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M I C R O F O C U S E A R L Y R E L E A S E
V3.1.35
Running Under The DG/UX Operating System Version 5.4.2
On The AViiON
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RELEASE NOTES
=============
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================
INTRODUCTION
ON-DISK DOCUMENTATION
SUPPORT
EARLY USER PROGRAM
SUMMARY OF EARLY RELEASE FEATURES
INTRODUCTION
============
This document summarizes information specific to the Early Release
features accompanying this release of your COBOL system.
Early Release features are selected features, being developed for future
Micro Focus products, which have reached a sufficiently advanced stage to
allow us to make them available to you for you to investigate. We believe
they will be of great interest and value to you in their current form.
In general, an Early Release feature will be in an advanced state of
development or in an early testing phase in preparation for future
release, but will not have undergone full testing or have full
documentation.
Micro Focus is introducing these Early Release features with the intent
of making them fully supported components in future products. However,
Micro Focus can make no commitment to this intent, or to retaining the
feature in the current product or any future product.
DOCUMENTATION UPDATE NOTES
==========================
The following new revisions of on-disk documents are supplied in this
release (PDR numbers for the changes are given where available):
gntanim.1 & callprot.1
(These PDRs concern incorrect trademark acknowledgments.)
ON-DISK DOCUMENTATION
=====================
The Early Release features are documented in on-disk documents, as shown
in the following list. Those documented in the DUNs are COBOL syntax
features that do not need separate on-disk documents.
callprot.1 - CALL Prototypes
gntanim.1 - GNT Animator
dun.1 - OMITTED parameter
TYPEDEF phrase
FOLDCALLNAME directive
The following directives are Early Release features but are
documented in your COBOL System Reference:
AREACHECK
BWZSTAR
CALLADIS
CALLMAP
HOST-NUMMOVE
NESTLOCALSTORAGE
RDEFPTR
SUPPORT
=======
Early Release features are supported through your Product Support
representative. However, your representative will not necessarily have
the same level of information as with full release items and will pass
your problems to the Product Usability Group who will provide second
level support. This varies from the typical second level of support. The
Product Usability Group will evaluate and prioritize all user needs, and
coordinate any changes to interfaces.
If you intend to work closely with any of the Early Release features, and
would like greater support and the chance to put forward your suggestions
for the future of the feature, you should consider registering for an
Early User Program.
EARLY USER PROGRAM
==================
Users are invited to participate in an Early User Program for the Early
Release features.
In return for informed commentary on the state of the Early Release
features, and proposed changes to improve product usability, Early
User registrants will be kept informed on the status of the features
and will automatically receive software and documentation upgrades to
these features when available. Also, they will be regularly contacted
for feedback and problem reports by the Early User Program Manager (a
member of the Product Usability Group). This will be in addition to the
early release technical support protocols defined above.
There are only a limited number of positions in the Early User Program
per feature. To register for the Early User Program for any of the Early
Release features, contact your Sales Representative at Micro Focus.
SUMMARY OF EARLY RELEASE FEATURES
=================================
CALL Prototypes
---------------
A CALL prototype is a skeleton program which serves to define the
characteristics of a called subprogram. These characteristics include the
number of parameters required, the type of these parameters and the
calling convention. If a program contains a CALL statement referring to a
subprogram for which a prototype exists, the CALL statement is checked
against the prototype. If there is an explicit mismatch, an error is
given. If the CALL statement leaves some characteristic (such as the call
convention) undefined, this is derived from the prototype.
Micro Focus's current aim is for this feature to be part of Micro Focus
COBOL in a future release.
GNT Animator
------------
To be supplied.
Micro Focus's current aim is for this feature to be part of Micro Focus
COBOL Toolbox in a future release.
OMITTED parameter
-----------------
Enables CALL parameters to be omitted by passing a null address.
Micro Focus's current aim is for this feature to be part of Micro Focus
COBOL in a future release.
TYPEDEF phrase
--------------
Enables a group or elementary data description to be declared as a type
definition, and allows instances of that data description to be declared.
Micro Focus's current aim is for this feature to be part of Micro Focus
COBOL in a future release.
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Micro Focus is a registered trademark of Micro Focus Limited.
Micro Focus and Animator are registered trademarks of Micro Focus
Limited.
Micro Focus COBOL is a trademark of Micro Focus Limited.
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@(#)Vrn/early.1/3.1.03/15Jul93/nrV
Copyright (C) 1992-93 Micro Focus Limited