1.1 Overview of This Manual
ACUCOBOLTM-GT is part of the extendTM family of Acucorp solutions. ACUCOBOL-GT is an implementation of the
COBOL-1985 programming language (ANSI X3.23-1985 and the ANSI X3.23a-1989 supplement).
This manual provides a full technical description of the ACUCOBOL-GT
language. It is written in a style similar to the official ANSI definition of COBOL
and is designed for experienced COBOL programmers. Intended as a reference, it
does not try to teach programming or the COBOL language. Readers interested in
a more general introduction to COBOL may want to consider classes or
commercially available textbooks.
Note: Software installation instructions are located in Appendix A of Book 4,
"Appendices."
This manual uses a meta-language to describe the ACUCOBOL-GT syntax. This
meta-language follows the conventions used in most COBOL manuals as well as the
ANSI standard. These conventions are described below.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the references to "Windows" and "Windows NT" in
this manual denote all 32-bit versions of the Windows and Windows NT operating
systems. Those versions are: Windows 95 and 98, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows
2000. In those instances where it is necessary to make a distinction among the
individual versions of those operating systems, we refer to them by their
specific version numbers ("Windows 2000", "Windows NT 4.0", etc.).
More:
1.1.1 Upper-Case and Special-Character Words
1.1.2 Lower-Case Words
1.1.3 Brackets, Braces and Vertical Bars
1.1.4 Ellipses
1.1.5 Shading