This information is for COBOL programmers and system programmers. It helps you understand how to use Enterprise COBOL for z\/OS<\/a> to compile COBOL programs<\/a>. It also describes the operating system features that you might need to optimize program performance or handle errors.<\/p>\n For information about COBOL language, and for references needed to write a program for an IBM<\/a> COBOL compiler, see the Enterprise COBOL for z\/OS Language Reference.<\/p>\n Throughout this information, “COBOL” or “Enterprise COBOL<\/a>” refers to “IBM Enterprise COBOL for z\/OS” or “IBM Enterprise COBOL Value Unit Edition for z\/OS<\/a>“.<\/p>\n This information will help you write and compile Enterprise COBOL programs.<\/p>\n This information assumes experience in developing application programs and some knowledge of COBOL. It focuses on using Enterprise COBOL to meet your programming objectives and not on the definition of the COBOL language. For complete information about COBOL syntax, see the IBM Enterprise COBOL for z\/OS Language Reference.<\/p>\n For information about migrating programs to Enterprise COBOL, see the IBM Enterprise COBOL for z\/OS Migration Guide.<\/p>\n IBM z\/OS Language Environment\u00ae provides the runtime environment and runtime services that are required to run Enterprise COBOL programs. You can find information about link-editing and running programs in the IBM z\/OS Language Environment Programming Guide and IBM z\/OS Language Environment Programming Reference.<\/p>\n For a comparison of commonly used Enterprise COBOL and Language Environment terms, see \u201cComparison of commonly used terms\u201d on page xxviii.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How this information will help you<\/h4>\n