Re: [open-cobol-list] Which formatting convention to use?

[David Essex]

Duke Normandin wrote:
> David Essex wrote:
> ...
> > You can use what format you prefer.
> > The default is fixed format.
> ...
> I was looking for educated opinions as to which would serve 
> a noob best both now and in the long-term. ;)

Well if you looking for an opinion, I prefer the free format.

Why you ask ...

<rant>

The fixed format became the standard at the request of I*M.
The reason was that they wanted to be compatible with a punch card 
format dating back to the 18th century.

I can understand you have to deal with legacy issues, but the fixed 
format should have been an optional format, not the default.
And it should have been declared obsolete when punch cards became 
obsolete, over 30+ years ago.

So 50+ years later, the fixed format is still the default.
All this to be compatible with a format, which most people working for 
I*M don't know or care about. And to be compatible with machines which 
can only be seen in museums.

Is it any wonder that COBOL courses has been dropped by CS departments 
all around the world.

</rant>

Anyway, my 2 cents worth.