Re: [Cobolforgcc-users] ) Review of ISO/ANSI COBOL working draft1.10 - for CD registration and CD ballot

[Bill K. <wm...@ix...>]

Just to be clear,

although the '02 Standard did not include the concept of "OPTIONAL"
features, it did have the concept of "processor dependent" which ended up
meaning things in that category WERE "de facto" optional.  Some of the items
in that category (in the '02 Standard) were character screen handling,
file-sharing/record-locking, read previous.

Some of things that (additionally) will be optional if the next revision
goes forward will include Validate, Report Writer, LOCALE-based processing,
standard arithmetic.

I agree that it is unlikely that any vendor will ever implement the FULL '02
Standard.  My hope/goal is that the next revision (2011?) will actually end
up specifying as required only those things that MIGHT actually get
implemented by at least one - and hopefully several - vendors. 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tim [mailto:te...@me...] 
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:54 PM
> To: Bill Klein
> Cc: cob...@li...
> Subject: Re: [Cobolforgcc-users] ) Review of ISO/ANSI COBOL 
> working draft1.10 - for CD registration and CD ballot
> 
> Thanks Bill,
> 
> My recollection was that everything was mandatory in cobol 2002. Even
> the character based screens.
> 
> As I read it they are making record locking, the screens, 
> report writer
> and various other odds and ends. The communication section has been
> removed.
> 
> I'm actually happy with what they are suggesting at this 
> stage. My last
> experience with 2002 when I put a lot of work into making 
> suggestions to
> little result, is discouraging. SO I think I will just 
> observe this one.
> 
> I would not be surprised if no-one ever fully implements Cobol 2002.
> Where possible I like to be standards compliant but it is 
> more important
> to be compliant with the base of existing code, IMHO.
> 
> Tim 
> 
> On Thu, 2008-02-28 at 18:40 -0600, Bill Klein wrote:
> > I just received the following note.  I would suggest that anyone
> > involved in the OpenCOBOL  process who is interested in future
> > "conforming" compilers follow up on this.  In particular, if you are
> > outside the US, you may want to see how to get your 
> national Standards
> > Body involved and proactive.  To find out how to contact 
> your national
> > standards body, check out:
> >    http://www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm
> >  
> >     * * *
> >     
> > COBOL working draft 1.10, in zipped PDF format, is available for
> > download from the WG4 website:
> > http://www.cobolstandard.info/wg4/document.html (WD 1.10). 
> I will send
> > this document to SC22 for concurrent Committee Draft (CD) 
> registration
> > and CD ballot. 
> > 
> > I decided not to hold up the concurrent CD registration and 
> CD ballot
> > for resolution of certain details; you can see these in 
> Annex G, Open
> > Issues. Please send comments on these issues, along with any other
> > comments. 
> > 
> > Anyone can send comments directly to INCITS/J4
> > (bob...@ka...) for consideration in 
> development of the
> > U.S. position on the CD ballot. You should also send your 
> comments to
> > your national body for development of your country's position. 
> > 
> > This is the first committee draft, which is usually 
> considered to be a
> > rough draft. Comments on the overall feature content as well as
> > comments on specification details will be helpful. The next planned
> > ballot is a Final CD ballot, for which the document should be in
> > tip-top shape (though changes can still be made). Your 
> input will help
> > us make it that way. 
> > 
> > I'll notify you when I know the ballot closing date. Your national
> > body will have an earlier closing date. 
> > 
> > The ballot starting date will be a bit later than shown in the draft
> > revision schedule at
> > http://www.cobolstandard.info/j4/files/07-0183.doc , but the overall
> > schedule should not change drastically because the ballot 
> period will
> > be 3 months rather than the projected 4 months.
> > 
> > Any comments to INCITS/J4 (bob...@ka...) by the March
> > 10-14, 2008, J4 meeting in Ontario, CA, will be greatly 
> appreciated. 
> > 
> > 
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