PL/I to COBOL Data Item Type Mapping

Attention: This topic applies to a feature that is in Early Adopter Product (EAP) release status. We intend to provide the finalized feature in a future release. Please contact Micro Focus SupportLine if you require further clarification.

PL/I data item types are mapped to COBOL data item types for use within the Data File Editor and IMS Database Editor.

Open PL/I data item type COBOL data item type Comments 
char(n)
 
pic x

Treated as a character string 

pic '(n)9'
 
pic 9  <= 18 digits
pic x   > 18 digits

9 and V symbols are supported

Treated as a character string 

 pic '(n)Z9'
 
pic x

When containing symbols other than 9 and V, treated as a character string 

fixed bin(1) - fixed bin(31)

  native1
  non-native
 


comp-5
comp

PL/I treats length 1 to 6 as length 7 

fixed dec(1) - fixed dec(31)

  native
  non-native
 


comp-3 <= 18 digits
        > 18 digits

Formatted editing allowed

Formatted editing indicates data item contains an illegal value 

float bin(1)- float bin(24)
 
comp-1

Editing disabled for Floating Point 

float bin(25) - float bin(52)
 
comp-2

Editing disabled for Floating Point 

float dec(1) - float dec(6)
 
comp-1

Editing disabled for Floating Point 

float dec(7) - float dec(16)
 
comp-2

Editing disabled for Floating Point 

char(n)var


  native1
  non-native
 
pic x


comp-5 length
comp   length

Treated as a character string plus two bytes for the length preceding the string 

widechar(n)
 
pic x

Treated as a character string of two bytes times n 

widechar(n) var	


  native1
  non-native
 
pic x


comp-5 length
comp   length

Treated as a character string of two bytes times n plus two bytes for the length preceding the string 

bit(n)
 
pic x

Bits mapped to the byte(s) that contain them with an indication shown for the bit positions occupied, e.g., (--bbb---)

Note: PL/I bit storage format is either bit swapped or left to right. 
pointer
 
pointer
 
structure
 
group item
 
union
 
group item
1The native option could present problems for data files that contain comp-5 binary fields. Data File Tools cannot interpret files created on a byte swapped platform that are subsequently moved to a non-byte swapped platform. In this case, where files are used on different byte order platforms, specify the non-native option instead.

Mapping Restrictions

The following Open PL/I data item types are not supported in their original form, but are mapped to a form of COBOL pic x as indicated:

Open PL/I data type item COBOL pic x 
char varying
 
pic x(n +2 for length bytes) 
bit
 
pic x(len/8)
 
widechar
 
pic x(n*2)
 
widechar varying
 
pic x(n*2 + 2 for length bytes)

The following Open PL/I data item types are not supported:

  • PL/I unique features such as BIT and OFFSET not present in COBOL
  • BASED data items with the REFER option; however, data items up to the first REFER are included in the structure description
  • Arrays of more than three dimensions
  • Arrays with lower bounds of zero or a negative value
Parent topic: Data File Tools Support for PL/I