Customizing for processing COBOL copybooks

To use the view, edit, copy, print, or data create functions with a COBOL copybook, you need to make a COBOL compiler available to File Manager.

This functionality requires ADATA, therefore the COBOL compiler must have the ADATA capability. COBOL compilers such as VS COBOL II, and OS/COBOL, which do not support ADATA, cannot be used. All currently supported versions of IBM® Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® and OS/390® provide this support, and can therefore be used.

File Manager also provides an internal version of the COBOL compiler, for use in preference to a supported COBOL compiler, or when a supported COBOL compiler is not available, (for example, if you are using File Manager in a production environment, where the COBOL compiler is not used). This compiler is installed into FMN.SFMNMOD1, if you installed File Manager into the default libraries, with load modules named FMN9xxxx. (The File Manager COBOL compiler is a reduced-function compiler and cannot be used to generate executable COBOL programs.)

File Manager will use its own COBOL compiler when a supported COBOL compiler cannot be accessed, or when it encounters this DD statement for FMNCOB:

//FMNCOB DD DUMMY

Normally, if a supported COBOL compiler is found, this will be used. If a supported COBOL compiler cannot be found then the File Manager COBOL compiler will be used.

However, on occasions, even if a supported COBOL compiler is available, you may want to use the File Manager COBOL compiler, for example, if you are asked to do so by IBM® support.

For information about using a supported COBOL compiler, see Using a supported COBOL compiler. For more information about using the File Manager internal COBOL compiler, see Using the File Manager COBOL compiler.

Use the SHOWCOB command to check whether File Manager is using its internal COBOL compiler or another compiler.

In batch, submit a File Manager batch job with this control statement:
```
$$FILEM SHOWCOB
```
If a licensed, supported COBOL compiler is available to File Manager, the job output will show:
```
FMN0024I The Customer Licensed COBOL Compiler will be used.
```
If File Manager is using its own COBOL compiler, the job output will show:
```
FMN0023I The File Manager supplied COBOL Compiler will be used
```
Under ISPF, enter SHOWCOB on any File Manager command line. If a licensed, supported COBOL compiler is available to File Manager, this message is displayed: Using Licensed COBOL. If File Manager is using its own COBOL compiler, this message is displayed: Using FM COBOL Compiler

Note that your COBOL compiler must be both licensed and supported. If you are using a licensed, non-supported compiler (for example, a licensed version of VS COBOL II), the message will still be: Using Licensed COBOL but any attempt to compile copybooks will fail.