Cannot compile RM/COBOL program. Unexpected end of file

[Michael Smith]

Output of cobc --info

cobc (GnuCOBOL) 4.0.0
Copyright (C) 2022 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Written by Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Ron Norman, Simon Sobisch, Edward Hart
Built     Jan 18 2024 00:28:12
Packaged  Jan 18 2024 06:22:34 UTC
C version "9.4.0"

build information
build environment        : x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
CC                       : gcc
C version                : "9.4.0"
CPPFLAGS                 :
CFLAGS                   : -O2 -pipe -finline-functions -fsigned-char
                           -Wall -Wwrite-strings -Wmissing-prototypes
                           -Wno-format-y2k
LD                       : /usr/bin/ld -m elf_x86_64
LDFLAGS                  :  -Wl,-z,relro,-z,now,-O1

GnuCOBOL information
COB_CC                   : gcc
COB_CFLAGS               : -pipe -I/usr/local/include -Wno-unused
                           -fsigned-char -Wno-pointer-sign
COB_DEBUG_FLAGS          : -ggdb3 -fasynchronous-unwind-tables
COB_LDFLAGS              :
COB_LIBS                 : -L/usr/local/lib -lcob
COB_CONFIG_DIR           : /usr/local/share/gnucobol/config
COB_SCHEMA_DIR           : /usr/local/share/gnucobol/schema
COB_COPY_DIR             : /usr/local/share/gnucobol/copy
COB_MSG_FORMAT           : GCC
COB_OBJECT_EXT           : o
COB_MODULE_EXT           : so
COB_EXE_EXT              :
64bit-mode               : yes
BINARY-C-LONG            : 8 bytes
endianness               : little-endian
native character set     : ASCII
extended screen I/O      : ncursesw
variable file format     : 0
sequential file handler  : built-in
indexed file handler     : BDB
mathematical library     : GMP
XML library              : disabled
JSON library             : not found

I am trying to compile the following program which I will include in its entirety for the sake of it.

I try to compile with:

cobc -W -v -x -I . -I COPYBOOK/ -std=rm-strict -findirect-redefines FXSHHIST.CBL2

You may notice some odd code, I am learning how to write COBOL and I wrote in a lot of END-IF and END-ACCEPT to appease every single possible error from the -W flag.

Line endings should be simple \n, and there are absolutely NO tabs. All lines of code should be in fixed format, terminating before column 72.

This snippet of code does correctly compile on RM/COBOL 12.17

       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. FXSHHIST.
      *DATE-COMPILED.
       ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
       CONFIGURATION SECTION.

       COPY JDSECURE.
      ******************************************************************
      *       C H A N G E   &   E N H A N C E M E NT   L O G           *
      ******************************************************************
      * prompt for Loc, WO, Seg
      * Run through each SHHIST - USED DEBUG to fix a field
      * this will rewrite it for you
      ******************************************************************

       INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
       FILE-CONTROL.
           SELECT SHHIST
               ASSIGN TO RANDOM "HIST"
               ORGANIZATION IS INDEXED
               ACCESS MODE IS DYNAMIC
               RECORD KEY IS SH-KEY
               ALTERNATE RECORD KEY IS SH-CUST-ALPHA WITH DUPLICATES
               FILE STATUS IS STATUS-KEY.
      *
       DATA DIVISION.
       FILE SECTION.
       COPY FSHHIST.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       COPY W1FKEY.
       01  WS-CTR    PIC 9(3).
       01  UPD-SW    PIC X.
       01  SAVE-SERNO       PIC X(20).
       01  SAVE-WO          PIC 9(9).
       01  SAVE-SEG         PIC 9(2).
       01  ALL-OK-SW        PIC X.
           88 ALL-OK-VALID      VALUE "Y" "N" "Q".
           88 ALL-OK-YES        VALUE "Y".
           88 ALL-OK-QUIT       VALUE "Q".
       01  DONE-SW          PIC X.
           88 DONE                VALUE "Y".
       01  DUMMY            PIC X.
       01  BLANK-LINE       PIC X(79) VALUE SPACES.
       01  DISP-CNT         PIC ZZZZZ9.
       01  FIELD-LETTER     PIC X.
       01  FIELD-CONFIRM    PIC X.
       01  CLEAR-SCREEN     PIC XXXX VALUE X"1B5B324A".
       01  WS-MAKE          PIC X(5).

      * USER I/O VARIABLES
       01  IO-YESNO-POS-X   PIC 99.
       01  IO-YESNO-POS-Y   PIC 99.

       01  IO-YESNO         PIC X.
           88 IO-YES           VALUE "Y".
           88 IO-NO            VALUE "N".
       01  IO-YESNO-POS-X2  PIC 99.



      * PRINT VARIABLES
       01  LINE-NUMBER      PIC 99.

       COPY W1USE.
      /
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       DECLARATIVES.
       SHHIST-STATUS SECTION.
            USE AFTER STANDARD EXCEPTION PROCEDURE ON SHHIST.
       USE-SHHIST.
            MOVE "I" TO FILE-TYPE.
            MOVE "SHHIST  " TO STAT-FILE.
            PERFORM USE-PERFORM THRU USE-EXIT.
            GO TO USE-END.
      *COPY P1USE.
      ******************************************************************
       MAIN-CONTROL SECTION.
      *
       0000-BEGIN-PROGRAM.
           MOVE "ERROR: " TO MSG-TYPE.
           MOVE "FXSHHIST" TO PROGRAM-NAME.
           PERFORM 1100-DRAW-TITLE.

           OPEN I-O SHHIST

           MOVE ZEROS TO STATUS-KEY
           PERFORM UNTIL CMD-KEY
                      OR ALL-OK-QUIT
              MOVE SPACES TO DONE-SW
                             ALL-OK-SW
              PERFORM 1000-PROMPT THRU 1500-EXIT
                         UNTIL DONE
              IF ALL-OK-YES
                 PERFORM 2000-UPDATE
              END-IF
           END-PERFORM
           CLOSE SHHIST.

       0000-EXIT.
           GOBACK.

       1000-PROMPT.
           PERFORM 1100-DRAW-TITLE
           DISPLAY "  SerialNo:           "   LINE  6 POSITION 1 
                   "Work Order:           "   LINE  7 POSITION 1 
                   "   Segment:           "   LINE  8 POSITION 1 
                   "All OK? (Y,N,Q): "        LINE 14 POSITION 1 
           ACCEPT SAVE-SERNO
                       LINE 6 POSITION 13 
                               TAB NO BEEP UPDATE
                               ON EXCEPTION
      *                       WS-FKEY-VALUE
                               CONTINUE
           END-ACCEPT
           IF CMD-KEY OR
              SAVE-SERNO = SPACES
                MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
                GO TO 1500-EXIT
           END-IF


           ACCEPT SAVE-WO
                       LINE 7 POSITION 13 
                               TAB  UPDATE
                               ON EXCEPTION
      *WS-FKEY-VALUE
                               CONTINUE
           END-ACCEPT
           IF CMD-KEY OR
              SAVE-WO  = SPACES OR ZEROS
                MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
                GO TO 1500-EXIT
           END-IF

           ACCEPT SAVE-SEG
                       LINE 8 POSITION 13 
                               TAB  UPDATE
                               ON EXCEPTION
      *WS-FKEY-VALUE
                               CONTINUE
           END-ACCEPT
           IF CMD-KEY
                MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
                GO TO 1500-EXIT
           END-IF.

           DISPLAY "                                  "
                                        LINE 13 POSITION 1.
       1300-ALL-OK.
           ACCEPT ALL-OK-SW LINE 14 POSITION 18 
                               TAB  UPDATE
                               ON EXCEPTION
      *WS-FKEY-VALUE
                               CONTINUE
           END-ACCEPT.
           IF CMD-KEY
                MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
                GO TO 1500-EXIT
           END-IF
           DISPLAY "                        " LINE 14 POSITION 22
           IF NOT ALL-OK-VALID
              DISPLAY "Valid values are Y, N, Q" LINE 14 POSITION 22
              GO TO 1300-ALL-OK
           END-IF
           IF ALL-OK-QUIT OR
              ALL-OK-YES
                MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
           END-IF.

        1500-EXIT.
           EXIT.

        2000-UPDATE.
           INITIALIZE SH-KEY
           MOVE SAVE-SERNO TO SH-SERNO
           MOVE SAVE-WO  TO SH-WORKORD
           MOVE SAVE-SEG TO SH-SEGMENT

           START SHHIST KEY NOT < SH-KEY
           END-START
           IF NOT SUCCESSFUL-IO
              EXIT PARAGRAPH
           END-IF.

           PERFORM WITH TEST AFTER UNTIL NOT RECORD-LOCK
              READ SHHIST NEXT WITH LOCK
              END-READ
           END-PERFORM

           IF AT-END OR
             (SAVE-SERNO NOT =   SH-SERNO) OR
             (SAVE-WO    NOT = SH-WORKORD) OR
             (SAVE-SEG   NOT = SH-SEGMENT)
               UNLOCK SHHIST
               EXIT PARAGRAPH
           END-IF.

           MOVE "N" TO DONE-SW.
           PERFORM 2100-RECORD-VIEW UNTIL DONE.

       2100-RECORD-VIEW.
           PERFORM 1100-DRAW-TITLE.
           PERFORM 1200-DRAW-RECORD.
      *    1200-DRAW-RECORD displays all record fields on screen
      *       from A through V. 

           DISPLAY "Need to update? -Y/N-: " LINE 18 POSITION 1.
           MOVE 18 TO IO-YESNO-POS-Y.
           MOVE 24 TO IO-YESNO-POS-X.
           PERFORM 1105-PROMPT-YESNO.
           IF IO-NO
              MOVE "Y" TO DONE-SW
              EXIT PARAGRAPH
           END-IF.

           MOVE "Z" TO FIELD-LETTER.
           PERFORM UNTIL FIELD-LETTER >= "A" AND FIELD-LETTER <= "V" 
              DISPLAY "Which field to modify? -A-V-: "
                 LINE 19 POSITION 1
              ACCEPT FIELD-LETTER LINE 19 POSITION 31 TAB
              END-ACCEPT
           END-PERFORM.

      * Pre-emptively display fields to save lines of code
           PERFORM 1100-DRAW-TITLE.

           DISPLAY "Current Value: " LINE 5 POSITION 1
           Display "    New value: " LINE 7 POSITION 1

           EVALUATE FIELD-LETTER
           WHEN "A"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SERNO" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SERNO LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SERNO LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "B"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-WORKORD" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-WORKORD LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-WORKORD LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "C"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SEGMENT" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SEGMENT LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SEGMENT LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "D"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-COUNT" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-COUNT LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-COUNT LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "E"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-CUSTOMER" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-CUSTOMER LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-CUSTOMER LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "F"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-CUST-ALPHA" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-CUST-ALPHA LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-CUST-ALPHA LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "G"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-MAKE" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-MAKE LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-MAKE LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "H"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-MODEL" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-MODEL LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-MODEL LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "I"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-EQUIP" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-EQUIP LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-EQUIP LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "J"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SPG-CD" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SPG-CD LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SPG-CD LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "K"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-COMPONENT" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-COMPONENT LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-COMPONENT LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "L"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-JOBCD" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-JOBCD LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-JOBCD LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "M"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-MODIFIER" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-MODIFIER LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-MODIFIER LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "N"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-EQ" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-EQ LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-EQ LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "O"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-PARTS" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-PARTS LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-PARTS LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "P"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-LABOR" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-LABOR LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-LABOR LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "Q"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-MISC" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-MISC LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-MISC LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "R"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-METER" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-METER LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-METER LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "S"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-INVDATE" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-INVDATE LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-INVDATE LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "T"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SERVTYP" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SERVTYP LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SERVTYP LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "U"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SPG-TYPE" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SPG-TYPE LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SPG-TYPE LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           WHEN "V"
              DISPLAY "MODIFYING SH-SPG-DESC" LINE 3 POSITION 20
              DISPLAY SH-SPG-DESC LINE 5 POSITION 20
              ACCEPT  SH-SPG-DESC LINE 7 POSITION 20 
              END-ACCEPT
           END-EVALUATE.

      * Prompt for user input validation
           DISPLAY "Are you SURE? -Y/N-: " LINE 9 POSITION 1
           MOVE  9 TO IO-YESNO-POS-Y.
           MOVE 22 TO IO-YESNO-POS-X.
           PERFORM 1105-PROMPT-YESNO.

           IF IO-YES
              REWRITE SERVHIST
              END-REWRITE
           END-IF
           EXIT PARAGRAPH.




      * The following paragraphs should not be executed unless called
        1100-DRAW-TITLE.
           MOVE 1 to LINE-NUMBER.
           PERFORM VARYING LINE-NUMBER FROM 1 BY 1
              UNTIL LINE-NUMBER = 24

              DISPLAY SPACES LINE LINE-NUMBER SIZE 80
           END-PERFORM.

           DISPLAY "PARTS MARKETING MANAGEMENT" LINE 1 POSITION 28.
           DISPLAY "-FXSHHIST-1-" LINE 2 POSITION 65.
           DISPLAY "CMD-Quit" LINE 24 POSITION 37.

        1200-DRAW-RECORD.
           DISPLAY "A) SH-SERNO: "      LINE  3 POSITION  1
                       SH-SERNO         LINE  3 POSITION 20
                   "B) SH-WORKORD: "    LINE  4 POSITION  1
                       SH-WORKORD       LINE  4 POSITION 20
                   "C) SH-SEGMENT: "    LINE  5 POSITION  1
                       SH-SEGMENT       LINE  5 POSITION 20
                   "D) SH-COUNT: "      LINE  6 POSITION  1
                       SH-COUNT         LINE  6 POSITION 20
                   "E) SH-CUSTOMER: "   LINE  7 POSITION  1
                       SH-CUSTOMER      LINE  7 POSITION 20
                   "F) SH-CUST-ALPHA: " LINE  8 POSITION  1
                       SH-CUST-ALPHA    LINE  8 POSITION 20
                   "G) SH-MAKE: "       LINE  9 POSITION  1
                       SH-MAKE          LINE  9 POSITION 20
                   "H) SH-MODEL: "      LINE 10 POSITION  1
                       SH-MODEL         LINE 10 POSITION 20
                   "I) SH-EQUIP: "      LINE 11 POSITION  1
                       SH-EQUIP         LINE 11 POSITION 20
                   "J) SH-SPG-CD: "     LINE 12 POSITION  1
                       SH-SPG-CD        LINE 12 POSITION 20
                   "K) SH-COMPONENT: "  LINE 13 POSITION  1
                       SH-COMPONENT     LINE 13 POSITION 20
                   "L) SH-JOBCD: "      LINE  3 POSITION 40
                       SH-JOBCD         LINE  3 POSITION 60
                   "M) SH-MODIFIER: "   LINE  4 POSITION 40
                       SH-MODIFIER      LINE  4 POSITION 60
                   "N) SH-EQ: "         LINE  5 POSITION 40
                       SH-EQ            LINE  5 POSITION 60
                   "O) SH-PARTS: "      LINE  6 POSITION 40
                       SH-PARTS         LINE  6 POSITION 60
                   "P) SH-LABOR: "      LINE  7 POSITION 40
                       SH-LABOR         LINE  7 POSITION 60
                   "Q) SH-MISC: "       LINE  8 POSITION 40
                       SH-MISC          LINE  8 POSITION 60
                   "R) SH-METER: "      LINE  9 POSITION 40
                       SH-METER         LINE  9 POSITION 60
                   "S) SH-INVDATE: "    LINE 10 POSITION 40
                       SH-INVDATE       LINE 10 POSITION 60
                   "T) SH-SERVTYP: "    LINE 11 POSITION 40
                       SH-SERVTYP       LINE 11 POSITION 60
                   "U) SH-SPG-TYPE: "   LINE 12 POSITION 40
                       SH-SPG-TYPE      LINE 12 POSITION 60
                   "V) SH-SPG-DESC: "   LINE 15 POSITION 1
                       SH-SPG-DESC      LINE 15 POSITION 20.

        1105-PROMPT-YESNO.
           MOVE "N" TO IO-YESNO

           ACCEPT IO-YESNO
              LINE     IO-YESNO-POS-Y
              POSITION IO-YESNO-POS-X
              TAB
           END-ACCEPT

           IF IO-YES OR IO-NO EXIT PARAGRAPH
           END-IF

           COMPUTE IO-YESNO-POS-X2 = IO-YESNO-POS-X + 5
           END-COMPUTE

           DISPLAY "Response must be Y or N."
              LINE     IO-YESNO-POS-Y
              POSITION IO-YESNO-POS-X2

           GO TO 1105-PROMPT-YESNO.
       END-PROGRAM.

Finally, on to the error that I am getting (on the last line of code):

cobc (GnuCOBOL) 4.0.0
Built     Jan 18 2024 00:28:12  Packaged  Jan 18 2024 06:22:34 UTC
C version "9.4.0"
loading configuration file 'rm-strict.conf'
command line:   cobc -v -x -I. -I/JDIS/DEV/akozinski/PH3/JDIS/SOURCE/COPYBOOK/ -std=rm-strict -findirect-redefines -W FXSHHIST.CBL2
preprocessing:  FXSHHIST.CBL2 -> /tmp/cob2096858_0.cob
return status:  0
parsing:        /tmp/cob2096858_0.cob (FXSHHIST.CBL2)
FXSHHIST.CBL2: in section 'MAIN-CONTROL':
FXSHHIST.CBL2: in paragraph 'END-PROGRAM':
FXSHHIST.CBL2:438: error: syntax error, unexpected end of file
return status:  1

[Chuck Haatvedt]

Michael,

the END-PROGRAM statement requires the program-id as follows.

END PROGRAM FXSHHIST.

[Michael Smith]

.

[Ralph Linkletter]

END-PROGRAM.
FXSHHIST.CBL2: in paragraph 'END-PROGRAM':

END-PROGRAM is in margin "A" (COLUMN 8) - Thought to be a paragraph label.
Move it to column 12
Change END-PROGRAM to "END PROGRAM" or "STOP RUN"
Ralph

[Michael Smith]

None of this works sadly.

END PROGRAM - same error
STOP RUN - same error
END PROGRAM column 12 - same error
STOP RUN column 12 - same error
(NO END PROGRAM OR STOP RUN) - same error

[Anonymous]

Suggestions, in my opinion, useful for those who are learning COBOL.

• use the END PROGRAM statement only if you write nested programs. In other cases like this it serves no purpose and is a source of potential errors.

• write programs with the new >>SOURCE FREE format (like all other languages C, Java, Python ... and for available large screens), do not use the old format >>SOURCE FIXED (only for COBOL and for old 80 cols green screens). This way programs are more compact and readable with fewer lines and less need to go to new line for same statement. A singke statement / verb should all be on the same line. The indentations are clearer. There is less risk of errors due to the constraints of the fixed format.

see attached a sample of your last statements ...

[Michael Smith]

Sadly I get the same error with or without END PROGRAM in any column (see previous reply)

I would like to use the SOURCE FREE format, however, when I try to compile, it complains about comments in column 7. In the source code and copybooks.

Should I write a script that converts comments starting in column 7 into *> ? Does that syntax work anywhere in a line?

[Eugenio Di Lorenzo]

perhaps the file you are using has some incorrect characters at the end of the file.

my suggestion to use free format was related to writing new programs.
if you already have fixed format programs then forget it.
if you really want to try, keep in mind that there are already utilities written by someone in cobol that allow you to modify the format of cobol sources.
I've never used them. There are several posts that deal with this topic. I think they are in the "contributions" folder.

see also at : https://sourceforge.net/p/gnucobol/discussion/contrib/thread/e8f43ee517/

the syntax of *> says it can be placed anywhere in a line of code. from column 1 onwards (up to column 256 I think).
it can also be positioned to the right of a statement.
eg MOVE A TOB *> this is a comment

[Michael Smith]

Converting all * to *> did allow me to compile everything with the FREE format which is pretty nice! Thank you for the syntax help :)

[Vincent (Bryan) Coen]

On 18/01/2024 17:02, Michael Smith wrote:

Sadly I get the same error with or without END PROGRAM in any column
(see previous reply)

I would like to use the SOURCE FREE format, however, when I try to
compile, it complains about comments in column 7. In the source code
and copybooks.

Should I write a script that converts comments starting in column 7
into *> ? Does that syntax work anywhere in a line?

You could or simply cheat and put in on line 1 :
        >>source variable

Now you can continue beyond cc 72.  I have done this to 40+ programs
written as FIXED to save a bit of time before converting to FREE.

For FREE using a good editor such as kate use in replace mode for " "
without the quotes to " >" one by one if you have asterisk any where
else and/or using *> already as a floating comment.

Remove the / or replace for *>

IN the block of comments starting with * only replace on the FIRST
ocurrence i.e.,
      *   * comment **
     *   more text including *

for   *> * comment **

etc

For a perform that is used in only one place use an inline perform with
places you want to quit with
EXIT PERFORM

or if terminating that cycle use EXIT PERFORM CYCLE

This does depend on how complex the perform para's are though.but it
does save on using GO TO;s.

[Simon Sobisch]

No, if you have fixed-form reference-format ted code, then stay with this.
If you write me one out of a good idea to start your comments in col. 7 with > this way, it will possibly additional* compile in free-form.

... for the other thing (the error) I'll have a look at this next week, including if the compiler should accept an empty paragraph at the end - I think it should.

[Vincent (Bryan) Coen]

Can you supply a copy of the program source with ALL copy books included and make it available here so we can try and compile it ?

and YES must have the copy books or you can also include them as the five? separate files.

[Vincent (Bryan) Coen]

Small point you are using DS and you are performing and goto paras outside the DS and that is a nono at least in my experience of using them but I must admit I try to avoid the use of it.

[Michael Smith]

Ha- this is it! I commented out the DS lines of code and it compiles!! Thank you!

Now I must ask - I am a COBOL newbie so is there anything I can do to move this section of code somewhere else to avoid this type of error?

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
  *>   DECLARATIVES.
  *>   SHHIST-STATUS SECTION.
  *>        USE AFTER STANDARD EXCEPTION PROCEDURE ON SHHIST.
  *>   USE-SHHIST.
  *>        MOVE "I" TO FILE-TYPE.
  *>        MOVE "SHHIST  " TO STAT-FILE.
  *>        PERFORM USE-PERFORM THRU USE-EXIT.
  *>        GO TO USE-END.

[Vincent (Bryan) Coen]

If you use the Declaratives you must only have any perform, goto code
with that block.

For more information read the GnuCobol Programmers Guide.

For more look at some of the programs supplied in the Contrib area under
the SVN tag at sourceforge/p/gnucobol

and grab my nightly builds of ACAS which includes the OE (Order Entry)
sub system which makes a lot of use of Declaratives, possibly too much
but it was written by another in late 79 - 80 which I have been
migrating it over to the GnuCobol compiler from RM v1.4 or so.

This is still in a test / bug fix / coding mode or has been for almost 2
months so I am taking a wee rest from it to work on testing and
documentation of ACAS which is over due :(

In that archive you will see one of the folders as OE with w folders src
and one within copybooks
the later must be set up for compiling by using command (and I have a
Linux script for doing this called comp-oe.sh .

Before I forget the compile process does not generate prn files (Print)
as that line is remarked out but you could swap them around to do so.

The other script supplied is comp-oe-diags.sh which is similar, does
produce print files but also include full diagnostics such as runtime
checks and full tracing of the code.

For new systems and while testing I find this very useful to discover
any hiding bugs and mismatched linkage sections and more such as doing
numeric processing on non-numeric data, etc.

In there is :

export
COBCPY=/home/vince/cobolsrc/oe/src/copybook:/home/vince/cobolsrc/ACAS/copybooks

This concatenates two folders for the copy libraries for both OE and
ACAS although the needed copybooks should be in src/copybook as far as I
know, but I still use the above export - JIC (Just in case I missed any).

The script comp-oe.sh  build all of the Cobol programs and the C routine
ACCEPT_NUMERIC which is used in some of the OE programs to accept a
number field storing it into a COMP-£ type field. Without this getting
edited number fields is a pain.

This is NEW code written by Chuck for us all to test and OE is the
primary system being used to do so..
So far it has worked a treat but I only use it in Update mode having any
virgin data field preset to zeroes.

Here see the programs used within Billing as this is where almost of of
it is currently used.

Warning OE documentation consists of only ONE document and that is the
original System Specifications and here some of the Screen and reporting
layouts have been changed.

It is another job that will need to be done - creating an OR manual even
if it is a simple one :)

To get the nightly builds go to :

http://www.applewood.linkpc.net/files/acas/nightlybuilds/

There is separate archives for both ACAS and OE and even one for some
test data that I have been using for ACAS although not complete as some
testing is done in another folder and subject to change depending on
what is being tested and at what level..
Yes, I was a professional Test lead and manager as well as a Programmer,
Operator (mainframes), IT Manager and Director to name a few of my past
titles as well as gopher :)

Have fun,

Vincent

On 18/01/2024 18:39, Michael Smith wrote:

Ha- this is it! I commented out the DS lines of code and it compiles!!
Thank you!

Now I must ask - I am a COBOL newbie so is there anything I can do to
move this section of code somewhere else to avoid this type of error?

|PROCEDUREDIVISION. >DECLARATIVES. >SHHIST-STATUSSECTION.
>USEAFTERSTANDARDEXCEPTIONPROCEDUREONSHHIST. >USE-SHHIST.
>MOVE"I"TOFILE-TYPE. >MOVE"SHHIST "TOSTAT-FILE.
>PERFORMUSE-PERFORMTHRUUSE-EXIT. >GOTOUSE-END.|

[Vincent (Bryan) Coen]

DS = Declarative section