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OCTOBER 6, 2026
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cobol

cobol: Resurrect TITLE recognition for -dialect ibm.

The COBOL parser now recognizes 'TITLE' as a valid keyword in the Identification Division.

The COBOL parser incorrectly treated the keyword ‘TITLE’ as obsolete and removed its recognition. This commit restores ‘TITLE’ recognition, but only within the Identification Division, where it can be used as a one-line comment. This change ensures compatibility with IBM COBOL dialects that utilize ‘TITLE’ in this specific context.

In Details

COBOL parser modification for Identification Division. The TITLE keyword was previously removed as it was deemed obsolete. This change reinstates TITLE recognition specifically for the Identification Division, allowing it to function as a one-line comment for compatibility with IBM-specific COBOL dialects. Changes include updates to parse_ante.h and scan.l.

For Context
COBOL
A compiled, high-level programming language that is primarily used in business applications and for financial data processing.
Identification Division
The division in a COBOL program that provides general information about the program, such as its name, author, and date, and is intended for documentation.
-dialect ibm
A GCC compiler flag that selects the IBM dialect of COBOL, enabling specific syntax and features recognized by IBM's COBOL compilers.
obsolete keyword
A keyword in a programming language that is no longer supported or recommended for use in modern code, often due to being replaced by newer features or falling out of common usage.
Filed Under: cobolparseribm dialect