Microsoft KB Archive/40319

COBOL 3.0 “53-S Invalid directive” Error on $set ANS85

PSS ID Number: Q40319 Article last modified on 04-20-1993

3.00 3.00a 4.00 MS-DOS

Summary: Microsoft COBOL versions 3.0 and 3.0a produce the error message “53-S Invalid directive” under the following conditions: 1. The $SET ANS85 statement is used within the COBOL program. 2. There is a blank line before the $SET ANS85 directive. This error will not be produced under the following conditions: 1. The directive is the very first line in the program. 2. If no blank lines occur between the $SET ANS85 and other compiler directives. Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in versions 3.0 and 3.0a and Microsoft COBOL Professional Development System version 4.0 for MS-DOS and MS OS/2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

More Information: The following code example should be compiled without a COBOL.DIR file: * There must be a blank line before the * directive to cause this error. $SET ANS85 PROCEDURE DIVISION. STOP RUN.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00a 4.00 Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.