difference between PL/1 and cobol while reading flat file?

[utkarsh]

Any difference between PL/1 and cobol while reading flat file? One read statemnent can read one record in PL/1?

[zum13]

I'm not an expert on PL/1, but yes, one READ gives one record.

[utkarsh]

Thanks. I was just trying to learn PL/I my own.

Not sure if we can practice PL/I at home? Are there some ways to create an environment?

[zum13]

There is an old PL/1 compiler that will run under MVS 3.8j so you can run it under the Hercules mainframe emulator. While it's a long obsolete version of the compiler (if I recall correctly, it dates from the OS/360 era), it should be enough to practice the basics although you obviously won't have access to newer features.

Someone did attempt an open source PL/1 frontend for GCC. It hasn't been updated since 2007, so it looks like the project died a death. The last status update suggested it wasn't generating any object code and therefore wasn't very useful. The website is here: https://pl1gcc.sourceforge.net/

There's another open source one here for Windows: https://github.com/Steadsoft/PLI-2000

IBM did actually produce PL/1 compilers for both Windows and OS/2 under the VisualAge banner. It may be possible to find them on the usual abandonware sites.

I believe DEC also produced a compiler to run on OpenVMS. HP sold the rights to OpenVMS to VMS Software who ported the OS to x86 and they have continued the community licensing program so it can be obtained for free. However, there are no references to PL/1 in the documentation and suggestions elsewhere that it may have been discontinued long before the rights were sold. It would therefore be available on older versions, but the problem then is getting license keys to run it.

It you're willing to spend money, Micro Focus appear to have a compiler. They have specialised in providing environments for porting mainframe applications to PC hardware so it's logical that they'd have support for PL/1 as well as their more commonly talked about COBOL compilers.

It's worth going out and googling for PL/1 as there have been quite a few variations produced over the years that might come close to what you need as well has having fallen into the abandonware box.