[Info-vax] Weird Cobol alignment issue.

[Jan-Erik Soderholm]

Envir:
Compaq COBOL V2.8-1286
VMS 8.2 Alpha.


In a current project, an XML structure broke.

One element of XML data looks like :

...
<TreatmentCode>05</TreatmentCode>
...

There are a number of XML elements with similar
declarations before and after that one.

The data declaration was first like :

  05 filler    pic x(15)       value '<TreatmentCode>'.
  05 mem101-xml-treat-code     pic 9(2).
  05 filler    pic x(16)       value '</TreatmentCode>'.

This is in line with all other XML elements and
it worked "as expected" for a months of development
and created correct XML data.

Now, suddenly this produced XML code like :

...
<TreatmentCode05</TreatmentCode>
...

Note the missing closing ">" before the value "05"!

Currently I have to declare this specific element like :

  05 filler    pic x(16)       value '<TreatmentCode> '.
  05 mem101-xml-treat-code     pic 9(2).
  05 filler    pic x(16)       value '</TreatmentCode>'.

Note the extra space character at the end of first filler!
This produces the correct XML element, that is, the extra
space character is not included in the XML structure. Weird...

I have not tried to create a reproducer, but has anyone
seen anything like this from the Cobol compiler?

This doesn't feel particular stable, and I'm prepared to
backout this "fix" at any moment...

Jan-Erik.