Created On:  23 February 2011

Problem:

It's possible that when compiling a very large program you may receive the following error:

Compilation error: Maximum number of data items exceeded.

S* Compiling progname.cbl

* 808-S                 (   0)**

**    Maximum number of data items exceeded.

cob32: error(s) in compilation: progname.cbl

Compilation incomplete

Resolution:

This is a restriction and therefore the only option is to reduce the number of data items – as stated in the error message produced:

COBCH0808 Maximum number of data items exceeded

The compiled program contains more than 64,000 data items.

To resolve this, eeduce the number of data items then recompile your program. The most obvious way to reduce the number of data items is to create sub programs for code and data items that can be isolated and called separately. But of course this is never a simple task with such a large program. But you could also consider using an analysis tool to help determine if any part of the program can be separated into a callable subroutine. An analysis tool could also be used to find redundant data items. Modernization Workbench, which includes the functionality of the ‘Revolve’ product suite, would be a very good tool to use to help analyse this program.
Incident #2494027