Currently Enterprise COBOL allows PIC X alphanumeric EBCDIC group and elementary items to MOVE to UTF-8 (PIC U) and NATIONAL (PIC N) group and elementary items with automatic character set translation, but the reverse MOVE is not allowed. There is no technical reason why the reverse MOVE should not be allowed, since the character set translation logic is already in place for a PIC X MOVE into PIC U and PIC N.
I have a bit more detail on the subject in the "idea" summary, please read those details at the "ideas" page and vote for it. https://ideas.ibm.com/ideas/COBOLVUE-I-427 TIA for your votes. Peter -- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
