Problem:

Error on COMPILE on a 88 level item defined as USAGE COMP SYNC in DECLARE SECTION using Oracle Pro*COBOL 1.8.

Resolution:

The COMP SYNC is being converted to COMP-5 SYNC within the DECLARE SECTION. This will work if the host variable is defined within a SQL INCLUDE file, but not when it is defined within the main program.

This can be resolved by specifying the Pro*COBOL directive COMP5=NO.