The preprocessor produces Micro Focus COBOL source code in ANSI format.

You must place all string continuation indicators ( - ) in column 7. Comment indicators ( * ) may be in column 1 or column 7. For details on comments and continued string literals, see Embedded SQL Statement Syntax for COBOL (see page Embedded SQL Statement Syntax for COBOL) in this chapter.

The preprocessor generates code using certain conventions. Indicators for comments and continued string literals are placed in column 7. The 01 level number for data declarations known to the preprocessor and any optional labels before embedded SQL statements are output in Area A, starting at column 8. All other embedded SQL statements are placed in Area B, starting at column 12. No statements generated extend beyond column 72. COBOL statements and declarations unknown to the preprocessor appear in the preprocessor output file unchanged from the input file.

The preprocessor does not generate any code in columns 1-6 (the Sequence Area). Do not, however, precede embedded SQL statements with sequence numbers—only the white space of a label can precede the exec keyword. Also, although the preprocessor never generates code beyond column 72 no matter which format is used, it does accept code in columns 73 - 80. Therefore, anything placed in that area on an embedded SQL line must be valid embedded SQL code.