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Status Not under consideration
Workspace COBOL Compilers
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 15, 2017

RELATED IDEAS

Add support for EVALUATE numeric-dataitem WHEN IS POSITIVE / WHEN IS NEGATIVE / WHEN IS ZERO / END-EVALUATE

The EVALUATE statement does not support SIGN CONDITION.

EVALUATE numeric-DataItem
WHEN IS POSITIVE
[...]
WHEN IS NEGATIVE
[...]
WHEN IS ZERO
END-EVALUATE

raise a compilation error.

This instruction must be written:

EVALUATE TRUE
WHEN numeric-DataItem > 0
[...]
WHEN numeric-DataItem < 0
[...]
WHEN numeric-DataItem = 0
[...]
END-EVALUATE

which is less concise and less readable.

We think it might be useful to support the tests on SIGN CONDITION in the EVALUATE statement.

Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Dec 16, 2020

    Whilst this RFE is a valid COBOL Standard requirement, based on our current plans and priorities, it is not likely that this could be implemented in the next 12 months, or in the next IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS compiler release. Correspondingly this requirement is being declined at this point. The requirement will be kept in our internal RFE backlog. As we work towards becoming aligned with the COBOL Standard, this RFE might be reassessed in the future. You also have an opportunity to resubmit in 12 months time if you wish it to be reconsidered then.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Aug 1, 2017

    This RFE has been accepted for the general case of partial expressions in evaluate statements.

    The RFE will be updated once put into plan.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Jul 26, 2017

    This RFE is still under investigation.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Jul 12, 2017

    Another alternative would be to add support for the new standard "SIGN" intrinsic function. Usage:

    EVALUATE FUNCTION SIGN(numeric-DataItem)
    WHEN +1 *>positive
    [...]
    WHEN -1 *>negative
    [...]
    WHEN ZERO
    [...]
    END-EVALUATE

    Partial conditions offer more features not within this use case, so should be given priority over the SIGN function.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Jul 11, 2017

    An alternative to this might be "partial conditions" as defined by recent COBOL standards.

    EVALUATE numeric-DataItem
    WHEN > 0
    [...]
    WHEN < 0
    [...]
    WHEN 0
    [...]
    END-EVALUATE

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