---
title: "COBOL: Copy Vs Include Real Difference"
description: "I found a nice thing that the difference between COPY and INCLUDE. Both are the same. See the description how and when-. COPY- cobol reserved word. So if we want to embed cobol code, written in anothe..."
url: https://srinimf.com/2012/03/09/cobol-copy-include-difference/
date: 2012-03-09
modified: 2026-10-05
author: "Srini"
categories: ["COBOL"]
tags: ["cobol", "COPY", "Include"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# COBOL: Copy Vs Include Real Difference

I found a nice thing that the difference between COPY and INCLUDE. Both are the same.

See the description how and when-

COPY- cobol reserved word. So if we want to embed cobol code, written in another pds, we can embed it by “COPY name-1”

INCLUDE- It is not at all related to COBOL. It is purely SQL statement. It includes SQLCA in the form of Cobol code. So the function of both the statements are the same.

But we must give “SQL” [compiler option](https://srinimf.com/2016/02/10/when-you-never-use-dynam-compiler-option/)(we need to give when DB2 code is there in the program) when we use DB2 in the [Cobol program](https://srinimf.com/2014/08/03/3-cobol-features-not-allowed-in-cics/).

### Share this:

-
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
- [![](https://i0.wp.com/assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsrinimf.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fcobol-copy-include-difference%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fi0.wp.com%2Fsrinimf.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F02%2Fcropped-logo.png%3Ffit%3D96%252C96%26ssl%3D1&description=COBOL%3A%20Copy%20Vs%20Include%20Real%20Difference)
-
- [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share)
- [Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp](https://srinimf.com/2012/03/09/cobol-copy-include-difference/?share=jetpack-whatsapp)
- [More](#)
-

- [Print (Opens in new window) Print](https://srinimf.com/2012/03/09/cobol-copy-include-difference/?share=print)
- [Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit](https://srinimf.com/2012/03/09/cobol-copy-include-difference/?share=reddit)
- [Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram](https://srinimf.com/2012/03/09/cobol-copy-include-difference/?share=telegram)
- [Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email](mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20COBOL%3A%20Copy%20Vs%20Include%20Real%20Difference&body=https%3A%2F%2Fsrinimf.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fcobol-copy-include-difference%2F&share=email)
-

### Like this:

Like Loading…