AMODE Compiler Directive

You need the AMODE directive for any program module that uses arithmetic containing mainframe-style pointers. For example:
01 ptr pointer.
01 ptr-comp pic 9(9) comp redefines ptr.

add 24 to ptr-comp.

Enterprise Developer also provides and sets the DATA Compiler directive that can control the placement of the Data Division of a program compiled using the AMODE Compiler directive.

The following table shows the settings for AMODE and DATA that are required for a number of COBOL dialects:
COBOL Dialect Directive
COBOL 370 AMODE(31) DATA(31)
VS COBOL II (all releases) AMODE(31) DATA(31)
OS/VS COBOL AMODE(24)

You must specify the appropriate settings for these directives depending on the dialect you are using.