Microsoft KB Archive/32949

“OPEN FAIL: TICTAC.COB” When Compiling TICTAC.CBL; MS(2)

PSS ID Number: Q32949 Article last modified on 04-21-1993

3.00 | 3.00 MS-DOS | OS/2

Summary:

Problem: When you follow the steps to compile the TICTAC demonstration program in the “Getting Started” section of the “Microsoft COBOL Compiler Version 3.0: Operating Guide,” Page 1-7, the following command COBOL TICTAC ANIM generates the following compile error: OPEN FAIL: TICTAC.COB Renaming TICTAC.CBL to TICTAC.COB, or specifying the following COBOL TICTAC.CBL ANIM results in the following compile error: LIN User name LIN same as special register

Response: The above behavior occurs because Microsoft COBOL versions 2.x emulation has been specified with the MS(2) compiler directive. The MS(2) compiler directive sets the compiler source code default extension to .COB rather than .CBL. Also, the word “LIN” is a reserved word with this directive. Workarounds for this problem are as follows: 1. The first workaround is as follows: a. Remove the MS(2) directive from the COBOL.DIR directives file if you are not going to use the .COB extension in the future. b. Specify the extension on the command line. c. Change the name from TICTAC.CBL to TICTAC.COB. 2. Rename the WORKING-STORAGE SECTION variable LIN in the TICTAC.CBL program. Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in version 3.0. This problem was corrected in Microsoft COBOL Professional Development System version 4.0 for MS-DOS and MS OS/2.

Additional reference words: 3.00 Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.