Input, output and display environment variables

These environment variables relate to configuring the input and output and the display.

CCITCP2
Instead of using the CCI Configuration Utility to set the TCP address of the machine running the CCITCP2 registration daemon the environment variable "CCITCP2" can be used instead. This may be useful if you need different processes on the same machine to contact different registration daemons.

Syntax

Windows:
set CCITCP2=hostname
UNIX:
CCITCP2=hostname
export CCITCP2

Parameters

hostname is the TCP hostname or dotted decimal IP address of the machine running the CCITCP2 daemon you wish to contact from that session.

Comments

The environment variable value will always take precedence over any value set using the Configuration Utility. To restore a process to using the value set by the Configuration Utility simply set the environment variable to an empty string, such as

set CCITCP2=

Alternatively, if this environment variable is set system-wide (by creating a system variable in the system environment settings, or by using a CONFIG.SYS file) then this value will always take precedence over any value set using the Configuration Utility.

CCITCP2_PORT
The port that is being used for the registration process.

Syntax

Windows:
set CCITCP2_PORT=port
UNIX:
CCITCP2_PORT=port
export CCITCP2_PORT
Parameters
  • port The port on which the CCITCP2 registration program operates.
CCITRACE
Part of the process to enable CCI tracing is to specify the degree of information that will be traced, which can be done by setting the CCITRACE environment variable as follows:

Syntax

CCITRACE=[options]
Parameters
  • options Any, or all, of the following:
/F or -F Logs the details of CCI API calls to the trace file. The default is OFF, unless any other trace option is specified, in which case it is always ON.
/P or -P Logs the details of protocol-level calls to the trace file. The default is OFF. If this flag is OFF, then only the details of the CCI user-level API will be traced. If this flag is ON, the level of function tracing can be increased.
/D or -D Logs the contents of all buffers passed to and from the CCI functions. The default is OFF. Data tracing might not be allowed if the application has been coded to prohibit data tracing for security reasons.

The CCI.INI file can also be used to control trace options, but any values specified by the CCITRACE environment variable will take precedence.

COBAIF
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory path that Animator is to search for the session (.aif) file for the program being animated, if it is not found in the same directory as the information (.idy) file. Animator can update the session file to record information held between sessions. The .aif file contains details of breakpoints and monitors.

Syntax

COBAIF=pathname
export COBAIF

Parameters

  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a colon. The path where the .aif files are located.

Comments

If the .aif file is not found in the directory specified, a search is made of the directories specified by the COBIDY environment variable. If the file is still not found, the current directory is searched.

If an .aif file does not exist, Animator creates it as follows:

  • If COBAIF is set, the .aif file is created in the first directory specified by COBAIF
  • If COBAIF is not set, the .aif file is created in the directory specified in the environment variable COBIDY from which the program .idy file was loaded
  • If COBAIF and COBIDY are not set, or if the first directory specified by COBIDY is not found, the .aif file is created in the current directory
COBAIFNAME
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the basename of the Animator session file (.aif ) for the program being animated. The .aif file contains details of breakpoints and monitors.

Syntax

COBAIFNAME=basename
export COBAIFNAME

Parameters

  • Basename The basename of the .aif files.

Comments

You need to specify this environment variable if you are starting Animator using COBSW=+A and you want to save breakpoints for subsequent animation sessions. You can also specify it if you are starting Animator using the command anim; in this case the basename you specify overrides the application name as the basename of the .aif file.

COBATTR
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies non-standard behavior for HIGHLIGHT and LOWLIGHT clauses used with ACCEPT and DISPLAY statements. It provides compatibility with earlier COBOL products. You should avoid using it wherever possible as support might be discontinued at some future date.

Syntax

COBATTR=n
export COBATTR

Parameters

n A value in the range 0 through 7. It can be one of the following values, or a cumulative value; for example, specifying a value of 6 would result in the behavior described for values 4 and 2.

  • 0

    Provides standard, default behavior.

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT or LOWLIGHT clause, the run-time system uses respectively the bold or dim mode specified in the terminfo entry for the terminal. If the bold or dim mode is not specified, then the HIGHLIGHT or LOWLIGHT clause respectively has no effect.

  • 1

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT clause, the run-time system uses the bold mode. The run-time system uses the default mode for normal text. Specifying dim mode in the terminfo entry for the terminal has no affect. The LOWLIGHT clause has no effect.

  • 2

    High and low intensity space characters are not assumed to be the same as normal mode space characters.

  • 3

    As for 1 and 2 above

  • 4

    Provides compatibility with default behavior of products before COBOL version 3.2.

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT clause, the effect depends on whether the dim mode is specified in the terminfo entry for the terminal. If dim mode is specified, then the run-time system uses the default mode for highlighted text and the dim mode for normal text. If the dim mode is not specified, then the run-time system uses the bold mode for highlighted text and default mode for normal text. The LOWLIGHT clause has no effect, giving the same appearance as normal text.

Example

COBATTR=1
export COBATTR
COBCONFIG

Specifies a run-time configuration file that tailors the run-time configurable options in some way.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBCONFIG=pathname
UNIX:
COBCONFIG=pathname
export COBCONFIG

Parameters

  • pathname The name of the COBOL configuration file that tailors the runtime

Comments

If $COBCONFIG is not set then the file $COBDIR/etc/cobconfig is searched for instead.

Example

UNIX:
COBCONFIG=/home/mydir/cobconfig
export COBCONFIG
Windows:
SET COBCONFIG=/home/mydir/cobconfig
COBCONFIGJVM
Specifies a Java properties file that tailors the run-time configurable options for Java Virtual Machine applications. Use this instead of COBCONFIG in COBOL applications intended for use on a Java Virtual Machine.

Values

  • The location of a properties file.
COBCONFIG.BLOCK
The location of the application configuration file.
COBDIR

Specifies the directory where the required Micro Focus COBOL system is installed. Many of the COBOL system components and utilities require and use this information. If the COBDIR environment variable is not set then the COBOL system acts as if it had been set to the default COBOL system directory. This default directory is /opt/microfocus/VisualCOBOL on UNIX systems.

Syntax
Windows:
SET COBDIR=pathname
UNIX:
COBDIR=pathname
export COBDIR

Parameters

  • pathname The directory that contains the required Micro Focus COBOL system software.

Comments

The Micro Focus COBOL system is normally installed in the default COBOL system directory and so does not require COBDIR to be set. COBDIR only needs to be set when your COBOL system has been installed in a different directory such as when more than one version of the COBOL system is available at the same time.

Example

Windows:
SET COBDIR=/home/products/cobse20
UNIX:
COBDIR=/home/products/cobse20
export COBDIR

This causes the Cob utility to search the directory /home/products/cobse20 for the Micro Focus COBOL system software.

COBKEYTIMEOUT

Specifies the maximum elapsed time, in tenths of a second, for the connected terminal to transmit any valid escape sequence to the runtime system.

When a terminal key is depressed, the terminal might send in response a single character or a group of characters to the runtime system. Typically, such a group of characters starts with an escape character and the group of characters is known as an escape sequence. A terminal might send an escape sequence for one depression of a function key. It might also send the same sequence of characters for a depression of the Escape key followed by the depression of one or more alphabetic or numeric data keys. The only difference apparent to the runtime system is the interval between the arrival of each character; the user cannot type as fast as the escape sequence is generated by the terminal.

If a terminal is connected over a network that sends the characters to the runtime system in discrete packets, then the network can alter the intervals between each character arriving at the runtime system. COBKEYTIMEOUT is available to help compensate for typical network delays so the runtime system identifies escape sequences correctly.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBKEYTIMEOUT=n
UNIX:
COBKEYTIMEOUT=n
export COBKEYTIMEOUT

Parameters

n A number in the range 1 through 126 that represents the maximum elapsed time required for a terminal to transmit any valid escape sequence to the runtime system over the line or network connection. On encountering a lone Escape character, the runtime system waits n tenths of a second before assuming that the character does not introduce an escape sequence. The runtime system calculates an appropriate default value for n from the baud rate of the terminal.

COBLANG
The language environment in which your COBOL program runs.
Values
  • A COBOL language environment (LE) value.
COBLPFORM
This configuration variable is used to define and print to printer channels C01-C12. Specify the line numbers for each channel with the COBLPFORM configuration variable. Null entries are ignored. Those channels that have line number zero, function-names S01-S052, CSP, or are undefined, are set to line 1.

Example 1:

COBLPFORM 1:3:5:7:9:11:13:15:17:19:21:23

In this example C01 equals 1, C02 equals 3, and so on.

Example 2:

COBLPFORM :3::5: :9

In this example, C01 equals 3, C02 equals 5, C03 equals 1, and C04 equals 9. You can specify only a single line number for each channel.

In example 2 above, channels C05 - C12 are undefined. If a print statement specifies channel C05 - C12, the line is printed at line 1. In addition, in the example shown, C03 equals 1 because its value is a space and therefore undefined.

Any WRITE BEFORE/AFTER PAGE statements cause positioning to be at line 1. Each line advance increases the line number by one. A request to skip to a line number less than or equal to the current line causes a new page to begin. The appropriate number of line feeds are then generated.

COBMAINSTACK
Note: This variable applies to native COBOL applications on UNIX, and Enterprise Server on both Windows and UNIX.

This variable is used to specify the size of the main stack.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBMAINSTACK=n
UNIX:
COBMAINSTACK=n
export COBMAINSTACK

Parameters

n - The size, in bytes, of the stack.

Comments:

The main stack size defaults to three times the size of a threaded stack. The size of a threaded stack is either specified when the stack is created (using CBL_THREAD_CREATE), or it defaults to 160KB for a 32-bit application or 320KB for a 64-bit application.

You might need to set COBMAINSTACK in any of the following circumstances:

  • If you are deploying OO COBOL Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) to WebSphere on the AIX platform.
  • If you are using the multi-threaded run-time system.
  • If you have IF STATEMENTS with a very large number of ELSE clauses.
  • If you have a large amount of local-storage data.
COBMODE
Describes whether to start the server in 32-bit or 64-bit mode.

Syntax

COBMODE=mode;
export COBMODE

Parameters

mode = 32 or 64.

Example

COBMODE=32;
export COBMODE
COBOPT
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies user default options to the Cob utility.

Syntax

COBOPT="[set environment-variable=value]
[options] ...
[cobextn: .ext [.ext] ... ]"
export COBOPT

or

COBOPT=[pathname/]filename
export COBOPT
Parameters
  • environment-variable Any one of the environment variables supported by the COBOL system and listed in this appendix.
  • value The value to which you want to set the specified environment variable.
  • options One or more cob command line options. See the chapter COBOL System Interface (cob) for details on the format of cob options.
  • .ext A filename extension that, in addition to the standard ones of .cob, .CBL, or .cbl, denotes a file that Cob should treat as a COBOL source file. The extension must begin with a period, and if more than one is specified on one line then they must be separated by a space or tab character. You can use more than one cobextn line.
  • pathname The directory that the COBOL system is to search for an options file.
  • filename The name of a file containing cob options.

If a line does not begin with one of the identifiers set or cobextn: then it is taken as an options line.

Comments

COBOPT can either contain options that supplement or override the system default options defined in $COBDIR/etc/cobopt, or it can specify the path of a file that contains such options. The options can extend over more than one line and each line must have the same format as described for the file $COBDIR/etc/cobopt in the chapter COBOL System Interface (cob).

Examples

COBOPT="CANS85
set COBCPY=$COBDIR/srclib/:$HOME/mylib:"
export COBOPT

This enables ANSI 85 standard COBOL syntax and sets COBCPY to the specified list of paths.

COBOPT=temp/options

Specifies that cob options are contained in the file options in the directory temp.

COBPATH

Specifies the directory or directories that the runtime system is to search for dynamically loadable .int and .gnt files, or callable shared objects.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
UNIX:
COBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBPATH

Parameters

pathname A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX), that the runtime system is to search for a dynamically loadable program (.int, .gnt or callable shared object) file. When more than one pathname is specified, a null pathname represents the current working directory.

Example

Windows:
SET COBPATH=u:/home/mydir/srclib:otherlib
UNIX:
COBPATH=u:/home/mydir/srclib:otherlib
export COBPATH
COBPRFDIR
Location of .ipf files created by programs compiled with the PROFILE compiler directive.
Values
  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX).
COBPRINTER

Specifies the name of a print spooler that is to receive, via its standard input stream (stdin), output from any DISPLAY UPON PRINTER statement.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBPRINTER=command-line
UNIX:
COBPRINTER=command-line
export COBPRINTER

Parameters

  • command-line A command line supported by your system and that can be executed by the system shell. Typically, it is simply the name of a print spooler or other executable, but if the shell is escaped when setting the value then any command-line arguments can be used.

Comments

Each DISPLAY UPON PRINTER statement executed by your COBOL program causes a new invocation of command-line. Each invocation receives the data referenced in the DISPLAY statement, and is followed by a system end-of-file condition.

Example

Windows:
SET COBPRINTER="myspooler -a $TMPDIR\spoolfile"
UNIX:
COBPRINTER="myspooler -a $TMPDIR/spoolfile"
export COBPRINTER
COBSES

Specifies the UNIX Session Recorder functions to perform.

Syntax

COBSES={option[filename]}...
export COBSES
Parameters

option can be one or more of the following:

  • -a Include keystrokes made to and screen output from the Animator
  • -f filename Play back recording in fast forward mode
  • -p filename Play back recording in filename at normal speed
  • -r filename Record keystrokes
  • -s filename Record screen output
  • -t terminal number Indicate terminal number for multi-user screen recordings

These flags are all case sensitive. Also, you cannot combine the -r flag with either -f or -p.

Note: You must unset COBSES when you have finished using the UNIX Session Recorder, or it will interfere with the running of your COBOL programs. To do this, set COBSES to spaces, then export this setting to the shell.
COBSW
Specifies the run-time system switch settings for the run-time system to observe when running an application.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBSW=[+/-}s...
UNIX:
COBSW=[+/-}s...
export COBSW
Parameters

A list of the runtime switches to set or unset.

  • + sets a switch.
  • - un-sets a switch.

Example

Windows:
SET COBSW=+0+D
UNIX:
COBSW=+0+D
export COBSW

This enables runtime switch 0 and the ANSI COBOL debug switch.

COBTERMINFO
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the directory or directories to be searched by the runtime system for a terminfo database of terminal information tailored to the needs of COBOL applications. This enables COBOL applications to use different terminfo settings to those used by non-COBOL applications, such as vi, when using the same terminal.
Syntax
COBTERMINFO=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBTERMINFO

Parameters

pathname A list of search directories, each item separated by a colon, that identify a terminfo database containing terminal settings tailored for COBOL applications. A null pathname represents the current working directory.

Comments

The COBOL system takes the value of the standard UNIX environment variable TERM as the name of the terminal in use. It uses this to search for the appropriate terminal information in a terminfo database. The runtime system first searches the databases identified in COBTERMINFO and then, if the terminal information is not found it searches the database identified in the standard UNIX environment variable TERMINFO.

If COBTERMINFO is not set, the runtime system acts as if it had been set to $COBDIR/terminfo.

Micro Focus recommend that the first directory listed in COBTERMINFO is $COBDIR/terminfo so that the terminfo database supplied with this COBOL system is found first. For commonly used terminals this terminfo contains settings that are fuller and more appropriate to COBOL than those normally available in the UNIX system terminfo database. When debugging using Animator, COBTERMINFO must be set to $COBDIR/terminfo.

COBTERMINFO can also be used to identify a terminfo database that is portable between UNIX systems. Such a database conforms to the standard UNIX database format but does not include any supplementary, UNIX implementation-dependent terminal information. Many UNIX system terminfo databases are not portable because they include such supplementary information. The COBOL system ignores any such nonportable details.

Example

COBTERMINFO=$COBDIR/terminfo:/home/mydir/terms
export COBTERMINFO
COLUMNS
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the column width of the terminal screen or window, overriding the specified terminal default.

Syntax

COLUMNS=n
export COLUMNS

Parameters

n The width of the terminal screen or window, in column positions.

Comments

The default, when COLUMNS is unset or null, is to use the cols value defined in the specified terminal's terminfo entry, or the current width of the terminal window if you are using an X terminal. The terminal type is specified using the standard UNIX environment variable, TERM.

On non-windowing environments, where the terminal screen area cannot be resized, the COLUMNS values does not need to be set. Terminals that can switch into a wide mode (usually from 80 through 132 columns) have a terminal name ending in "w" and these are automatically supported, without the need to set COLUMNS.

In windowing environments, where the size of windows can be changed, the initial size of the window is used in preference to the cols value in terminfo. When the window is resized, the new size is reread. If the new size is greater than the initial size then the extra columns might not be used.

If you want to use the full width of the window you might need to set COLUMNS to the current column width of the window on some platforms.

Using COLUMNS values that do not correspond to the actual width of the window produces unexpected results.

Example

COLUMNS=100
export COLUMNS
ES_CAS_API
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Indicates whether casout or cassub has been executed by a call and not from the command line.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_CAS_API=value
export ES_CAS_API
Windows:
SET ES_CAS_API=value
Values
  • ON The utility has been invoked by a call, and messages will not be sent to the console or command line.
Default

The utility will attempt to log messages.

ES_CONSOLE_LOG (deprecated)
Restriction: This environment variable applies to Windows environments only.
Sends console messages to the Windows Event Log.
Note: ES_CONSOLE_LOG is deprecated, and provided for backward compatibility only. We recommend that you use MFDS configuration options instead.
Syntax
ES_CONSOLE_LOG=port
export ES_CONSOLE_LOG
Values

Can be any combination of the following:

  • I - Send informational messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • W - Send warning messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • E - Send error messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • S - Send severe messages to the Windows Event Log.
Default
If this is not set, console messages are not sent to the Windows Event Log.
ES_CSKL_NO_MSG_CONSOLE
Stops CSKL writing messages to console.log
Values
  • Yes CSKL messages are not written to the console log.
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE
Limits the number of lines shown when viewing an individual catalog entry in the ESMAC catalog view or when viewing a SYSOUT file from the job list view.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE=value
export ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE
Windows:
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE=value
Value
  • An integer number denoting how many lines to display. The maximum number is 99999.
Default
10000
ES_JES_SPOOL_ORDER
The order in which the spool list is displayed when you first open ESMAC.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_JES_SPOOL_ORDER=value
export ES_JES_SPOOL_ORDER
Windows:
ES_JES_SPOOL_ORDER=value
Values
  • 1 - Displays the list in descending order by JOBID. Any other value displays it in ascending order.

Default
By default the list is displayed in ascending order by JOBID.
ES_LEGACY_ECI
Indicates that Enterprise Server must use Micro Focus ECI instead of IBM CTG.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_LEGACY_ECI=value
export ES_LEGACY_ECI
Windows:
ES_LEGACY_ECI=value
Values
  • Y|y Micro Focus ECI is used.
Default
By default IBM CTG is used.
ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES
Restricts the number of entries displayed in ESMAC catalog view.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES=number
export ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES
Windows:
ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES=number
Values
  • number The number of lines to display. The maximum is 99999.
Default
The default is 5000.
ES_MEM_STRATEGY
Selects the types of memory processes supported.
Note: Note that memory strategy can also be set via the memory_strategy runtime tunable.
ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT
The time in seconds that an OTMA client should wait for an answer. The default value is 120.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT=seconds
export ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT
Windows:
SET ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT=seconds
Values
  • seconds - The number of seconds to wait. The maximum is 43199.
Default
120 seconds.
ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME
Allows override of Transient SEP dormant time. Rather than automatically terminating transient SEPs on completion of a stateful request, the server manager allows a period of inactivity before scheduling their termination. This allows new requests to re-use the SEP rather than starting a new instance. This environment variable allows the period of inactivity to be controlled.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME=seconds
export ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME
Windows:
ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME=seconds

Values

  • seconds Number of seconds' inactivity.

Default

Transient SEPs are terminated after 2 seconds of inactivity.

ES_SERVER
The default server name (used if no -r switch is specified on casstart or casstop).

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_SERVER=name
export ES_SERVER
Windows:
ES_SERVER=name

Values

  • name The server name.

Default

ESDEMO/ESDEMO64

ES_SYSOUT_HOLD
The status of the SYSOUT files are set to Out Hold.
ES_TN3270_FORCE_ALT
Enables you to use a screen size other than the default when using a TN3270 terminal emulator.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_TN2370_FORCE_ALT=value
export ES_TN2370_FORCE_ALT
Windows:
SET ES_TN2370_FORCE_ALT=value

Values

  • Any value

Default

The default screen size is used.

ES_TN3270_MODEL_LOG
Writes the TN3270 emulator's model name to a temporary storage queue named TN32MODL that can be viewed using the CEBR transaction.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_TN3270_MODEL_LOG=value
export ES_TN3270_MODEL_LOG
Windows:
SET ES_TN3270_MODEL_LOG=value

Values

  • Y|y - Model names are written to TSQ TN32MODL.

Default

Model names are not logged.

ES_USR_DFLT_CICS
Allows you to override the default user when no user is logged on for CICS authentication.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_USR_DFLT_CICS=user
export ES_USR_DFLT_CICS
Windows:
SET ES_USR_DFLT_CICS=user

Values

  • user - the default user name.

Default

CICSUSER

ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC
Allows you to override the default user when no user is logged on for ESMAC authentication.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC=user
export ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC
Windows:
SET ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC=user

Values

  • user - the default user name.

Default

mfuser

ES_USR_DFLT_JES
Allows you to override the default user when no user is logged on for JES authentication.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_USR_DFLT_JES=user
export ES_USR_DFLT_JES
Windows:
SET ES_USR_DFLT_JES=user

Values

  • user The deafult user name.

Default

JESUSER

ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC
Allows you to disable the default ESMAC user in order to increase the security of your server. Disables the DEFAULT button on the logon screen and forces users to always enter a valid userid and password.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC=value
export ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC
Windows:
ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC=value

Values

  • Y|y - Default ESMAC user is disabled.

Default

Default ESMAC user is not disabled.

IMSCPY
The location of copybook files for DBDGEN, PSBGEN and MFSGEN utilities .
ISPPROF
The location of ISPF dialog profiles.
JAVA_HOME
Specifies the location of the JDK.
LANG
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the locale.

Syntax

LANG=language[_territory[.codepage]]
export LANG
Parameters
  • language The language in which your program is to run.
  • _ (underscore) The delimiter for language and territory, if territory is specified.
  • territory The country in which your program is to run.
  • . (period) The delimiter for territory and codepage, if codepage is specified.
  • codepage The character set to use for your program.

Example

LANG=fr_FR
export LANG
LINES
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the depth of the terminal screen or window, overriding the specified terminal default.

Syntax

LINES=n
export LINES

Parameters

n The depth of the terminal screen or window, in lines.

Comments

The default, when LINES is unset or null, is to use the lines value as defined in the specified terminal's terminfo entry, or the current depth of the terminal window if you are using X windows. The terminal type is specified via the standard UNIX environment variable, TERM.

On non-windowing environments, where the terminal screen area cannot be resized, the LINES values does not need to be set.

In windowing environments, where the size of windows can be changed, the initial size of the window is used in preference to the lines value in terminfo. When the window is resized, the new size is reread. If the new size is greater than the initial size then the extra lines might not be used.

If you want to use the full depth of the window you might need to set LINES to the current depth of the window on some platforms.

Using LINES values that do not correspond to the actual depth of the window produces unexpected results.

Example

LINES=50
export LINES
LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory or directories for the UNIX system, cob command, and the run-time system to search for shared libraries and callable shared objects. If you have installed the product to a directory other than the default one, you must set this variable to include $COBDIR/lib on all platforms except AIX (which uses LIBPATH). It should also include any directories that contain callable shared objects used by your application. If you have installed the product in the default directory (/opt/microfocus/EnterpriseDeveloper), you do not need to set this variable.

Syntax

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Parameters

pathname A path or a list of paths, each separated by a colon (:).

Comments

The list of directories must include $COBDIR/lib. The COBDIR environment variable is described earlier.

This environment variable is a system environment variable; see your UNIX documentation for more information.

Example

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$COBDIR/lib:/home/mydir/myapp:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
LIBPATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the directory or directories for the UNIX system, Cob and the runtime system to search for shared libraries and callable shared objects. It is only available on AIX-based systems. If you have installed the product to a directory other than the default one, you must set this variable to include $COBDIR/lib. It should also include any directories that contain callable shared objects used by your application. If you have installed the product in the default directory (/opt/microfocus/EnterpriseDeveloper), you do not need to set this variable.

Syntax

LIBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export LIBPATH

Parameters

pathname A directory to search for shared libraries.

Example

LIBPATH=$COBDIR/lib:/lib:/usr/lib
MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT
Specifies the format to use for floating point data items. Possible formats are IBM hexadecimal and IEEE.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT=fpstatus
UNIX:
MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT=fpstatus
export MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT

Parameters

fpstatus Which format to use for floating point data items. This must be one of:

  • true Specifies that IBM hexadecimal format floating point data items are to be used.
  • false Specifies that IEEE format floating point data items are to be used.

Setting MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT to anything other than true has the same effect as setting it to false.

The setting of this environment variable can be overridden by the NATIVE-FLOATING-POINT directive.

MF_AMODE31ONLY
Indicates that all programs are AMODE(31).
MF_CHARSET
Specifies the system character set (ASCII or EBCDIC).
MF_SPOOL_ARCHIVE_LOC
The base location for files archived as part of the spool housekeeping process, where the contents of the MVS SPOOL spool file are archived prior to deletion.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MF_SPOOL_ARCHIVE_LOC=file-location
UNIX:
MF_SPOOL_ARCHIVE_LOC=file-location
export MF_SPOOL_ARCHIVE_LOC

Values

file-location The file location.

MF_USESCA5
Specifies that the server should use version 5 of the Open Service Component Architecture.
Values:
  • ON (Default)
  • OFF
MF_USESCA7
Specifies that MSS accepts CA7 Scheduler control statements as comments rather than diagnosing them as errors.
Values:
  • ON (Default)
  • OFF
MFCODESET
Specifies which translation tables to use.
Values
  • On UNIX platforms (requires Micro Focus Enterprise Developer UNIX Components):A pre-defined country code:
    Important: To specify a Euro codeset, meaning that it includes the Euro symbol (€), prefix an "E" to the appropriate country code listed below. A country code with no "E" prefix indicates a non-Euro code.

    Country Code

    (MFCODESET)

    EBCDIC CCSIDs Language
    AUTOMATIC

    AUTO

    Operating system default - sets country code based on CBL_GET_OS_INFO

    This setting is only applicable on Windows platforms.

    DEFAULT Set to 0437 (US English) on Windows, or 0081 (Japanese Katakana Extended) on Japanese Windows. Set to 0437 (US English) on UNIX.
    0031 37, 1140 Dutch
    0033 297, 1147 French
    0034 284, 1145 Spanish
    0039 280, 1144 Italian
    0043 273, 1141 German (Austrian)
    0044 285, 1146 UK English
    0045 277, 1142 Danish
    0046 278, 1143 Swedish
    0047 277, 1142 Norwegian
    0049 273, 1141 German
    0066 838 Thai Extended
    0081† 930 (290, 300) * Japanese Katakana Extended
    0082 933 (833, 834) *Korean
    0086 13676 (836, 837) *Simplified Chinese
    0351 37, 1140 Portuguese
    0358 278, 1143 Finnish
    0420[4] 420 Arabic

    See Arabic Support Considerations below.

    0437 37, 1140 US English
    0500 500, 1148 International (Latin 1)
    0886 937 (37, 835) *Traditional Chinese
    0930 † 930 (290, 300) *Japanese Katakana Extended
    0939 † 939 (1027, 300) *Japanese Latin Extended
    9122 † 9122 (290, 300) *Japanese Katakana

    Character sets marked with an asterisk (*) are capable of mixed single-byte and double-byte character translation. EBCDIC CCSIDs in these rows indicate the mixed-byte CCSID first, followed by the single-byte, then double-byte Code Page Global Identifiers (CPGIDs) in parenthesis.

    Other EBCDIC CCSIDs in parentheses reflect a 'non-Euro, Euro' pair for appropriate country codes.

    For database applications using a DBMS server on Windows, use the table above.

    For Windows and UNIX database applications accessing a UNIX database created with single-byte character sets 819 or 923, use the following table:
    Country Code

    (MFCODESET)

    EBCDIC CCSIDs Languages
    1140 37,1140 Dutch US English Portuguese
    1141 273,1141 German (Austrian) German
    1142 277,1142 Danish Norwegian
    1143 278,1143 Swedish Finnish
    1144 280,1144 Italian
    1145 284,1145 Spanish
    1146 285,1146 UK English
    1147 297,1147 French
    1148 500,1148 International (Latin 1)
  • A code between 2000 and 9999 (except 9122) corresponds to a user-defined translation table. User-defined tables are created using the Codecomp utility.

On Windows platforms:

If you are not using UK or US language settings, you must also set the codepage in your PC environment settings:

  • Right click My Computer.
  • Select Properties.
  • Click Advanced system settings.
  • Click Environment Variables.
  • Under System Variables click New.
  • Enter MFCODESET as Variable name and XXXX as Variable value, where XXXX is your chosen codepage.
MFCSCFG
Specifies a configuration file to be used by the Client/Server Binding client program.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFCSCFG=filename
UNIX:
MFCSCFG=filename
export MFCSCFG

Parameters

filename The name of the configuration file.

Example

Windows:
SET MFCSCFG=/home/mydir/mfclisrv.cfg
UNIX:
MFCSCFG=/home/mydir/mfclisrv.cfg
export MFCSCFG

Comments

The value of MFCSCFG is overridden by any value defined in the command line. If neither of the above yields a filename, the default filename mfclisrv.cfg is assumed, and is searched for in the current directory. If that in turn is not found, the default settings for the configuration entries are used.

MFEXTMAP
Location of a mapper file.
MFLOGDIR
Specifies a directory to be used by Client/Server Binding for log files.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFLOGDIR=dirname
UNIX:
MFLOGDIR=dirname
export MFLOGDIR

Parameters

dirname The name of the directory for log files.

Example

Windows:
SET MFLOGDIR=/home/mydir/logs
UNIX:
MFLOGDIR=/home/mydir/logs
export MFLOGDIR
MFLECONFIG

Specifies a configuration file for Language Environment (LE) runtime options.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFLECONFIG=filename
UNIX:
MFLECONFIG=filename
export MFLECONFIG

Parameters

filename The file containing the LE runtime options you want to use.

MFPRELOAD_USE
Calls MFPRELOAD to improve performance.
MFSUB
Specifies whether to use SUBI or ASUBI.
Values
  • SUBI
  • ASUBI
MFSYSCATDIR
The location of the system catalog directory.
MFUSER
The default User ID.
MQSERVER
The location of a WebSphere MQ Server installation.
MULTMFENTMAP
Specifies whether special characters such as < and & are replaced with the equivalent HTML entities (for example &lt; and &amp;).
OOSW
OO run-time switches.
PATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directories to be searched by all UNIX programs, including the runtime system, when finding executables to be run.

Syntax

PATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export PATH

Parameters

pathname A directory to search for executables.

Example

PATH=$COBDIR/bin:$PATH
export PATH
TERM
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Defines the type of terminal being used.

Syntax

TERM=name
export TERM

Parameters

name The name of the terminal in the terminfo database.

Example

TERM=at386
export TERM
TERMINFO
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory to be searched by all UNIX programs, including the runtime system, for the UNIX system terminfo database.

Syntax

TERMINFO=pathname
export TERMINFO

Parameters

pathname The name of a directory that contains the UNIX system terminfo database.

Comments

The UNIX system terminfo database is used by all UNIX applications that need to use a terminal. However, COBOL applications tend to make much fuller and sophisticated use of the terminal and require a fuller terminfo description than is required by typical UNIX applications such as vi. Some terminal capabilities, such as those set during the initialization of the terminal to control the use of function keys, commonly conflict with the needs of typical COBOL applications. In such cases, the terminal information required by COBOL can be stored in a separate terminfo database and referenced using COBTERMINFO.

TMPDIR
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies a directory in which to store temporary files in place of the UNIX system default.

Syntax

TMPDIR=pathname
export TMPDIR

Parameters

pathname The directory used by UNIX applications for any temporary work files. Temporary work files can be created by COBOL utilities such as Cob or by the runtime system when it executes statements such as SORT. If you do not specify a directory, the system default directory is used.

Comments

You might need to use this environment variable if the runtime system needs to page data to disk when creating heaps or sorting.

TX_TN3270_FORCE_ALT
Enables you to use a screen size other than the default when using a TN3270 terminal emulator.
TXMAPP
The location of the BMS load module.
TXRDTP
The location of MSS resource definition (RDO) files.
USER
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Default user name.