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[jctgf]

hi,

i'd like to know how a cobol subroutine allocates memory when it is invoked with the CALL command, please.

if i have a cobol subroutine with several arrays defined in the WS, is the memory needed for all those arrays allocated when the program is
loaded? or, are the arrays allocated as they are filled?

summing up, what does spend more memory?

a) a only program with array A (1 mg) and array B (2 mb);

b) two separate programs, each one containing one of the arrays mentioned in item (a);

thanks.

[Terry_Heinze]

When the program is loaded since the array (table) is part of the load module and determined at compile time.
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....Terry

[jctgf]

hello terry,
do you mean the memory allocation of all arrays will occur when the module is loaded, regardless the fact the array will be used or not?
do you think the program described in item A in my example will always spend more memory?
thanks.

[Nic Clouston]

Unless the storage for the array is CONTROLLED (PL/1) then the storage required is part of the load module. The entire load module is loaded at program initiation time.
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Utility and Program control cards are NOT, repeat NOT, JCL.

[semigeezer]

If that is a problem, you can allocate storage as you go and create your own data structures but I suspect that in COBOL that is not done very often. It is probably fairly common in PL/I since PL/I makes using pointers completely trivial. I don't use either language more than a few times a decade, so I don't really know what is common or not. If you do allocate your own storage i the program, remember to free it before the program (or transaction or whatever unit is appropriate) ends.
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