Re: COBOL/ILE questions

I believe that IBM is trying to make the Language Environment concept

standard on all platforms.

Yes - but be careful in taking this thought too far.  

The compilers are not the same (i.e. no or little common code) and the
behavior of generated code may be different in "fringe" behavior areas...

ILE and LE don't really have the same roots - just similar names.  ILE was
originally known as NPM (New Program Model) but it was decided that the
implication that the previous model was "Old" was politically incorrect
(even if true).  As a result a new name had to be found to replace NPM.  ILE
(Integrated Language Environment) was the final choice - partly because the
system was implementing some of the LE APIs (mainly the CEE... Set).  But
that really is where the compatibility with LE ends.

There have been changes to the ILE COBOL compiler to make it simpler for
mainframers to convert (the COMPASBIN option being one) but most of the
compatibility comes from meeting the ANSI standards not from matching the
mainframe version.  

If anything there were more changes made in UI handling for compatibility
with PC and Unix dialects from MicroFocus and AcuCOBOL than for mainframe. 

Jon Paris
Partner400

www.Partner400.com