-fsyntax-only
    syntax error checking only; don't emit any output

-fdebugging-line
    enable debugging lines * 'D' in indicator column or floating >>D

-fsource-location
    generate source location code * turned on by --debug/-ftraceall/-fec/-fdump

-fimplicit-init
    automatic initialization of the COBOL runtime system

-fno-recursive-check
    disable check of recursive program call; effectively compiling as RECURSIVE program

-fstack-check
    PERFORM stack checking * turned on by --debug/-g

-fmemory-check=<scope>
    checks for invalid writes to internal storage, <scope> may be one of: all, pointer, using, none * default: none, set to all by --debug

-fsection-exit-check
    check that code execution does not leave the scope of SECTIONs

-fimplicit-goback-check
    check that code execution does not end implicit at end of PROCEDURE DIVISION

-fwrite-after
    use AFTER 1 for WRITE of LINE SEQUENTIAL * default: BEFORE 1

-fmfcomment
    '*' in column 1 treated as comment with listing suppression * FIXED/COBOL85/VARIABLE format only

-facucomment
    '$' in indicator area treated as '*', '|' treated as floating comment

-fno-trunc
    allow numeric field overflow * non-ANSI behaviour

-fsingle-quote
    use a single quote (apostrophe) for QUOTE * default: double quote

-foptional-file
    treat all files as OPTIONAL * unless NOT OPTIONAL specified

-fstatic-call
    output static function calls for the CALL statement

-fno-gen-c-decl-static-call
    disable generation of C function declarations for subroutines with static CALL

-fgen-c-line-directives
    generate source location directives in C code; * turned on by -g/--coverage

-fgen-c-labels
    generate extra labels in C sources; * turned on by -g

-fno-theaders
    suppress all headers from listing while keeping page breaks

-fno-tsource
    suppress source from listing

-fno-tmessages
    suppress warning and error summary from listing

-ftsymbols
    specify symbols in listing

-ftcmd
    specify command line in listing

-fno-ttimestamp
    suppress timestamp in listing headers

-fttitle=<title>
    set listing title with '_' replaced by spaces; defaults to package name and version

-fno-diagnostics-show-option
    suppress output of option that directly controls the diagnostic

-fno-diagnostics-show-caret
    do not display source context on warning/error diagnostic

-fno-diagnostics-show-line-numbers
    suppress display of line numbers in diagnostics

  Compiler dialect configuration options:

-freserved-words=<value>
    use of complete/fixed reserved words

-ftab-width=1..12
    number of spaces that are assumed for tabs

-ftext-column=72..255
    right margin column number for fixed-form reference-format

-fpic-length=<number>
    maximum number of characters allowed in the PICTURE character-string

-fword-length=1..63
    maximum word-length for COBOL (= programmer defined) words

-fliteral-length=<number>
    maximum literal size in general

-fnumeric-literal-length=1..38
    maximum numeric literal size

-fdefaultbyte=<value>
    default initialization for fields without VALUE, may be one of * character in quotes * decimal 0..255 representing a character * "init" to initialize to PICTURE/USAGE * "none" to do no explicit initialization * default: "init"

-fformat=<value>
    default reference-format, may be one of: FIXED, FREE, COBOL85, VARIABLE, XOPEN, XCARD, CRT, TERMINAL, COBOLX

-fbinary-size=<value>
    binary byte size - defines the allocated bytes according to PIC, may be one of: 2-4-8, 1-2-4-8, 1--8

-fbinary-byteorder=<value>
    binary byte order, may be one of: native, big-endian

-fassign-clause=<value>
    how to interpret 'ASSIGN word': as 'ASSIGN EXTERNAL word' or 'ASSIGN DYNAMIC word', may be one of: dynamic, external, ibm (= external), mf (= dynamic)

-fscreen-section-rules=<value>
    which compiler's rules to apply to SCREEN SECTION item clauses, may be one of: acu, gc, mf, rm, std, xopen

-fdpc-in-data=<value>
    whether DECIMAL-POINT IS COMMA has effect in XML/JSON GENERATE, may be one of: none, xml, json, all

-fsubscript-check=<value>
    checking for subscript (only done with EC-BOUND-SUBSCRIPT active), may be one of: full, max, record

-ffilename-mapping
    resolve file names at run time using environment variables

-fpretty-display
    alternate formatting of numeric fields

-fbinary-truncate
    numeric truncation according to ANSI

-fcomplex-odo
    allow non-standard OCCURS DEPENDING ON syntax

-fodoslide
    adjust items following OCCURS DEPENDING (implies complex-odo)

-finit-justify
    applies JUSTIFY with VALUE clause

-findirect-redefines
    allow REDEFINES to other than last equal level number

-frelax-syntax-checks
    allow certain syntax variations (e.g. REDEFINES position)

-fref-mod-zero-length
    allow zero length reference-modification (only changed with EC-BOUND-REF-MOD active)

-frelax-level-hierarchy
    allow non-matching level numbers

-fselect-working
    require ASSIGN USING items to be in WORKING-STORAGE

-flocal-implies-recursive
    LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION implies RECURSIVE attribute

-fsticky-linkage
    LINKAGE SECTION items remain allocated between invocations

-fmove-ibm
    MOVE operates as on IBM (left to right, byte by byte)

-fperform-osvs
    exit point of any currently executing perform is recognized if reached

-farithmetic-osvs
    limit precision in intermediate results to precision of final result (less accurate)

-fconstant-folding
    evaluate constant expressions at compile time

-fhostsign
    allow hexadecimal value 'F' for NUMERIC test of signed PACKED DECIMAL field

-fprogram-name-redefinition
    program names don't lead to a reserved identifier

-faccept-update
    set WITH UPDATE clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH NO UPDATE

-faccept-auto
    set WITH AUTO clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH TAB

-fconsole-is-crt
    assume CONSOLE IS CRT if not set otherwise

-fno-echo-means-secure
    NO-ECHO hides input with asterisks like SECURE

-fline-col-zero-default
    assume a field DISPLAY starts at LINE 0 COL 0 (i.e. at the cursor), not LINE 1 COL 1

-fdisplay-special-fig-consts
    special behaviour of DISPLAY SPACE/ALL X'01'/ALL X'02'/ALL X'07'

-fbinary-comp-1
    COMP-1 is a 16-bit signed integer

-fnumeric-pointer
    POINTER is a 64-bit unsigned integer

-fmove-non-numeric-lit-to-numeric-is-zero
    imply zero in move of non-numeric literal to numeric items

-fimplicit-assign-dynamic-var implicitly define a variable if an ASSIGN DYNAMIC does not match any data item

-fdevice-mnemonics
    specifying device by mnemonic

-fxml-parse-xmlss
    XML PARSE XMLSS

-fareacheck
    check contents of Area A (when reference format supports Area A enforcement), enabled checks include: * division, section, paragraph names, level indicators (FD, SD, RD, and CD),

and toplevel numbers (01 and 77) must start in Area A;
    * statements must not start in Area A; and * separator periods must not be within Area A

-fcomment-paragraphs=<support>
    comment paragraphs in IDENTIFICATION DIVISION (AUTHOR, DATE-WRITTEN, ...)

-fcontrol-division=<support>
    CONTROL DIVISION

-fpartial-replace-when-literal-src=<support>
    apply partial replacing with literal source operand even when it replaces with spaces only; * "skip" prevents such replacements

-fmemory-size-clause=<support>
    MEMORY-SIZE clause

-fmultiple-file-tape-clause=<support> MULTIPLE-FILE-TAPE clause

-flabel-records-clause=<support>
    LABEL-RECORDS clause

-fvalue-of-clause=<support>
    VALUE-OF clause

-fdata-records-clause=<support>
    DATA-RECORDS clause

-ftop-level-occurs-clause=<support>
    OCCURS clause on top-level

-fsame-as-clause=<support>
    SAME AS clause

-ftype-to-clause=<support>
    TYPE TO clause

-fusage-type=<support>
    USAGE type-name

-fsynchronized-clause=<support>
    SYNCHRONIZED clause

-fsync-left-right=<support>
    LEFT/RIGHT phrases in SYNCHRONIZED clause

-fspecial-names-clause=<support>
    SPECIAL-NAMES clause

-fgoto-statement-without-name=<support>
    GO TO statement without name

-fstop-literal-statement=<support>
    STOP-literal statement

-fstop-identifier-statement=<support> STOP-identifier statement

-fstop-error-statement=<support>
    STOP ERROR statement

-fdebugging-mode=<support>
    DEBUGGING MODE and debugging indicator

-fuse-for-debugging=<support> USE FOR DEBUGGING

-fpadding-character-clause=<support>
    PADDING CHARACTER clause

-fnext-sentence-phrase=<support>
    NEXT SENTENCE phrase

-flisting-statements=<support>
    listing-directive statements EJECT, SKIP1, SKIP2, SKIP3

-ftitle-statement=<support>
    listing-directive statement TITLE

-fentry-statement=<support>
    ENTRY statement

-fmove-noninteger-to-alphanumeric=<support>
    move noninteger to alphanumeric

-fmove-figurative-constant-to-numeric=<support>
    move figurative constants to numeric

-fmove-figurative-space-to-numeric=<support>
    move figurative constant SPACE to numeric

-fmove-figurative-quote-to-numeric=<support>
    move figurative constant QUOTE to numeric

-fodo-without-to=<support>
    OCCURS DEPENDING ON without to

-fsection-segments=<support>
    section segments

-falter-statement=<support>
    ALTER statement

-fcall-overflow=<support>
    OVERFLOW clause for CALL

-fnumeric-boolean=<support>
    boolean literals (B'1010')

-fhexadecimal-boolean=<support>
    hexadecimal-boolean literals (BX'A')

-fnational-literals=<support> national literals (N'UTF-16 string')

-fhexadecimal-national-literals=<support>
    hexadecimal-national literals (NX'265E')

-fnational-character-literals=<support>
    non-standard national literals (NC'UTF-16 string')

-fhp-octal-literals=<support> HP COBOL octal literals (%377)

-facu-literals=<support>
    ACUCOBOL-GT literals (#B #O #H #X)

-febcdic-symbolic-characters
    EBCDIC symbolic characters in literals (" "135,151,151"bar"195, 194"Z" for " foobarBAZ")

-fword-continuation=<support> continuation of COBOL words

-fnot-exception-before-exception=<support>
    NOT ON EXCEPTION before ON EXCEPTION

-faccept-display-extensions=<support> extensions to ACCEPT and DISPLAY

-frenames-uncommon-levels=<support>
    RENAMES of 01-, 66- and 77-level items

-flarger-redefines=<support>
    allow larger REDEFINES items

-fsymbolic-constant=<support> constants defined in SPECIAL-NAMES

-fconstant-78=<support>
    constant with level 78 item (note: has left to right precedence in expressions)

-fconstant-01=<support>
    constant with level 01 CONSTANT AS/FROM item

-fperform-varying-without-by=<support>
    PERFORM VARYING without BY phrase (implies BY 1)

-freference-out-of-declaratives=<support>
    references to sections not in DECLARATIVES from within DECLARATIVES

-fprogram-prototypes=<support>
    CALL/CANCEL with program-prototype-name

-fcall-convention-mnemonic=<support>
    specifying call-convention by mnemonic

-fcall-convention-linkage=<support>
    specifying call-convention by WITH ... LINKAGE

-fusing-optional=<support>
    support for PROCEDURE DIVISION USING OPTIONAL

-fnumeric-value-for-edited-item=<support>
    numeric literals in VALUE clause of numeric-edited items

-fincorrect-conf-sec-order=<support>
    incorrect order of CONFIGURATION SECTION paragraphs

-fdefine-constant-directive=<support> allow >> DEFINE CONSTANT var AS literal

-ffree-redefines-position=<support>
    REDEFINES clause not following entry-name in definition

-frecords-mismatch-record-clause=<support>
    record sizes does not match RECORD clause

-frecord-delimiter=<support>
    RECORD DELIMITER clause

-fsequential-delimiters=<support>
    BINARY-SEQUENTIAL and LINE-SEQUENTIAL phrases in RECORD DELIMITER

-frecord-delim-with-fixed-recs=<support>
    RECORD DELIMITER clause on file with fixed-length records

-fmissing-statement=<support> missing statement (e.g. empty IF / PERFORM)

-fmissing-period=<support>
    missing period in PROCEDURE DIVISION (when reference format supports Area A enforcement)

-fzero-length-literals=<support>
    zero-length literals, e.g. '' and ""

-fxml-generate-extra-phrases=<support>
    XML GENERATE's phrases other than COUNT IN

-fcontinue-after=<support>
    AFTER phrase in CONTINUE statement

-fgoto-entry=<support>
    ENTRY FOR GO TO and GO TO ENTRY statements

-fassign-variable=<support>
    ASSIGN [TO] variable in SELECT

-fassign-using-variable=<support>
    ASSIGN USING/VARYING variable in SELECT

-fassign-ext-dyn=<support>
    ASSIGN EXTERNAL/DYNAMIC in SELECT

-fassign-disk-from=<support>
    ASSIGN DISK FROM variable in SELECT

-fvsam-status=<support>
    VSAM status in FILE STATUS

-fself-call-recursive=<support>
    CALL to own PROGRAM-ID implies RECURSIVE attribute

-frecord-contains-depending-clause=<support>
    DEPENDING clause in RECORD CONTAINS

-fpicture-l=<support>
    PICTURE string with 'L' character

    where <support> is one of the following: 'ok', 'warning', 'archaic', 'obsolete', 'skip', 'ignore', 'error', 'unconformable'

-fnot-reserved=<word>
    word to be taken out of the reserved words list

-freserved=<word>
    word to be added to reserved words list

-freserved=<word>:<alias>
    word to be added to reserved words list as alias

-fnot-register=<word>
    special register to disable

-fregister=<word> or <word>:<definition>, where definition uses backslash esca
    special register to enable

AUTHOR
Written by Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Ron Norman, Simon Sobisch, Edward Hart Built Jul 28 2023 19:20:47 Packaged Jul 28 2023 17:02:56 UTC C version "10.2.1 20210110"

REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to: bug-gnucobol@gnu.org or (preferably) use the issue tracker via the home page.
GnuCOBOL home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/gnucobol/>
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>

COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
The full documentation for cobc is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and cobc programs are properly installed at your site, the command

    info gnucobol

should give you access to the complete manual.