Can we compile a COBOL program without a JCL?

[Jina Baruah]

Hi,

As the subject line says it, can we compile a COBOL program without a JCL? If yes, how's that possible?

[Robert Sample]

Yes. If your site is set up for it, TSO / ISPF supports a compile option (usually 4) for Foreground compile. You can also directly call the COBOL compile with a TSO command -- but that requires being knowledgeable enough to allocate the compiler data sets in TSO. Or you can go into Unix System Services (OMVS) and use the command-line compiler there.

[Jina Baruah]

Thanks Robert. I'll work on those lines and get back if I stuck somewhere.

Thanks.

[enrico-sorichetti]

remember, anyway, that running compilations under TSO is frowned upon/FORBIDDEN in most organisations
so even just playing with it might get You into trouble.
( quite often even the relative ISPF panel/choice is removed from the available options )