COMPOPT

This system command is used to set various compilation options. The options are evaluated when a Natural programming object is compiled.

If you enter the COMPOPT command without any options, a screen is displayed where you can enable or disable the options described below.

The default settings of the individual options are set with the corresponding profile parameters in the Natural parameter file.

This document covers the following topics:

• Syntax Explanation

• Compiler Options

• Specifying Compiler Parameters

• COMPOPT in a Remote Mainframe Environment

• Specifying Compiler Keyword Parameters (Remote Mainframe Environment)

• General Compilation Options (Remote Mainframe Environment)

• Compilation Options for Ensuring Version Compatibility (Remote Mainframe Environment)

Syntax Explanation

COMPOPT DBSHORT=ON

Compiler Options

The following compiler options are available. For details on the purpose of these options and the possible settings, see the description of the corresponding Natural profile parameter:

DBSHORT | GFID | KCHECK | MASKCME | PCHECK | PSIGNF | THSEP | TQMARK

Specifying Compiler Parameters

You can specify compiler parameters on different levels:

1. As Default Settings

   The default settings of the individual compiler parameters are specified using the Compiler Options category of the Configuration Utility and are stored in the Natural parameter file NATPARM.

2. At Session Start

   At session start, you can override the compiler option settings by specifying the corresponding profile parameters.

3. During an Active Natural Session

   During an active Natural session, there are two ways to change the compiler parameter values with the COMPOPT system command: either directly using command assignment (COMPOPT option=value) or by issuing the COMPOPT command without options which displays the Compiler Options dialog box. The settings assigned to a compiler option are in effect until you issue the next LOGON command to another library. At LOGON to a different libary, the default settings (see item 1 above) will be resumed. Example:

   OPTIONS KCHECK=ON
   DEFINE DATA LOCAL
   1 #A (A25) INIT <'Hello World'>
   END-DEFINE
   WRITE #A
   END
   

4. In a Natural Programming Object

   In a Natural programming object (for example: program, subprogram), you can set compiler parameters with the OPTIONS statement. Example:

   OPTIONS KCHECK=ON
   WRITE 'Hello World'
   END
   

   The compiler options defined in an OPTIONS statement will only affect the compilation of this programming object, but do not update settings set with the command COMPOPT.

COMPOPT in a Remote Mainframe Environment

The topics provided below apply when using the COMPOPT command in a remote mainframe environment.

Specifying Compiler Keyword Parameters (Remote Mainframe Environment)

You can specify compiler keyword parameters on different levels:

1. The default settings of the individual keyword parameters are specified in the macro NTCMPO in the Natural parameter module.

2. At session start, you can override the compiler keyword parameters with the profile parameter CMPO.

3. During an active Natural session, there are two ways to change the compiler keyword parameters with the COMPOPT system command: either directly using command assignment (COMPOPT option=value) or by issuing the COMPOPT command without keyword parameters which displays the Compilation Options screen. The settings assigned to a compiler option are in effect until you issue the next LOGON command to another library. At LOGON, the default settings set with the macro NTCMPO and/or the profile parameter CMPO (see above) will be resumed. Example:

   OPTIONS KCHECK=ON
   DEFINE DATA LOCAL
   1 #A (A25) INIT <'Hello World'>
   END-DEFINE
   WRITE #A
   END
   

4. In a Natural programming object (for example: program, subprogram), you can set compiler parameters (options) with the OPTIONS statement. Example:

   OPTIONS KCHECK=ON
   WRITE 'Hello World'
   END
   

   The compiler options defined in an OPTIONS statement will only affect the compilation of this programming object, but do not update settings set with the command COMPOPT.

General Compilation Options (Remote Mainframe Environment)

The following options are available:

• CHKRULE - Validate INCDIR Statements in Maps

• CPAGE - Code Page Support for Alphanumeric Constants

• DBSHORT - Interpretation of Database Short Field Names

• DB2ARRY - Support DB2 Arrays in SQL SELECT and INSERT Statements

• DB2BIN – Generate SQL Binary Data Types for Natural Binary Fields

• DB2TSTI – Generate SQL TIMESTAMP Data Type for Natural TIME Fields

• ECHECK - Existence Check for Object Calling Statements

• GDASC - GDA Signature Check

• GFID - Generation of Global Format IDs

• KCHECK - Keyword Checking

• LOWSRCE - Allow Lower-Case Source

• MAXPREC – Maximum Number of Digits after Decimal Point

• MEMOPT - Memory Optimization for Locally Declared Variables

• PCHECK - Parameter Check for Object Calling Statements

• PSIGNF - Internal Representation of Positive Sign of Packed Numbers

• THSEP - Dynamic Thousands Separator

• TQMARK - Translate Quotation Mark

• TSENABL - Applicability of TS Profile Parameter

These options correspond to the keyword subparameters of the CMPO profile parameter and/or the NTCMPO parameter macro.

CHKRULE - Validate INCDIR Statements in Maps

The CHKRULE option can be used to enable or disable a validation check during the catalog process for maps.

CPAGE - Code Page Support for Alphanumeric Constants

The CPAGE option can be used to activate a conversion routine which translates all alphanumeric constants (from the code page that was active at compilation time into the code page that is active at runtime) when the object is started at runtime.

DBSHORT - Interpretation of Database Short Field Names

A database field defined in a DDM is described by two names:

• the short name with a length of 2 characters, used by Natural to communicate with the database (especially with Adabas);

• the long name with a length of 3-32 characters (1-32 characters, if the underlying database type accessed is DB2/SQL), which is supposed to be used to reference the field in the Natural programming code.

Under special conditions, you may reference a database field in a Natural program with its short name instead of the long name. This applies if running in Reporting Mode without Natural Security and if the database access statement contains a reference to a DDM instead of a view.

The decision if a field name is regarded as a short-name reference depends on the name length. When the field identifier consists of two characters, a short-name reference is assumed; a field name with another length is considered as a long-name reference. This standard interpretation rule for database fields can additionally be influenced and controlled by setting the compiler option DBSHORT to ON or OFF:

Examples:

Assume the following data base field definition in the DDM EMPLOYEES:

Example 1:

OPTIONS DBSHORT=ON
READ EMPLOYEES 
  DISPLAY AA      /* data base short name AA is allowed
END

Example 2:

OPTIONS DBSHORT=OFF
READ EMPLOYEES 
  DISPLAY AA      /* syntax error NAT0981, because DBSHORT=OFF
END

Example 3:

OPTIONS DBSHORT=ON
DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 V1 VIEW OF EMPLOYEES
  2  PERSONNEL-ID
END-DEFINE
READ V1 BY PERSONNEL-ID 
  DISPLAY AA     /* syntax error NAT0981, because PERSONNEL-ID is defined in view;
                 /* (even if DBSHORT=ON)
END-READ
END

DB2ARRY - Support DB2 Arrays in SQL SELECT and INSERT Statements

The DB2ARRY option can be used to activate retrieval and/or insertion of multiple rows from/into DB2 by a single SQL SELECT or INSERT statement execution. This allows the specification of arrays as receiving fields in the SQL SELECT and as source fields in the SQL INSERT statement. If DB2ARRY is ON, it is no longer possible to use Natural alphanumeric arrays for DB2 VARCHAR/GRAPHIC columns. Instead of these, long alphanumeric Natural variables have to be used.

DB2BIN – Generate SQL Binary Data Types for Natural Binary Fields

The DB2BIN option can be used to support the DB2 data types BINARY and VARBINARY.

If DB2BIN is set to OFF, Natural binary fields (format B(n)) are generated as SQL data type CHAR (n<= 253) or VARCHAR (253<n<=32767) like it was in previous releases. DB2BIN=OFF is good for those who used Natural binary fields like SQL CHAR fields. B2 and B4 are treated as SQL SMALLINT and INTEGER.

If DB2BIN is set to ON, Natural binary fields (format B(n)) are generated as SQL data type BINARY (n<=255) or VARBIN (255<n<=32767). DB2BIN=ON is good for those who want to use SQL binary columns. B2 and B4 are also treated as SQL BINARY(2) and BINARY(4).

Note:
The setting of DB2BIN at the end of the compilation is used for the complete Natural object. It cannot be changed for parts of a Natural object.

DB2TSTI – Generate SQL TIMESTAMP Data Type for Natural TIME Fields

This option is used to map Natural TIME variables to the SQL TIMESTAMP data type instead of the default SQL TIME data type.

Note:
A Natural TIME field only contains tenth of seconds as precision while a SQL TIMESTAMP column can contain a much greater precision. Thus, the TIMESTAMP value read from the SQL database may be truncated if DB2TSTI=ON is set.

ECHECK - Existence Check for Object Calling Statements

GDASC - GDA Signature Check

This option is used to store information on the structure of a GDA (global data area) to determine whether a Natural error is to be issued when an unchanged GDA is cataloged.

The GDA information (GDA signature) only changes when a GDA is modified. The GDA signature does not change when a GDA is (accidentally) cataloged but was not modified.

The signature of the GDA and the GDA signatures stored in all Natural objects referencing this GDA are compared at execution time, in addition to the time stamps of the objects.

GFID - Generation of Global Format IDs

This option allows you to control Natural's internal generation of global format IDs so as to influence Adabas's performance concerning the re-usability of format buffer translations.

For details on global format IDs, see the Adabas documentation.

Rules for Generating GLOBAL FORMAT-IDs in Natural

• For Natural nucleus internal system-file calls:

  GFID=abccddee

  where	equals
  a	x'F9'
  b	x'22' or x'21' depending on DB statement
  cc	physical database number (2 bytes)
  dd	physical file number (2 bytes)
  ee	number created by runtime (2 bytes)

• For user programs or Natural utilities:

  • GFID=abbbbbbc for file number less than or equal to 255 and Adabas Version lower than 6.2 (see NTDB macro).

    where	equals
    a	x'F8' or x'F7' or x'F6'
    bbbbbb	bytes 1-6 of STOD value
    c	physical file number

  • GFID=axbbbbbc for file number greater than 255 and Adabas Version lower than 6.2.

    where	equals
    a	x'F8' or x'F7' or x'F6'
    x	physical file number - high order byte
    bbbbb	Bytes 2-6 of STOD value
    c	physical file number - low order byte

  • GFID=abbbbbb for Adabas Version 6.2 or higher.

    where	equals
    a	x'F8' or x'F7' or x'F6' where: F6=UPDATE SAME F7=HISTOGRAM F8=all others
    bbbbbbb	bytes 1-7 of STOD value

  Note:
  STOD is the return value of the store clock machine instruction (STCK).

KCHECK - Keyword Checking

The section Performing a Keyword Check (in the Programming Guide) contains a list of the keywords that are checked by the KCHECK option.

The section Alphabetical List of Natural Reserved Keywords (in the Programming Guide) contains an overview of all Natural keywords and reserved words.

LOWSRCE - Allow Lower-Case Source

This option supports the use of lower or mixed-case program sources on mainframe platforms. It facilitates the transfer of programs written in mixed/lower-case characters from other platforms to a mainframe environment.

When you use lower-case characters with LOWSRCE=ON, consider the following:

• The syntax rules for variable names allow lower-case characters in subsequent positions. Therefore, you can define two variables, one written with lower-case characters and the other with upper-case characters.

  Example:

  DEFINE DATA LOCAL
  1 #Vari  (A20)
  1 #VARI  (A20)
  

  With LOWSRCE=OFF, these variables are treated as different variables.

  With LOWSRCE=ON, the compiler is not case sensitive and does not make a distinction between lower/upper-case characters. This will lead to a syntax error because a duplicate definition of a variable is not allowed.

• Using  the session parameter EM (Edit Mask) in an I/O statement or in a MOVE EDITED statement, there are characters which influence the layout of the data setting assigned to a variable (EM control characters), and characters which insert text fragments into the data setting.

  Example:

  #VARI :='1234567890'
    WRITE #VARI (EM=XXXXXxxXXXXX)
  

  With LOWSRCE=OFF, the output is "12345xx67890", because for alpha-format variables only upper-case X, H and circumflex accent (ˆ) sign can be used.

  With LOWSRCE=ON, the output is "1234567890", because an x character is treated like an upper-case X and, therefore, interpreted as an EM control character for that field format. To avoid this problem, enclose constant text fragments in apostrophes (').

  Example:

  WRITE #VARI(EM=XXXXX'xx'XXXXX)

  The text fragment is not considered an EM control character, regardless of the LOWSRCE settings.

• Since all variable names are converted to upper-case characters with LOWSRCE=ON, the display of variable names in I/O statements (INPUT, WRITE or DISPLAY) differs.

  Example:

  MOVE 'ABC' to #Vari
    DISPLAY #Vari
  

  With LOWSRCE=OFF, the output is:

         #Vari
    --------------------
    
    ABC
  

  With LOWSRCE=ON, the output is:

         #VARI
    --------------------
    
    ABC
  

MAXPREC – Maximum Number of Digits after Decimal Point

This option determines the maximum number of digits after the decimal point that the Natural compiler generates for results of arithmetic operations.

DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 P (P1.15)
END-DEFINE
P := P + 0.1234567890123456
END

Warning: Changing the value of the MAXPREC option that is being used to catalog a Natural object may lead to different results, even if the object source has not been changed. See example below.

Example:

DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 #R (P1.7)
END-DEFINE
#R := 1.0008 * 1.0008 * 1.0008
IF #R = 1.0024018 THEN ... ELSE ... END-IF

The value of #R after the computation and the execution of the IF statement depend on the setting of MAXPREC:

MEMOPT - Memory Optimization for Locally Declared Variables

This option determines whether or not memory is allocated for unused level-1 fields or groups defined locally (DEFINE DATA LOCAL).

PCHECK - Parameter Check for Object Calling Statements

PSIGNF - Internal Representation of Positive Sign of Packed Numbers

THSEP - Dynamic Thousands Separator

This option can be used to enable or disable the use of thousands separators at compilation time. See also the profile parameter THSEP and the profile and session parameter THSEPCH and the section Customizing Separator Character Displays (in the Programming Guide).

TQMARK - Translate Quotation Mark

Example:

RESET A(A5)                    
A:= 'AB"CD'                    
WRITE '12"34' / A / A (EM=H(5))
END                            

With TQMARK ON, the output is:

12'34     
AB'CD     
C1C27DC3C4

With TQMARK OFF, the output is:

12"34     
AB"CD     
C1C27FC3C4

TSENABL - Applicability of TS Profile Parameter

This option determines whether the profile parameter TS (translate output for locations with non-standard lower-case usage) is to apply only to Natural system libraries (that is, libraries whose names begin with "SYS", except SYSTEM) or to all user libraries as well.

Natural objects cataloged with TSENABL=ON determine the TS parameter even if they are located in a non-system library.

Compilation Options for Ensuring Version Compatibility (Remote Mainframe Environment)

The following options are available:

• FINDMUN - Detect Inconsistent Comparison Logic in FIND Statements

• MASKCME - MASK Compatible with MOVE EDITED

• NMOVE22 - Assignment of Numeric Variables of Same Length and Precision

• V41COMP - Disable Version 4.2 and 8.2 Syntax

• V42COMP - Disable Version 8.2 Syntax

These options correspond to the keyword subparameters of the CMPO profile parameter and/or the NTCMPO parameter macro.

FINDMUN - Detect Inconsistent Comparison Logic in FIND Statements

This option can be used to detect FIND statements containing a WITH clause that uses a multiple-value field in a search criterion for which the evaluation differs, depending on whether the Natural object has been cataloged with Natural Version 2.2, or with Natural Version 2.3 or above.

With Natural Version 2.3, the evaluation of search criteria for multiple-value fields in the WITH clause of the FIND statement has been changed.

As a consequence, if a Natural object cataloged with Natural Version 2.2 is recataloged with Natural Version 2.3 or above, execution of the Natural object may lead to different results if it contains a FIND statement using a WITH clause that uses a multiple-value field.

The evaluation of search criteria using multiple-value fields in the WITH clause of the FIND statement has been changed with Natural Version 2.3 so as to comply with the comparison evaluation in other statements (e.g. IF).

Four different variants of the search criterion in the WITH clause of a FIND statement can be distinguished (the field MU in the following examples is assumed to be a multiple-value field):

1. FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH MU = 'A'

   This statement returns records in which at least one occurrence of MU has the value "A".

2. FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH MU NOT EQUAL 'A'

   With Natural Version 2.2, this statement returns records in which no occurrence of field MU has the value "A" (same as 4.). With Natural Version 2.3 or above, this statement returns records in which at least one occurrence of field MU does not have the value "A".

3. FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH NOT MU NOT EQUAL 'A'

   With Natural Version 2.2, this statement returns records in which at least one occurrence of field MU has the value "A" (same as 1.). With Natural Version 2.3 or above, this statement returns records in which every occurrence of field MU has the value "A".

4. FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH NOT MU = 'A'

   This statement returns records in which no occurrence of MU has the value "A".

If you recatalog a Natural object that has been cataloged with Natural Version 2.2 and that contains FIND statements of variants 2. and 3. with Natural Version 2.3 or above, it will return different results.

If you specify FINDMUN=ON, error NAT0998 will be returned for every FIND statement of variants 2. or 3. detected at compilation.

In order to obtain the same results as with Natural Version 2.2, you have to change the statements as follows:

In Form 2:

FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH MU NOT EQUAL 'A'

into

FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH NOT MU = 'A'

In Form 3:

FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH NOT MU NOT EQUAL 'A'

into

FIND XYZ-VIEW WITH MU = 'A'

MASKCME - MASK Compatible with MOVE EDITED

NMOVE22 - Assignment of Numeric Variables of Same Length and Precision

V41COMP - Disable Version 4.2 and 8.2 Syntax

Important:
This compiler option will be available only with Natural Version 8.2 to allow a smooth transition. It will be removed again with a subsequent release of Natural after Version 8.2.

The compiler option V41COMP allows only functions and programming features which are compatible with Natural Version 4.1.

A number of functions and programming features introduced with Natural Version 4.2 or 8.2 would give rise to problems when a program developed and compiled with Version 4.2 or 8.2 is to be recompiled for putting into operation in a Version 4.1 environment. The relevant functions or features are listed below.

The V41COMP option has been provided to detect such incompatibilities and trigger an error message that supplies a reason code for why the recompilation failed. The following values are possible:

Compilation Relevant Differences between Version 4.2 and 4.1

The following table gives an overview of the features newly introduced with Version 4.2 (see also V42COMP with the new features in Version 8.2), and indicates the reason code that will be supplied when incompatible syntax is detected:

DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 #ARR (A10/1:*)

INCLUDE COPY01 'WRITE *LINE'
               'WRITE *PROGRAM'

V42COMP - Disable Version 8.2 Syntax

Important:
This compiler option will be available only with Natural Version 8.2 to allow a smooth transition. It will be removed again with a subsequent release of Natural after Version 8.2.

A number of functions and programming features introduced with Natural Version 8.2 would give rise to problems when a program developed and compiled with Version 8.2 is to be recompiled for putting into operation in a Version 4.2 environment. The relevant functions or features are listed below.

The V42COMP option has been provided to detect such incompatibilities and trigger an error message that supplies a reason code for why the recompilation failed. The following values are possible:

Compilation Relevant Differences between Version 8.2 and 4.2

The following table gives an overview of the features newly introduced with Version 8.2, and indicates the reason code that will be supplied when incompatible syntax is detected:

DEFINE DATA LOCAL
  1 #P(P5.8)

OPTIONS MAXPREC=10

DISPLAY #TEXT (LCU='<' TCU='>')

FOR #I := (#J + 1) TO (#K - 1) STEP (#L + 1)

MOVE ALL 'X' TO SUBSTR(#A, 3, 5)

COMPUTE #I := *MAXVAL(1, #J, #K) + 1

DECIDE ON FIRST VALUE OF SUBSTR(#A, 2,3)
  VALUE SUBSTR(#VAL,1,3) ...

EXAMINE #TEXT FOR #ARR(1:3) GIVING NUMBER #I

READ WORK FILE 1 #XARR(*) AND ADJUST

REINPUT 'text' MARK *#FLD (CV=#C)

SEPARATE #TEXT(*) INTO ...

DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 #A (A10)
LOCAL
  /* no field defined here
END-DEFINE
END