Microsoft KB Archive/21165

Significant Changes Made to COBOL Version 2.x

PSS ID Number: Q21165 Article last modified on 11-16-1992

2.00 MS-DOS

Summary: The following changes were made to Version 2.x of MS-DOS COBOL: 1. More standard COBOL features, including multiple-key Indexed files and dynamically CALLed subroutines, are available for program use. 2. MS-DOS COBOL Version 2.00 will run only under Version 2.00 or later versions of MS-DOS. 3. Version 2.00 requires a run-time module to execute a given program; earlier versions (i.e., Versions 1.00, 1.07, 1.12) of the MS-DOS COBOL Compiler do not require a run-time module. 4. MS-DOS COBOL Version 2.00 does not use a link step. Programs can be compiled, then they are run by entering RUNCOB. 5. Assembly language subroutines must be linked with the run-time executor (RUNCOB.EXE) instead of with the COBOL program. This process is explained in Chapter 10 of the “Microsoft COBOL Compiler User’s Guide.” 6. Default tab stops are now set at every eight characters. A compiler switch (/O) is available for programs that have tabs set for the default MS-DOS COBOL Version 1.00 settings.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1992.