Re: [open-cobol-list] Fixed vs Free Format

[Andrew Pennebaker]

> Actually it is useful to have line numbers for error messages.
> And it is also useful for the printed output to show all the COPYed code
> in the printout. OC errs in this respect.

Modern computer languages also print line numbers for error messages, though they manage to do this without having the user manually type the line number in his code.

By standard, FIXED form is converted to FREE form during preprocessing.

If the internal representation is free, why does the standard call for us to type in fixed? It's syntax vinegar.

Cheers,

Andrew Pennebaker

www.yellosoft.us