Provided by: gnucobol4_4.0~early~20200606-7_amd64 
NAME
cobc - GnuCOBOL compiler
SYNOPSIS
cobc [options]... file...
DESCRIPTION
GnuCOBOL compiler for most COBOL dialects with lots of extensions
OPTIONS
-h, -help
display this help and exit
-V, -version
display compiler version and exit
-i, -info
display compiler information (build/environment) and exit
-v, -verbose
display compiler version and the commands invoked by the compiler
-vv, -verbose=2
like -v but additional pass verbose option to assembler/compiler
-vvv, -verbose=3
like -vv but additional pass verbose option to linker
-q, -brief
reduced displays, commands invoked not shown
-### like -v but commands not executed
-x build an executable program
-m build a dynamically loadable module (default)
-j [<args>], -job[=<args>]
run program after build, passing <args>
-std=<dialect>
warnings/features for a specific dialect <dialect> can be one of: default, cobol2014, cobol2002,
cobol85, xopen, ibm-strict, ibm, mvs-strict, mvs, mf-strict, mf, bs2000-strict, bs2000,
acu-strict, acu, rm-strict, rm; see configuration files in directory config
-F, -free
use free source format
-fixed use fixed source format (default)
-O, -O2, -O3, -Os
enable optimization
-O0 disable optimization
-g enable C compiler debug / stack check / trace
-d, -debug
enable all run-time error checking
-o <file>
place the output into <file>
-b combine all input files into a single dynamically loadable module
-E preprocess only; do not compile or link
-C translation only; convert COBOL to C
-S compile only; output assembly file
-c compile and assemble, but do not link
-T <file>
generate and place a wide program listing into <file>
-t <file>
generate and place a program listing into <file>
--tlines=<lines>
specify lines per page in listing, default = 55
-P[=<dir or file>]
generate preprocessed program listing (.lst)
-Xref generate cross reference through 'cobxref' (V. Coen's 'cobxref' must be in path)
-I <directory>
add <directory> to copy/include search path
-L <directory>
add <directory> to library search path
-l <lib>
link the library <lib>
-A <options>
add <options> to the C compile phase
-Q <options>
add <options> to the C link phase
-D <define>
define <define> for COBOL compilation
-K <entry>
generate CALL to <entry> as static
-conf=<file>
user-defined dialect configuration; see -std
-list-reserved
display reserved words
-list-intrinsics
display intrinsic functions
-list-mnemonics
display mnemonic names
-list-system
display system routines
-save-temps[=<dir>]
save intermediate files * default: current directory
-ext <extension>
add file extension for resolving COPY
Warning options:
-W enable all warnings
-Wall enable most warnings (all except as noted below)
-Wno-<warning>
disable warning enabled by default, -W or -Wall
-Wextra
additional warnings only raised with -W or -Wall
-Wno-unfinished
do not warn if unfinished features are used * ALWAYS active
-Wno-pending
do not warn if pending features are mentioned * ALWAYS active
-Wobsolete
warn if obsolete features are used
-Warchaic
warn if archaic features are used
-Wredefinition
warn about incompatible redefinition of data items
-Wtruncate
warn about field truncation from constant assignments
-Wpossible-truncate
warn about possible field truncation * NOT set with -Wall
-Woverlap
warn about overlapping MOVE of items
-Wpossible-overlap
warn about MOVE of items that may overlap depending on variables * NOT set with -Wall
-Wparentheses
warn about lack of parentheses around AND within OR
-Wstrict-typing
warn strictly about type mismatch
-Wimplicit-define
warn about implicitly defined data items
-Wcorresponding
warn about CORRESPONDING with no matching items
-Winitial-value
warn if initial VALUE clause is ignored
-Wprototypes
warn about missing FUNCTION prototypes/definitions
-Warithmetic-osvs
warn if arithmetic expression precision has changed
-Wcall-params
warn about non 01/77 items for CALL parameters * NOT set with -Wall
-Wconstant-expression
warn about expressions that always resolve to true/false
-Wcolumn-overflow
warn about text after program-text area, FIXED format * NOT set with -Wall
-Wterminator
warn about lack of scope terminator END-XXX * NOT set with -Wall
-Wlinkage
warn about dangling LINKAGE items * NOT set with -Wall
-Wunreachable
warn about likely unreachable statements * NOT set with -Wall
-Wno-dialect
do not warn about dialect specific issues * ALWAYS active
-Wothers
do not warn about different issues * ALWAYS active
-Wno-unsupported
do not warn if runtime does not support a feature used * NOT set with -Wall
-Werror
treat all warnings as errors
-Werror=<warning>
treat specified <warning> as error
Compiler options:
-fsign=[ASCII|EBCDIC] define display sign representation
* default: machine native
-ffold-copy=[UPPER|LOWER]
fold COPY subject to value * default: no transformation
-ffold-call=[UPPER|LOWER]
fold PROGRAM-ID, CALL, CANCEL subject to value * default: no transformation
-fdefaultbyte=<value> initialize fields without VALUE to value
* decimal 0..255 or any quoted character * default: initialize to picture
-fmax-errors=<number> maximum number of errors to report before
compilation is aborted * default: 128
-fintrinsics=[ALL|intrinsic function name(,name,...)]
intrinsics to be used without FUNCTION keyword
-fdump=<scope>
dump data fields on abort, <scope> may be a combination of: ALL, WS, LS, RD, FD, SC
-fcallfh=<function>
use external provided EXTFH interface module <function> for I/O
-fsqldb=<dbtype>
which Database is used, <dbtype> may be MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle10, Oracle11, Oracle12
-fsqlschema=<name>
define database schema name
-fno-recursive-check
disable check of recursive program call; effectively compiling as RECURSIVE program
-fno-remove-unreachable
disable remove of unreachable code * turned off by -g
-finline-intrinsic
when possible resolve intrinsic FUNCTIONs at compile time
-ftrace
generate trace code * scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH
-ftraceall
generate trace code * scope: executed SECTION/PARAGRAPH/STATEMENTS * turned on by -debug
-fsyntax-only
syntax error checking only; don't emit any output
-fdebugging-line
enable debugging lines * 'D' in indicator column or floating >>D
-fsource-location
generate source location code * turned on by -debug/-g/-ftraceall
-fimplicit-init
automatic initialization of the COBOL runtime system
-fstack-check
PERFORM stack checking * turned on by -debug or -g
-fwrite-after
use AFTER 1 for WRITE of LINE SEQUENTIAL * default: BEFORE 1
-fmfcomment
'*' or '/' in column 1 treated as comment * FIXED format only
-facucomment
'$' in indicator area treated as '*', '|' treated as floating comment
-fnotrunc
allow numeric field overflow * non-ANSI behaviour
-fodoslide
adjust items following OCCURS DEPENDING * implies -fcomplex-odo
-fsingle-quote
use a single quote (apostrophe) for QUOTE * default: double quote
-foptional-file
treat all files as OPTIONAL * unless NOT OPTIONAL specified
-fstatic-call
output static function calls for the CALL statement
-fno-gen-c-decl-static-call
disable generation of C function declations for subroutines with static CALL
-fmf-files
Sequential & Relative files will match Micro Focus format
-fno-theaders
suppress all headers and output of compilation options from listing while keeping page breaks
-fno-tsource
suppress source from listing
-fno-tmessages
suppress warning and error summary from listing
-ftsymbols
specify symbols in listing
-fibmcomp
sets -fbinary-size=2-4-8 -fsynchronized-clause=ok
-fno-ibmcomp
sets -fbinary-size=1--8 -fsynchronized-clause=ignore
Compiler dialect configuration options:
-freserved-words=<value>
use of complete/fixed reserved words
-ftab-width=1..12
set number of spaces that are assumed for tabs
-ftext-column=72..255
set right margin for source (fixed format only)
-fpic-length=<number>
maximum number of characters allowed in the PICTURE character-string
-fword-length=1..63
maximum word-length for COBOL (= programmer defined) words
-fliteral-length=<number>
maximum literal size in general
-fnumeric-literal-length=1..38
maximum numeric literal size
-falign-record=0..256
align WORKING-STORAGE/LOCAL-STORAGE record on boundary
-falign-opt
align like MF OPT, Default: false (Like MF ALIGN=FIXED)
-fbinary-size=<value>
binary byte size - defines the allocated bytes according to PIC, may be one of: 2-4-8, 1-2-4-8,
1--8
-fbinary-byteorder=<value>
binary byte order, may be one of: native, big-endian
-fassign-clause=<value>
how to interpret 'ASSIGN word': as 'ASSIGN EXTERNAL word' or 'ASSIGN DYNAMIC word'
-fscreen-section-rules=<value>
which compiler's rules to apply to SCREEN SECTION item clauses
-ffilename-mapping
resolve file names at run time using environment variables.
-fpretty-display
alternate formatting of numeric fields
-fbinary-truncate
numeric truncation according to ANSI
-fcomplex-odo
allow complex OCCURS DEPENDING ON
-findirect-redefines
allow REDEFINES to other than last equal level number
-flarger-redefines-ok
allow larger REDEFINES items
-frelax-syntax-checks
allow certain syntax variations (e.g. REDEFINES position)
-frelax-level-hierarchy
allow non-matching level numbers
-fsticky-linkage
LINKAGE-SECTION items remain allocated between invocations
-fmove-ibm
MOVE operates as on IBM (left to right, byte by byte), otherwise no propagating move
-fperform-osvs
exit point of any currently executing perform is recognized if reached
-farithmetic-osvs
limit precision in intermediate results to precision of final result (less accurate)
-fconstant-folding
evaluate constant expressions at compile time
-fhostsign
allow hexadecimal value 'F' for NUMERIC test of signed PACKED DECIMAL field
-fprogram-name-redefinition
program names don't lead to a reserved identifier
-faccept-update
set WITH UPDATE clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH NO UPDATE
-faccept-auto
set WITH AUTO clause as default for ACCEPT dest-item, instead of WITH TAB
-fconsole-is-crt
assume CONSOLE IS CRT if not set otherwise
-fno-echo-means-secure
NO-ECHO hides input with asterisks like SECURE
-fline-col-zero-default
assume a field DISPLAY starts at LINE 0 COL 0 (i.e. at the cursor), not LINE 1 COL 1
-freport-column-plus
in a REPORT COLUMN may have PLUS num, + num, or +num
-fdisplay-special-fig-consts
special behaviour of DISPLAY SPACE/ALL X'01'/ALL X'02'/ALL X'07'
-fbinary-comp-1
COMP-1 is a 16-bit signed integer
-fmove-non-numeric-lit-to-numeric-is-zero
imply zero in move of non-numeric literal to numeric items
-fimplicit-assign-dynamic-var implicitly define a variable if an ASSIGN DYNAMIC does not match any data
item
-fcomment-paragraphs=<support>
comment paragraphs in IDENTIFICATION DIVISION (AUTHOR, DATE-WRITTEN, ...)
-fmemory-size-clause=<support>
MEMORY-SIZE clause
-fmultiple-file-tape-clause=<support> MULTIPLE-FILE-TAPE clause
-flabel-records-clause=<support>
LABEL-RECORDS clause
-fvalue-of-clause=<support>
VALUE-OF clause
-fdata-records-clause=<support>
DATA-RECORDS clause
-ftop-level-occurs-clause=<support>
OCCURS clause on top-level
-fsame-as-clause=<support>
SAME AS clause
-fsynchronized-clause=<support>
SYNCHRONIZED clause
-fsync-left-right=<support>
LEFT/RIGHT phrases in SYNCHRONIZED clause
-fspecial-names-clause=<support>
SPECIAL-NAMES clause
-fgoto-statement-without-name=<support>
GOTO statement without name
-fstop-literal-statement=<support>
STOP-literal statement
-fstop-identifier-statement=<support> STOP-identifier statement
-fdebugging-mode=<support>
DEBUGGING MODE and debugging indicator
-fuse-for-debugging=<support> USE FOR DEBUGGING
-fpadding-character-clause=<support>
PADDING CHARACTER clause
-fnext-sentence-phrase=<support>
NEXT SENTENCE phrase
-flisting-statements=<support>
listing-directive statements EJECT, SKIP1, SKIP2, SKIP3
-ftitle-statement=<support>
listing-directive statement TITLE
-fentry-statement=<support>
ENTRY statement
-fmove-noninteger-to-alphanumeric=<support>
move noninteger to alphanumeric
-foccurs-max-length-without-subscript occurs max length without subscript
-flength-in-data-division
length in data division
-fmove-figurative-constant-to-numeric=<support>
move figurative constants to numeric
-fmove-figurative-space-to-numeric=<support>
move figurative constant SPACE to numeric
-fmove-figurative-quote-to-numeric=<support>
move figurative constant QUOTE to numeric
-fodo-without-to=<support>
OCCURS DEPENDING ON without to
-fsection-segments=<support>
section segments
-falter-statement=<support>
ALTER statement
-fcall-overflow=<support>
OVERFLOW clause for CALL
-fnumeric-boolean=<support>
boolean literals (B'1010')
-fhexadecimal-boolean=<support>
hexadecimal-boolean literals (BX'A')
-fnational-literals=<support> national literals (N'UTF-16 string')
-fhexadecimal-national-literals=<support>
hexadecimal-national literals (NX'265E')
-fnational-character-literals=<support>
non-standard national literals (NC'UTF-16 string')
-fhp-octal-literals=<support> HP COBOL octal literals (%377)
-facu-literals=<support>
ACUCOBOL-GT literals (#B #O #H #X)
-fword-continuation=<support> continuation of COBOL words
-fnot-exception-before-exception=<support>
NOT ON EXCEPTION before ON EXCEPTION
-faccept-display-extensions=<support> extensions to ACCEPT and DISPLAY
-frenames-uncommon-levels=<support>
RENAMES of 01-, 66- and 77-level items
-fsymbolic-constant=<support> constants defined in SPECIAL-NAMES
-fconstant-78=<support>
constant with level 78 item (note: has left to right precedence in expressions)
-fconstant-01=<support>
constant with level 01 CONSTANT AS/FROM item
-fperform-varying-without-by=<support>
PERFORM VARYING without BY phrase (implies BY 1)
-freference-out-of-declaratives=<support>
references to sections not in DECLARATIVES from within DECLARATIVES
-freference-bounds-check=<support>
reference modification strict bounds check
-fprogram-prototypes=<support>
CALL/CANCEL with program-prototype-name
-fcall-convention-mnemonic=<support>
specifying call-convention by mnemonic
-fcall-convention-linkage=<support>
specifying call-convention by WITH ... LINKAGE
-fnumeric-value-for-edited-item=<support>
numeric literals in VALUE clause of numeric-edited items
-fincorrect-conf-sec-order=<support>
incorrect order of CONFIGURATION SECTION paragraphs
-fdefine-constant-directive=<support> allow >> DEFINE CONSTANT var AS literal
-ffree-redefines-position=<support>
REDEFINES clause not following entry-name in definition
-frecords-mismatch-record-clause=<support>
record sizes does not match RECORD clause
-frecord-delimiter=<support>
RECORD DELIMITER clause
-fsequential-delimiters=<support>
BINARY-SEQUENTIAL and LINE-SEQUENTIAL phrases in RECORD DELIMITER
-frecord-delim-with-fixed-recs=<support>
RECORD DELIMITER clause on file with fixed-length records
-fmissing-statement=<support> missing statement (e.g. empty IF / PERFORM)
-fzero-length-literals=<support>
zero-length literals, e.g. '' and ""
-fxml-generate-extra-phrases=<support>
XML GENERATE's phrases other than COUNT IN
-fcontinue-after=<support>
AFTER phrase in CONTINUE statement
-fgoto-entry=<support>
ENTRY FOR GOTO and GOTO ENTRY statements
-fdepending-on-not-fixed=<support>
depending-on-not-fixed
-fbinary-sync-clause=<support>
BINARY-SHORT/LONG/DOUBLE SYNCHRONIZED clause
-fnonnumeric-with-numeric-group-usage=<support>
Non-numeric item with numeric group USAGE clause
-fassign-variable=<support>
ASSIGN [TO] variable in SELECT
-fassign-using-variable=<support>
ASSIGN USING/VARYING variable in SELECT
-fassign-ext-dyn=<support>
ASSIGN EXTERNAL/DYNAMIC in SELECT
-fassign-disk-from=<support>
ASSIGN DISK FROM variable in SELECT
where <support> is one of the following: 'ok', 'warning', 'archaic', 'obsolete', 'skip', 'ignore',
'error', 'unconformable'
-fnot-reserved=<word>
word to be taken out of the reserved words list
-freserved=<word>
word to be added to reserved words list
-freserved=<word>:<alias>
word to be added to reserved words list as alias
-fnot-register=<word>
special register to disable
-fregister=<word>
special register to enable
AUTHOR
Written by Keisuke Nishida, Roger While, Ron Norman, Simon Sobisch, Edward Hart Built Sep 09 2024
19:23:38 Packaged Jun 06 2020 20:56:36 UTC C version "14.2.0"
REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to: bug-gnucobol@gnu.org or (preferably) use the issue tracker via the home page. GnuCOBOL home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/gnucobol/> General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2020 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.
SEE ALSO
The full documentation for cobc is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and cobc programs are
properly installed at your site, the command
info gnucobol
should give you access to the complete manual.