Changes in Pro*COBOL

This section lists out the changes in Oracle Pro*COBOL starting from Release 19c.

New Features in Pro*COBOL Release 26ai

The following features are new in this release:

  • Support for Vector Data Type

    The Pro*COBOL Precompiler supports the use of the vector data type in your applications to insert data into and fetch data from vector columns in string format, CLOB format, or Oracle Call Interface (OCI) vector descriptor (SQL-VECTOR).

    See: Support for Vector Data Type

  • Support for Boolean Data Type

    The Pro*COBOL Precompiler now supports the querying and binding of the SQL BOOLEAN data type. Using the boolean data type makes it easier to represent a boolean state in applications with a true or false value instead of using a character column (with Y or N).

    See: Handling Boolean Data

  • Support for Embedded SQL Explicit Request Boundaries

    Starting from version 23.6, Oracle Pro*COBOL precompiler applications can use explicit request boundaries through embedded SQL to transparently shift work to an appropriate database instance or standby when the application gets notified about a planned maintenance.

    See: Explicit Request Boundaries for Handling Planned Maintenance

  • Support for AC and TAC

    Starting from version 23.9, Pro*COBOL applications using the new embedded SQL explicit request boundaries support both Application Continuity (AC) and Transparent Application Continuity (TAC). Pro*COBOL applications that do not have explicit request boundaries support TAC.

    See: Explicit Request Boundaries Limitations

  • Support for JSON Data Type

    The Pro*COBOL Precompiler supports the use of the JSON data type in your applications to insert data into and fetch data from a JSON column.

    See: Support for JSON Data Type

New Features in Pro*COBOL Release 21c

Micro Focus Visual COBOL v6.0 compiler supports the following platforms:

  • Linux x86 (32-bit and 64-bit) on OL8 & SLES15
  • Windows x86 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • HPUX on Itanium (32-bit and 64-bit)

Features in Pro*COBOL Release 19c

Micro Focus Visual COBOL v6.0 compiler supports the following platforms:

  • Linux x86 (32-bit and 64-bit) on OL8 & SLES15
  • Windows x86 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • HPUX on Itanium (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Solaris SPARC (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • IBM AIX (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Linux for IBM System z (31-bit and 64-bit)