Withdrawal of runtime support for OS/VS COBOL programs

Run-time support for OS/VS COBOL programs is withdrawn.

OS/VS COBOL programs, which had runtime support in CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS®, Version 2, cannot run under CICS TS for z/OS, Version 3.

OS/VS COBOL programs must be upgraded to Language Environment® conforming COBOL, and recompiled against a level of COBOL compiler supported by CICS. Enterprise COBOL for z/OS and OS/390® Version 3 is the recommended compiler.

High-level language support and the CICS Application Programming Guide for CICS TS for z/OS, Version 3 have information about supported compilers for COBOL and other languages. Appendix B of the CICS Application Programming Guide provides assistance with converting OS/VS COBOL programs to Language Environment conforming COBOL.

A new abend code ALIK indicates an attempt to use an OS/VS COBOL program. In this situation, CICS abnormally terminates the task and disables the program, and CICS processing continues.