COBOL Syntax Restrictions in JVM COBOL

There is syntax designed specifically for JVM COBOL. We recommend you use this syntax, although you can continue to use the original native COBOL syntax, in virtually all situations.

However, there are some words that are now reserved. If your native code uses these reserved words, you get a Compiler error when you compile to JVM COBOL code. You can change your data item names so that they don't conflict with a reserved word or you can unreserve the necessary words using the REMOVE Compiler directive.

In addition, the following syntax is not supported in JVM COBOL:

• ALTER statement. This is supported but in segmented programs, an altered paragraph remains altered even when a segment is reloaded.
• CHAIN statement. This is mapped to a CALL statement.
• GLOBAL declaratives in nested programs.
• Mainframe pointers.

The syntax designed specifically for JVM COBOL and some additional words are now reserved. If your native code uses words that are now reserved, you get a Compiler error when you compile to JVM COBOL code. You can change your data item names so that they don't conflict with a reserved word or you can unreserve the necessary words using the REMOVE Compiler directive.