With respect to the COBOL migration issue, we bit that bullet several years ago, starting with V5.2. Now we compile only with V6.2 except under special circumstances. We used the "two library" migration plan.
As for "release and options compiled with", the CBT utility COBANALZ (CBT321) does a very creditable job of that function, and the price is right. Honestly, the most helpful information is just the compiler version used to create the load module, which COBANALZ provides succinctly in its SUMMARY report. Options compiled with has not been a necessary set of information for us (so far). Which production programs are actually executed is a tougher nut to crack without using SMF records (you need SAF permissions to that data), but definitely possible using only your production JCL/PROC libraries, a good source maintenance regime and utilities, application scheduler reports, and a good knowledge of how to make SORT dance to your tune. I have done it for specific sets of code and jobs for various business reasons (e.g., identifying any non-LE COBOL code still actually running). There is at least one very affordable ISV product already available which does a very creditable job of providing shop-wide source-and-JCL cross-reference data. I think IBM's TADz product has similar capabilities. Year 2042 isn't even on our radar, as we don’t use STCK date information at the application level at all as far as I know. All uses I am aware of use either STCKE or LE date facilities. Being a financial sector player we have long since been dealing with dates WAY into the future (30 year bonds, "perpetual" bonds, etc.). HTH Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Steve Pryor Sent: Friday, March 24, 2023 2:39 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: A question or two on zOS issues EXTERNAL EMAIL There are a couple of pressing issues in z/OS that I'm sure many folks are aware of but about which there doesn't seem to be much being done. I'm curious as to what other IBM-MAINer's thoughts might be. Specifically, I'm talking about: 1.) migration to IBM's latest COBOL release, and 2.) the not-really-that-far-off issue of Year 2042 I've been asked several times recently whether we (a z/OS ISV) should consider developing products to address these issues. Frankly, though, I live in an ivory tower and while I sometime *think* I know what installations problems and needs are, I'm usually surprised to find that reality is quite different. So I'd like to throw a couple of questions out to the list for comment: 1.) Would a reporting utility that determined which COBOL programs were executed (and which ones weren't), and what release and options they were compiled with be significantly helpful in a COBOL migration? What other features would be nice to have? Or is this a low priority for most installations, who are perhaps trying to justify keeping the mainframe alive and/or conducting business as usual, let alone doing a COBOL migration project? 2.) It's rather shocking that 2042 is so close and not much seems to be happening. We are one of the vendors that have a date-simulation utility, but we don’t know if data centers have any near-term plans for 2042. Would it be worthwhile to have a 2042 date-simulation product now, or is everyone going to cross their fingers and try to use a test LPAR once the operating system fully supports 2042 dates? Thanks for any comments and insight the IBM-MAIN hive mind might have. Steve Pryor CTO DTS Software, LLC -- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
