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Overview of Creating 64-bit Native COBOL Programs

Restriction: The following information applies to native COBOL only.

This COBOL system includes both 32-bit and a 64-bit versions of both the development and run time systems. This enables you to create new 64-bit native COBOL programs, or to convert existing 32-bit native programs.

64-bit COBOL programs are restricted to 32-bit sizes, but have 64-bit pointers. Therefore, COBOL elements such as Data Division sizes, offsets, Procedure Divisions, and so on, are restricted to 32-bits; however, these elements are addressed with 64-bit pointers.

UNIX: The COBOL system works in two modes, 64-bit or 32-bit. In 64-bit mode, the development environment and tools are enabled to work with 64-bit programs. To set the effective working mode, use the COBMODE environment variable or the cobmode command line utility.

Windows: The COBOL system works in 32-bit mode, but is configured in a 64-bit environment to enable it to work with 64-bit programs.

Restriction: You cannot port executable code between 32-bit and 64-bit development systems.
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