Preprocessors provide extended functionality to the PL/I language. They allow you to use:
- PL/I preprocessor statements and PL/I macros for conditional compilation, which leads to better code usability and maintainability.
- EXEC SQL statements to use relational databases managed by Oracle, IBM DB2 LUW, and SQL Server.
- EXEC CICS statements to access CICS system facilities, to run PL/I programs as CICS transaction programs. These programs can also use EXEC SQL statements, and access IMS hierarchical databases by using EXEC DLI statements.
- PL/I programs running as IMS transaction programs, accessing IMS hierarchical databases by using EXEC DLI statements. These programs can also use EXEC SQL statements.
These preprocessors generate native PL/I source that is then compiled by the PL/I compiler. Their use has no direct impact on execution performance of the PL/I programs.
