Although application program development support for old, obsolete compilers is withdrawn, CICS® usually continues to provide runtime support for your existing application programs that were developed using these old compilers. However, to apply maintenance to these application programs, you should use one of the supported Language Environment-conforming compilers.
You are recommended to use the Language Environment® run-time libraries for all CICS application programs, including those that were generated using the unsupported compilers. See the CICS System Definition Guide for examples of the DD statements you need in your JCL for the Language Environment libraries.
In CICS TS 3.1, runtime support for OS/VS COBOL programs is withdrawn. If you attempt to use an OS/VS COBOL program, the abend code ALIK is issued, and CICS abnormally terminates the task and disables the program.
OS/VS COBOL programs must be upgraded to Language Environment-conforming COBOL, and recompiled against a level of COBOL compiler supported by CICS. Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® Version 3 is the recommended compiler.
See the CICS Application Programming Guide for notes on converting OS/VS COBOL programs to Enterprise COBOL. The Enterprise COBOL for z/OS: Compiler and Run-Time Migration Guide has more detailed information about language differences, and describes facilities to help with conversion.