--- name: "cobc" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "gnucobol3" version: "3.2-3" release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/cobc" --- # cobc(1) manual page for cobc 3.2.0 ## 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** \[\\], **--job\[=**\\] run program after build, passing \ - **-std=**\ warnings/features for a specific 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=**\ enable code generation for \, see **--list-exceptions** for the possible values, sets **-fsource-location** - **-fno-ec=**\ disable code generation for \ - **-o** \ place the output into \ - **-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** \ generate and place a wide program listing into \ - **-t** \ generate and place a program listing into \ - **--tlines=**\ specify lines per page in listing, default = 55 - **-P\[=**\\] generate preprocessed program listing (.lst) - **-X**, **--Xref** specify cross reference in listing - **-I** \ add \ to copy/include search path - **-L** \ add \ to library search path - **-l** \ link the library \ - **-K** \ generate CALL to \ as static - **-D** \ define \ for COBOL compilation - **-A** \ add \ to the C compile phase - **-Q** \ add \ to the C link phase - **--coverage** instrument generated binaries for coverage - **--conf=**\ 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\[=**\\] save intermediate files \* default: current directory - **-MT** \ set/add target file used in dependency list - **-MF** \ place dependency list into \ - **-ext** \ 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-**\ 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=**\ treat specified \ as error - **-Wno-error=**\ don't treat specified \ 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=**\ 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=**\ dump data fields on abort, \ may be a combination of: ALL, WS, LS, RD, FD, SC, LO - **-fcallfh=**\ specifies \ to be used for I/O as external provided EXTFH interface module - **-febcdic-table=**\/\ 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=**\ checks for invalid writes to internal storage, \ 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=**\ 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=**\ 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=**\ maximum number of characters allowed in the PICTURE character-string - **-fword-length**=*1*..63 maximum word-length for COBOL (= programmer defined) words - **-fliteral-length=**\ maximum literal size in general - **-fnumeric-literal-length**=*1*..38 maximum numeric literal size - **-fdefaultbyte=**\ 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=**\ default reference-format, may be one of: FIXED, FREE, COBOL85, VARIABLE, XOPEN, XCARD, CRT, TERMINAL, COBOLX - **-fbinary-size=**\ 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=**\ binary byte order, may be one of: native, big-endian - **-fassign-clause=**\ 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=**\ which compiler's rules to apply to SCREEN SECTION item clauses, may be one of: acu, gc, mf, rm, std, xopen - **-fdpc-in-data=**\ whether DECIMAL-POINT IS COMMA has effect in XML/JSON GENERATE, may be one of: none, xml, json, all - **-fsubscript-check=**\ 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=**\ comment paragraphs in IDENTIFICATION DIVISION (AUTHOR, DATE-WRITTEN, ...) - **-fcontrol-division=**\ CONTROL DIVISION - **-fpartial-replace-when-literal-src=**\ apply partial replacing with literal source operand even when it replaces with spaces only; \* "skip" prevents such replacements - **-fmemory-size-clause=**\ MEMORY-SIZE clause **-fmultiple-file-tape-clause=**\ MULTIPLE-FILE-TAPE clause - **-flabel-records-clause=**\ LABEL-RECORDS clause - **-fvalue-of-clause=**\ VALUE-OF clause - **-fdata-records-clause=**\ DATA-RECORDS clause - **-ftop-level-occurs-clause=**\ OCCURS clause on top-level - **-fsame-as-clause=**\ SAME AS clause - **-ftype-to-clause=**\ TYPE TO clause - **-fusage-type=**\ USAGE type-name - **-fsynchronized-clause=**\ SYNCHRONIZED clause - **-fsync-left-right=**\ LEFT/RIGHT phrases in SYNCHRONIZED clause - **-fspecial-names-clause=**\ SPECIAL-NAMES clause - **-fgoto-statement-without-name=**\ GO TO statement without name - **-fstop-literal-statement=**\ STOP-literal statement **-fstop-identifier-statement=**\ STOP-identifier statement - **-fstop-error-statement=**\ STOP ERROR statement - **-fdebugging-mode=**\ DEBUGGING MODE and debugging indicator **-fuse-for-debugging=**\ USE FOR DEBUGGING - **-fpadding-character-clause=**\ PADDING CHARACTER clause - **-fnext-sentence-phrase=**\ NEXT SENTENCE phrase - **-flisting-statements=**\ listing-directive statements EJECT, SKIP1, SKIP2, SKIP3 - **-ftitle-statement=**\ listing-directive statement TITLE - **-fentry-statement=**\ ENTRY statement - **-fmove-noninteger-to-alphanumeric=**\ move noninteger to alphanumeric - **-fmove-figurative-constant-to-numeric=**\ move figurative constants to numeric - **-fmove-figurative-space-to-numeric=**\ move figurative constant SPACE to numeric - **-fmove-figurative-quote-to-numeric=**\ move figurative constant QUOTE to numeric - **-fodo-without-to=**\ OCCURS DEPENDING ON without to - **-fsection-segments=**\ section segments - **-falter-statement=**\ ALTER statement - **-fcall-overflow=**\ OVERFLOW clause for CALL - **-fnumeric-boolean=**\ boolean literals (B'1010') - **-fhexadecimal-boolean=**\ hexadecimal-boolean literals (BX'A') **-fnational-literals=**\ national literals (N'UTF-16 string') - **-fhexadecimal-national-literals=**\ hexadecimal-national literals (NX'265E') - **-fnational-character-literals=**\ non-standard national literals (NC'UTF-16 string') **-fhp-octal-literals=**\ HP COBOL octal literals (%377) - **-facu-literals=**\ 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=**\ continuation of COBOL words - **-fnot-exception-before-exception=**\ NOT ON EXCEPTION before ON EXCEPTION **-faccept-display-extensions=**\ extensions to ACCEPT and DISPLAY - **-frenames-uncommon-levels=**\ RENAMES of 01-, 66- and 77-level items - **-flarger-redefines=**\ allow larger REDEFINES items **-fsymbolic-constant=**\ constants defined in SPECIAL-NAMES - **-fconstant-78=**\ constant with level 78 item (note: has left to right precedence in expressions) - **-fconstant-01=**\ constant with level 01 CONSTANT AS/FROM item - **-fperform-varying-without-by=**\ PERFORM VARYING without BY phrase (implies BY 1) - **-freference-out-of-declaratives=**\ references to sections not in DECLARATIVES from within DECLARATIVES - **-fprogram-prototypes=**\ CALL/CANCEL with program-prototype-name - **-fcall-convention-mnemonic=**\ specifying call-convention by mnemonic - **-fcall-convention-linkage=**\ specifying call-convention by WITH ... LINKAGE - **-fusing-optional=**\ support for PROCEDURE DIVISION USING OPTIONAL - **-fnumeric-value-for-edited-item=**\ numeric literals in VALUE clause of numeric-edited items - **-fincorrect-conf-sec-order=**\ incorrect order of CONFIGURATION SECTION paragraphs **-fdefine-constant-directive=**\ allow \>\> DEFINE CONSTANT var AS literal - **-ffree-redefines-position=**\ REDEFINES clause not following entry-name in definition - **-frecords-mismatch-record-clause=**\ record sizes does not match RECORD clause - **-frecord-delimiter=**\ RECORD DELIMITER clause - **-fsequential-delimiters=**\ BINARY-SEQUENTIAL and LINE-SEQUENTIAL phrases in RECORD DELIMITER - **-frecord-delim-with-fixed-recs=**\ RECORD DELIMITER clause on file with fixed-length records **-fmissing-statement=**\ missing statement (e.g. empty IF / PERFORM) - **-fmissing-period=**\ missing period in PROCEDURE DIVISION (when reference format supports Area A enforcement) - **-fzero-length-literals=**\ zero-length literals, e.g. '' and "" - **-fxml-generate-extra-phrases=**\ XML GENERATE's phrases other than COUNT IN - **-fcontinue-after=**\ AFTER phrase in CONTINUE statement - **-fgoto-entry=**\ ENTRY FOR GO TO and GO TO ENTRY statements - **-fassign-variable=**\ ASSIGN \[TO\] variable in SELECT - **-fassign-using-variable=**\ ASSIGN USING/VARYING variable in SELECT - **-fassign-ext-dyn=**\ ASSIGN EXTERNAL/DYNAMIC in SELECT - **-fassign-disk-from=**\ ASSIGN DISK FROM variable in SELECT - **-fvsam-status=**\ VSAM status in FILE STATUS - **-fself-call-recursive=**\ CALL to own PROGRAM-ID implies RECURSIVE attribute - **-frecord-contains-depending-clause=**\ DEPENDING clause in RECORD CONTAINS - **-fpicture-l=**\ PICTURE string with 'L' character - where \ is one of the following: 'ok', 'warning', 'archaic', 'obsolete', 'skip', 'ignore', 'error', 'unconformable' - **-fnot-reserved=**\ word to be taken out of the reserved words list - **-freserved=**\ word to be added to reserved words list - **-freserved=**\:\ word to be added to reserved words list as alias - **-fnot-register=**\ special register to disable - **-fregister=**\ or \:\, 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: \\ General help using GNU software: \ ## COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \\ 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.