Can anyone recommend a WYSIWYG editor program that can interact with AcuCobol, as a designer tool to allow end users to create there own forms that can be used as background image to produce forms such as invoices, statements, etc..

WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

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WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

We too were in search of such a program a few years ago and did not have any luck at the time. We even tested with producing a background image of boxes, lines, shading, etc. that would be an invoice for example, and saving it as an image (.bmp or .jpg) and then printing that image and then filling in the data in hopes of it fitting into the proper boxes and columns, but without much luck as we had issues with the scaling and resolution that led us to finally believe this was not going to be a reliable solution. We ended up writing a "form printing" program that would read a "template" (really just a text file with instructions that we made up on our own) to have it draw boxes, lines, shading, text column headings, etc. all in the desired locations based on what is in the template, and then filling in the rest of the data/text from the application. But of course, the result was far from letting an average user tweak their own forms such as a WYSIWYG program, but it was about the best we could come up with. We had used a 3rd-party program many years ago on Unix platforms called Reform (and later Forms X-Press) and I guess our thoughts were somewhat prejudiced by how it worked and how we had interacted with it, but we had hoped to find a more friendly solution without any luck.

WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

We have had success with DevExpress tools, and basically using their XtraReports suite. We have a maintenance screen where we will open their designer window, and over-ride the saving of the templates to keep the template files in a way that makes sense to our application. Since we are still using VISION files, we push data in XML datasets (which we write in COBOL, only populating the records which matter to the form being generated), then load the temporary XML dataset file into memory on the .NET side. If we had our data in SQL, we could make the data available much more easily, but I wrote a COBOL program which can create an XML dataset with minimal coding based on the XFDs, and using the I$IO routine.

I'm going to attempt to simplify the process a bit, let me know if my explanation is nonsensical :-)

The process works a little like this:
1) User chooses to print an invoice.
2) Our system looks at a VISION file with a list of templates in it, and displays a list of the templates that user is allowed to use - if there is only 1 template available to the user, it is automatically selected, and the user doesn't see the prompt.
3) Based on the key to the invoice header, and whatever other records we indicate should go along with it (we have files that say you can get from the invoice header to the invoice detail by reading all records where field X in the first file matches field Y in the second file), the XML generation program writes out a LINE SEQUENTIAL file with the XML schema. The XML schema is basically the same data from the XFD, but written out in a way the mimics a .NET DataSet (or SQL tables).
4) The XML program then reads the appropriate records using I$IO and writes them to the XML file with appropriate XML markup.
5) A .NET program creates an instance of the DevExpress XtraReport class, an passes in the DataSet which was loaded from the XML file written by the COBOL.
6) The DevExpress class is then instructed to either print the form, or open the preview window, or generate a PDF of the form, depending on some user configuration settings.

Here is a (slimmed down) sample of what the XML looks like for a cash receipt, including a single header record with 3 detail lines plus the customer information:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<Cash_Receipts xmlns="tempuri.org/Cash_Receipts.xsd">
<xs:schema id="Cash_Receipts" targetNamespace="tempuri.org/Cash_Receipts.xsd" xmlns:mstns="tempuri.org/Cash_Receipts.xsd" xmlns="tempuri.org/Cash_Receipts.xsd" xmlns:xs="www.w3.org/.../XMLSchema" xmlns:msdata="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-msdata" attributeFormDefault="qualified" elementFormDefault="qualified">
<xs:element name="Cash_Receipts" msdata:IsDataSet="true" msdata:UseCurrentLocale="true">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_header">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_header_ID" type="xs:integer" />
<xs:element name="CAH-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-CUST-NBR" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-CHK-AMT" type="xs:decimal" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-DATE-REC" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-CHK-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-UNAPP-CASH" type="xs:decimal" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-GL-ACC-NBR" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-COMMENTS" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-YN" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-JOB-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-JOB-NUMBER" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-JOB-CHG" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-DIRECT-CASH" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-APPLY-CR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-UPDATE-STEP" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAH-EMPLOYEE" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_detail">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_detail_ID" type="xs:integer" />
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_header_ID" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-NBR1" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-CUST-NBR" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-INV-DATE" type="xs:date" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-INV-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-PAY-AMT" type="xs:decimal" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-DISC-AMT" type="xs:decimal" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-ADJ-AMT" type="xs:decimal" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-ADJ-TYPE" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-ADJ-SWT" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CAD-UPDATE-STEP" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="rec_cust">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="rec_cust_ID" type="xs:integer" />
<xs:element name="rec_r_cash_header_ID" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-NUMBER" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-SHORT-NAME" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-NAME" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-ADR-1" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-ADR-2" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-CITY" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-STATE" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-ZIP" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-ZIP-B" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-PHONE" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-INTEREST" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-SLSMAN" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-CONTRACT" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-COMMENT-1" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-COMMENT-2" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="ACCOUNT-NBR" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-TAXABLE" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-FAX" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-FOREIGN-ZIP" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-COUNTRY" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-CELL" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CUSTOMER-CONTACT" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-PHONE-EXT" type="xs:integer" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-EMAIL" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
<xs:element name="CM-COUNTY" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:choice>
</xs:complexType>
<xs:unique name="rec_r_cash_header_PrimaryKey" msdata:PrimaryKey="true">
<xs:selector xpath=".//mstns:rec_r_cash_header" />
<xs:field xpath="mstns:rec_r_cash_header_ID" />
</xs:unique>
<xs:unique name="rec_r_cash_detail_PrimaryKey" msdata:PrimaryKey="true">
<xs:selector xpath=".//mstns:rec_r_cash_detail" />
<xs:field xpath="mstns:rec_r_cash_detail_ID" />
</xs:unique>
<xs:unique name="rec_cust_PrimaryKey" msdata:PrimaryKey="true">
<xs:selector xpath=".//mstns:rec_cust" />
<xs:field xpath="mstns:rec_cust_ID" />
</xs:unique>
</xs:element>
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<msdata:Relationship name="rec_r_cash_header_rec_r_cash_detail" msdata:parent="rec_r_cash_header" msdata:child="rec_r_cash_detail" msdata:parentkey="rec_r_cash_header_ID" msdata:childkey="rec_r_cash_header_ID" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<msdata:Relationship name="rec_r_cash_header_rec_cust" msdata:parent="rec_r_cash_header" msdata:child="rec_cust" msdata:parentkey="rec_r_cash_header_ID" msdata:childkey="rec_r_cash_header_ID" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:schema>
<rec_r_cash_header>
<rec_r_cash_header_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_header_ID>
<CAH-NBR><![CDATA[00329]]></CAH-NBR>
<CAH-CUST-NBR>1</CAH-CUST-NBR>
<CAH-CHK-AMT>1500.0000</CAH-CHK-AMT>
<CAH-DATE-REC>40315</CAH-DATE-REC>
<CAH-CHK-NBR><![CDATA[24533]]></CAH-CHK-NBR>
<CAH-UNAPP-CASH>686.0000</CAH-UNAPP-CASH>
<CAH-GL-ACC-NBR>0</CAH-GL-ACC-NBR>
<CAH-COMMENTS><![CDATA[]]></CAH-COMMENTS>
<CAH-YN><![CDATA]></CAH-YN>
<CAH-JOB-NBR><![CDATA[ 000]]></CAH-JOB-NBR>
<CAH-JOB-NUMBER><![CDATA[]]></CAH-JOB-NUMBER>
<CAH-JOB-CHG>0</CAH-JOB-CHG>
<CAH-DIRECT-CASH><![CDATA[]]></CAH-DIRECT-CASH>
<CAH-APPLY-CR><![CDATA[]]></CAH-APPLY-CR>
<CAH-UPDATE-STEP><![CDATA[]]></CAH-UPDATE-STEP>
<CAH-EMPLOYEE><![CDATA[chris]]></CAH-EMPLOYEE>
</rec_r_cash_header>
<rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_r_cash_detail_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_detail_ID>
<rec_r_cash_header_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_header_ID>
<CAD-NBR><![CDATA[003290000108060902866]]></CAD-NBR>
<CAD-NBR1><![CDATA[00329]]></CAD-NBR1>
<CAD-CUST-NBR>1</CAD-CUST-NBR>
<CAD-INV-DATE>2008-06-09</CAD-INV-DATE>
<CAD-INV-NBR><![CDATA[02866]]></CAD-INV-NBR>
<CAD-PAY-AMT>600.0000</CAD-PAY-AMT>
<CAD-DISC-AMT>0.0000</CAD-DISC-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-AMT>0.0000</CAD-ADJ-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-TYPE><![CDATA[]]></CAD-ADJ-TYPE>
<CAD-ADJ-SWT><![CDATA]></CAD-ADJ-SWT>
<CAD-UPDATE-STEP><![CDATA[]]></CAD-UPDATE-STEP>
</rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_r_cash_detail_ID>000000000000000002</rec_r_cash_detail_ID>
<rec_r_cash_header_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_header_ID>
<CAD-NBR><![CDATA[00329000010806309063008]]></CAD-NBR>
<CAD-NBR1><![CDATA[00329]]></CAD-NBR1>
<CAD-CUST-NBR>1</CAD-CUST-NBR>
<CAD-INV-DATE>2008-06-30</CAD-INV-DATE>
<CAD-INV-NBR><![CDATA[9063008]]></CAD-INV-NBR>
<CAD-PAY-AMT>6.0000</CAD-PAY-AMT>
<CAD-DISC-AMT>0.0000</CAD-DISC-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-AMT>0.0000</CAD-ADJ-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-TYPE><![CDATA[]]></CAD-ADJ-TYPE>
<CAD-ADJ-SWT><![CDATA]></CAD-ADJ-SWT>
<CAD-UPDATE-STEP><![CDATA[]]></CAD-UPDATE-STEP>
</rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_r_cash_detail_ID>000000000000000003</rec_r_cash_detail_ID>
<rec_r_cash_header_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_header_ID>
<CAD-NBR><![CDATA[00329000011006149061410]]></CAD-NBR>
<CAD-NBR1><![CDATA[00329]]></CAD-NBR1>
<CAD-CUST-NBR>1</CAD-CUST-NBR>
<CAD-INV-DATE>2010-06-14</CAD-INV-DATE>
<CAD-INV-NBR><![CDATA[9061410]]></CAD-INV-NBR>
<CAD-PAY-AMT>6.0000</CAD-PAY-AMT>
<CAD-DISC-AMT>0.0000</CAD-DISC-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-AMT>0.0000</CAD-ADJ-AMT>
<CAD-ADJ-TYPE><![CDATA[]]></CAD-ADJ-TYPE>
<CAD-ADJ-SWT><![CDATA]></CAD-ADJ-SWT>
<CAD-UPDATE-STEP><![CDATA[]]></CAD-UPDATE-STEP>
</rec_r_cash_detail>
<rec_cust>
<rec_cust_ID>000000000000000001</rec_cust_ID>
<rec_r_cash_header_ID>000000000000000001</rec_r_cash_header_ID>
<CUSTOMER-NUMBER><![CDATA[00001]]></CUSTOMER-NUMBER>
<CUSTOMER-SHORT-NAME><![CDATA[ATLANTIC]]></CUSTOMER-SHORT-NAME>
<CUSTOMER-NAME><![CDATA[Atlantic Air Systems]]></CUSTOMER-NAME>
<CM-ADR-1><![CDATA[125 Libbey Parkway]]></CM-ADR-1>
<CM-ADR-2><![CDATA[]]></CM-ADR-2>
<CM-CITY><![CDATA[Andover]]></CM-CITY>
<CM-STATE><![CDATA[MA]]></CM-STATE>
<CM-ZIP><![CDATA[02111]]></CM-ZIP>
<CM-ZIP-B><![CDATA[0000]]></CM-ZIP-B>
<CUSTOMER-PHONE>6175551212</CUSTOMER-PHONE>
<CM-INTEREST><![CDATA]></CM-INTEREST>
<CM-SLSMAN><![CDATA[02]]></CM-SLSMAN>
<CM-CONTRACT><![CDATA[]]></CM-CONTRACT>
<CM-COMMENT-1><![CDATA[No Comment]]></CM-COMMENT-1>
<CM-COMMENT-2><![CDATA[]]></CM-COMMENT-2>
<ACCOUNT-NBR><![CDATA[0000000]]></ACCOUNT-NBR>
<CM-TAXABLE><![CDATA]></CM-TAXABLE>
<CUSTOMER-FAX>0</CUSTOMER-FAX>
<CM-FOREIGN-ZIP><![CDATA[]]></CM-FOREIGN-ZIP>
<CM-COUNTRY><![CDATA[Cooltown]]></CM-COUNTRY>
<CM-CELL>0</CM-CELL>
<CUSTOMER-CONTACT><![CDATA[Shirley Potts]]></CUSTOMER-CONTACT>
<CM-PHONE-EXT>0</CM-PHONE-EXT>
<CM-EMAIL><![CDATA[shirley@atlanticair.com]]></CM-EMAIL>
<CM-COUNTY><![CDATA[]]></CM-COUNTY>
</rec_cust>
</Cash_Receipts>

WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

Thank you for the input, I will check out the DevExpress tools, we are currently reviewing Itextpdf and it also seems similar to DevExpress tools. We also create XML code that we use to feed the governments 941 and 941sb, the end-user still has to double click on the xml file which then bring up adobe, this okay for one form but in batch mode forget about it.

WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

Thank you for the reply, yes we care reviewing Itextpdf at present and a suggestion from GMCfourX4 has pointed out a similar product called DevExpress tools which I will do some reasearch on. If connect with anything worthwhile I will be glad to report it on this firum.

WYSIWYG editing tool for end users.

When we are going to call the DevExpress report tool, we first call a small interface DLL written in VB.NET which loads the XML file into a .NET DataSet, then passes that as the data source to DevExpress, along with the "repx" file where the user's template data is stored. The DevExpress tool can be instructed to open an interactive window if you want, or it can be directed to print to a printer or print directly to a file (such as a PDF), all pro grammatically. This allows batch type jobs to be run with little or no user interaction.

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