Preparing COBOL programs in Linux

Learn about preparing COBOL programs in Linux and preparing COBOL programs using Micro Focus COBOL.

MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH represents the high-level directory in which IBM MQ is installed.

32 bit COBOL copy books are installed in the following directory:
```
MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/inc/cobcpy32
```
and symbolic links are created in:
```
MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/inc
```
On 64 bit platforms, 64 bit COBOL copy books are installed in the following directory:
```
MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/inc/cobcpy64
```
In the following examples set COBCPY to:
```
MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/inc/cobcpy32
```
for 32 bit applications, and:
```
MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/inc/cobcpy64
```
for 64 bit applications.

We need to link your program with one of the following:

Library file	Program/exit type
libmqmcb.so	Server for COBOL
libmqicb.so	Client for COBOL
libmqmcb_r.so	Server for COBOL (threaded application)
libmqicb_r.so	Client for COBOL (threaded application)

Preparing COBOL programs using Micro Focus COBOL

Set environment variables before compiling your program as follows:

export COBCPY=COBCPY_VALUE
export LIB= MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH lib:$LIB

To compile a 32 bit COBOL program, where supported, using Micro Focus COBOL, enter:

$ cob32 -xvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib -lmqmcb Server for COBOL
$ cob32 -xvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib -lmqicb Client for COBOL
$ cob32 -xtvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib -lmqmcb_r Threaded Server for COBOL
$ cob32 -xtvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib -lmqicb_r Threaded Client for COBOL

To compile a 64 bit COBOL program using Micro Focus COBOL, enter:

$ cob64 -xvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib64 -lmqmcb Server for COBOL
$ cob64 -xvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib64 -lmqicb Client for COBOL
$ cob64 -xtvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib64 -lmqmcb_r Threaded Server for COBOL
$ cob64 -xtvP amqsput.cbl -L MQ_INSTALLATION_PATH/lib64 -lmqicb_r Threaded Client for COBOL

where amqsput is a sample program

See the Micro Focus COBOL documentation for a description of the environment variables that you need.

Parent topic: Building your procedural application on Linux