Rocket® COBOL

How to safeguard against idle sessions when users do not logoff from the OnWeb Server. Problem: Session resources are not cleaned up when users close their browser without logging off. Resolution: If you have chosen to customize your OnWeb application web pages or html code, you can ensure user sessions are properly terminated by adding the autologoff function to your HTML code.  For example: <SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="kbhandl.js"></script> And then merge this into your BODY tag: <BODY onUnload="autoLogoff()"> This will clean up the sessions when the users close their browsers without logging off. The autoLogoff() function is implemented in kbhandl.js, which is included in the sample templates for OnWeb Server. Old KB# 14215#Rumba#OnWeb

This article explains how to force the unixODBC driver to write a trace file when a program uses AcuSQL runtime to access a database. Problem: To use an ODBC-compliant database (such as MySQL) on Linux, we need to configure unixODBC on the server. If you run into problems doing this, it is possible to create a unixODBC trace file by setting up odbcinst.ini in a manner like this: mysql@linux:/home/mysql$ more /usr/local/etc/odbcinst.iniySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver]Driver = /opt/mysql-connector-odbc-3.51.25r1093/driver/.libs/libmyodbc3.soSetup = /opt/mysql-connector-odbc-3.51.25-linux-x86-32bit/lib/libmyodbc3S.soUsageCount = 1 DBC]TraceFile = /tmp/odbc.traceTrace = yesUsageCount = 1 This generates an ODBC trace file and writes in it each ODBC operation performed with tools like "isql." There is a problem with this, however; operations performed through AcuSQL runtime do not generate and access this trace file.

Problem: The File Handler Configuration File correctly specifies FILEMAXSIZE=8 and IDXFORMAT=8, but 4 Gb files cannot be created. Even though the correct settings seem to be specified in the file handler configuration file, files of size 4 gig cannot be created. Resolution: In order to create indexed files of size 4 GB or larger, the settings in the file handler configuration file must be specified correctly.  These settings are: FILEMAXSIZE=8IDXFORMAT=8 Note: When modifying this file, take care to preserve the case and the spelling. By default the file handler configuration file is named "extfh.cfg" and the system expects to find this file in the current directory.  As an alternative, the full path location, and the name of the configuration file can be specified using the EXTFH environment variable. Within the File Handler Configuration File, tags within square brackets are used to indicate which data files are affected by which configuration setti

This article identifies different behaviours of "call system” between UNIX environments. Problem: The user program makes a call to system, for example: call “system” using “ls -la”On one system this works as expected, whereas on another it is necessary to add x“00” to the end of the command-line. For example: 01 WORK-COMMAND. 03 COMMAND PIC X(050) VALUE “ls -la”. 03 FILLER PIX X(002) VALUE X”00”.procedure division.CALL “SYSTEM” USING WORK-COMMAND.Why is this? Resolution: This behaviour depends on the case used in the CALL statement. call "system" (all lower-case) calls the OS system utility. This is platform specific, and may give unexpected terminal display results. When you are using the MF function CALL "SYSTEM" (upper-case) you must use x"00" to terminate the command. Incident Number: 2202924 Date: Name: Description of change: Date: Name: Description of change: Old KB# 14206

This article describes how to create an ACUCOBOL-GT program that attaches a Word document to an Outlook email. Problem: You want to learn how to send Outlook messages with ACUCOBOL-GT and/or you want to learn how to attach Word messages to an email. Resolution: To work with Outlook and Word, we are going to use our ActiveX interface. To do this we use the utility “axdfgen” to generate copy files describing the interface we can use to communicate with the ActiveX. We add them as copies in the Special-names section of the program. For example: SPECIAL-NAMES. COPY "word.def". COPY "outlook.def". If you need more information about creating these copy files, refer to ACUCOBOL-GT User Interface Programming Chapter 5, section 5.3 ActiveX. To use Word and Outlook you need to declare certain variables: 01 wordApp handle of Application of Word. 01 wordDoc handle of

Micro Focus Virtual Environment Support Statement for systems such as VMWare, Citrix, Microsoft Virtual Server. Problem: Micro Focus Virtual Environment Support Statement – for systems such as VMWare, Citrix and Microsoft Virtual Server. Resolution: Micro Focus has no explicit support in its products for a virtual environment. Micro Focus relies on a 100% emulation of the environment by the virtual software vendor. Micro Focus International plc has many customers worldwide successfully using its products in virtual environments. Micro Focus will support correctly licensed customers who run products on a supported environment, irrespective of whether or not they are running in virtual environments. Virtual environment suppliers support a set of certified Operating Systems and Hardware, and the customer and their virtual environment suppliers will be responsible for any interactions or issues that arise at the Hardware or Operating System layer as a result of their use of virtual e

Vutil –unload encounters a 2 gigabyte limit Problem: The Vutil –unload process on a Vision index file executes until the output file hits approximately 2 GB. As an example, here is the output when this occurs: # ls -l CFSDATA* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root system 1436363264 Dec 23 10:16 CFSDATA -rwxrwxrwx 1 root system 826272256 Dec 23 10:16 CFSDATA.vix # # vutil -unload CFSDATA unCFS Record size = 2000 Unloading CFSDATA... unCFS: write error # # ls -l unCFS -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 2147483647 Dec 23 10:15 unCFS # Resolution: On operating systems that support line sequential files greater than 2 GB, setting “USE_LARGE_FILE_API” to “1” resolves the issue. Note that this must be set in the environment, since Vutil does not use a configuration file. Incident Number: 2262370 Old KB# 14205

This article describes the read part record error: "End of File before End of Record", or "file open in wrong mode". Problem: This error occurs when trying to read a control card file within a COBOL program. An example is a one-record parameter file with 9 bytes of data and filler to byte 80. Resolution: This error can occur when the file organization specified in the program does not match the actual file type. If no organization is specified in the program, the default file type for sequential files is record sequential. A file created with a non-Micro Focus file editor will default to an organization of Line Sequential. The resolution is to change the SELECT statement to add the phrase: Organization is Line Sequential Old KB# 14229

How can AcuXDBC Server be set up as a Windows Service? Problem: When the server is rebooted, the AcuXDBC Server is killed and must be restarted manually. How can it be configured to run as a Windows Service? Resolution: AcuXDBC Server does not currently have built-in capability to run as a Windows Service. That functionality may be added in a future release. In the meantime, here is a Microsoft KB article detailing how to set up any .exe file as a Windows Service: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137890 Such user-defined services cannot run a batch file — it must be an .exe file. Normally, AcuXDBC Server is started from a batch file, acuxdbcs.bat, by issuing the command "acuxdbcs -start". Examining the acuxdbcs.bat file reveals that the "-start" option results in execution of the xdbcsrvr command. The details for this command are found in the section 5.7, "Starting AcuXDBC Server," of the AcuXDBC User's Gui

After my iSeries has been restarted, how can I auto start my OnWeb server? Problem: Older versions of OnWeb Server for iSeries do not have the capability to auto start. Users have to manually start OnWeb Server every time the iSeries restarts. Resolution: With OnWeb Server 7.2.5 and above, customers can edit their QSTRUP program on the iSeries to automatically start the OnWeb Server. Example code for a default installation that used the naming convention ONWEB: /* Start ONWEB Server */ ADDLIBLE LIB(ONWEB) MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) STRSBS ONWEB MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) OnWeb Server and the Apache Web Server will be started automatically via the addition of STRSBS ONWEB. Incident Number: 2262363 Old KB# 14216#OnWeb#Rumba

This article explains why a table that should be loaded into syscat might not be available using AcuXDBC on a Linux operating system. Problem: A table is not available using AcuXDBC in a Linux environment. The .xfd file has been loaded, the FILE_PREFIX environment variable is correctly set, the Vision file is available, but AcuXDBC cannot see the table. Using asql.sh, this is the error: SQL (/? for help) ==> select count(*) from abcd;select count(*) from art***** ERROR: VISION: File 'abcd' does not exist Resolution: It's possible that the Vision file has an upper-case name, while the rest of the information (such as the table name inside the .xfd file) is lower-case. Check the name of the Vision file, or set this variable in the acuxdbc.cfg file: FILE_CASE UPPER # Values for File_Case are Default (case ignored), # Lower (filename converted to lower case), and# Upper (filename converted to upper case). Old KB# 14213

This article discusses a case where using the MULTIPLE verb and the binary math package could result in incorrect values. Problem: If a COBOL program used the GIVING clause of the MULTIPLY statement and the destination field contained more post-decimal digits than any of the source fields, it was possible for the compiler to generate code that resulted in incorrect values being returned by the multiplication operation when using the binary math package. For example: WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.01 WS-NUMERIC-FIELDS. 03 A PIC SV9(3). 03 B PIC S9(3). 03 C PIC S9(3)V9(11). PROCEDURE DIVISION.MOVE -0.123 TO A.MOVE 12 TO B.MOVE 12 TO C. MULTIPLY A BY B GIVING C. In this example, fields A and B are the source fields and contain three post-decimal digits each. Field C is the destination field and contains eleven post-decimal fields. After executing this example code, field C should contain -1.47600000000 but contains

This article describes how to configure the PowerTerm terminal emulator. Problem: Ericom's PowerTerm is a terminal emulator that is shipped with the Micro Focus Net Express product. PowerTerm is used for UNIX and LINUX environments. When executing sde or the Micro Focus license administrator, the windows are not formatted correctly or the line drawing characters are not correctly displayed. As with most emulators you have to configure it so that the line drawing, colors, function keys and overall window display are acceptable. Resolution: To configure PowerTerm: Click Terminal > Setup. On the Emulation tab, click SCO ANSI. On the Display tab, select 80 Columns and 25 Lines Per Screen. On the UNIX/LINUX side: export TERM=ansi If the environment variables COLUMNS and/or LINES are set, be sure they are set to: export COLUMNS=80export LINES=25 Old KB# 14263

This article describes how to overcome background color issues in a tab control with check boxes or radio buttons when using Native Controls Style. Problem: With version 8.1.0, you can display controls on a screen using the native Windows XP, or Windows Vista control styles. To have this turned on, an AcuGT runtime configuration variable must be activated: WIN32_NATIVECTLS. However, some controls displayed within a tab may have a background color issue. Resolution: Specifying a Window color may help to display radio buttons and check boxes with the right background color when they are drawn within a tab control. You can use this color, when you display the screen:DISPLAY STANDARD WINDOW, COLOR IS 65601, ….. Incident Number: none tabmod.zip Date: Name: Description of change: Date: Name: Description of change: Old KB# 14178

This article explains what to do if an error occurs after installing Application Server and executing a program. Problem: After installing the Application Server product, the following error occurred when a program was executed: cobrun32: cobol version number invalid Resolution: This error may be occurring because the environment variables have changed or were not set up correctly in the first place. It may also be the result of mixing two different product environments where different COBOL versions co-exist. Check to ensure the following environment variables are set correctly: COBDIR=Server Express/Application Server base directory PATH=$COBDIR/bin:$PATH LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$COBDIR/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH Note: On AIX, this will be LIBPATH, on HP, SHLIB_PATH Ensure that no other scripts or 3rd party (client) applications changes the environment variables which were already set in the beginning of the session. Old KB# 14137

After upgrading from a previous version the following error message "wrun32.exe - Entry Point Not Found" may be seen. Problem: After a user upgrades, they may encounter the following error message: "wrun32.exe - Entry Point Not Found" when doing a version check or running a program. Resolution: Open the Windows control panel, select the system icon, click on the Advanced tab, then on the Environmental Variables button. Remove the path to the old installation of Acucobol software and set the path to the current Acucobol that is being used. Incident Number: 2259025 Old KB# 14183

This article demonstrates the minimum configuration needed to make Java call COBOL using the CVM class on Linux. It also discusses how to overcome an "Exception caught loading CVM: null..." error when performing such a call. Problem: You want to test the interoperability between Java and COBOL using the CVM class on a Linux machine. Your call fails, and you receive an "Exception caught loading CVM: null..." error. Resolution: You need a shared library version 7.0.1 or higher of ACUCOBOL-GT. You will also need a Java JRE version of 1.4.2 or higher. Accompanying this article is a zipped file containing test.cbl and test.java, which you can use for testing purposes. Set up PATH, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and CLASSPATH as environment variables. For example:export PATH= /usr1/products/acu/acu720sh-linux/bin:/usr/java/jdk1.5.0_06/bin:$PATH export LD_LIBRARY_PATH= /usr1/products/acu/acu720sh-linux/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH export CLASSPATH=/usr

This articles explains how to configure Apache so the CGI runtimes find the appropriate configuration file. Problem: You are using a CGI application, but do not know how to set up a configuration file correctly. Resolution: The configuration file for Apache is the httpd.conf file. Add the following line into the file: SetEnv A_CONFIG c:\\tmp\\cblconfig Once you have done this restart the Apache server and you are set, the CGI runtimes started by the Apache server will look for this configuration file. Old KB# 14185

This article describes an Acurfap error, which may appear when trying to run a program from within AcuBench. Problem: Click on "Execute" to run a program from within AcuBench. An error like this appears in the Output window: --------- Compiling Program1.cbl ------------------- Compile options = -o acurfap://myserver:5632:/@.acu -x -GaCopying object file to serveracurfap://myserver:5632:/Program1.acu: The system cannot find the file specified.Program1.acu - Completed: 0 Error(s), 0 Warning(s). Resolution: The "Use Thin Client" button has been incorrectly activated. This causes the runtime to search for a remote object to run. Deselect "Use Thin Client" button to run a locally compiled object. Incident Number: 2263553 Old KB# 14184

This article describes how to make modifications to the SDE menu. Problem: Is it possible to change the defaults on the SDE menu screens so that the user doesn't have to type in overrides for every session? Resolution: Yes, follow these steps and commands: Invoke the following commands as root, to backup the existing SDE: mkdir $COBDIR/etc/safe mv $COBDIR/etc/tbox.mnt $COBDIR/etc/safe cp -p $COBDIR/etc/tbox.mnu $COBDIR/etc/safe Copy the SDE menu file into a local working directory: cp $COBDIR/etc/tbox.mnu . Make edits as required. Rebuild the menu file - this will create "tbox.mnt" in the current directory: cobrun chkmenu tbox As root, copy the updated menu files back to the etc directory under COBDIR: cp -p tbox.mn? $COBDIR/etc Invoke SDE and you will see the updates. Incident number: 2258832 Old KB# 14176

This article describes how to ensure that certain fields on a form accept only upper or lower-case text, without modifying the program. Problem: The default behavior on a screen form is to type data in the form using lower-case and upper-case text at the same time. In some cases, it is necessary to force the use of upper-case (or lower-case) only. Resolution: Adding the UPPER (or LOWER) property to the definition of a screen control is one method of accomplishing this. However, this requires the program to be recompiled. An alternative solution that does not require compiling is to configure several environment variables. For character screens, use this environment variable: KEYBOARD case=lower or KEYBOARD case=upper For graphical screens, the KEYSTROKE environment variable allows you to remap lower-case to upper-case, or vice versa. For example: KEYSTROKE data=65 97 <- this will transform the edited 'a' in 'A'KEYSTROKE

Executing the ACUCOBOL-GT application gives the error "Thread did not ask for message after accept terminated by one". Problem: When running the ACUCOBOL-GT application, after an indeterminate period of time, the Runtime halts with the following error: "Thread did not ask for message after accept terminated by one" Resolution: Generally this message is due to a coding error. When coding "SEND message to all threads" there must be an "ACCEPT... allowing messages..." coded in every thread, along with "if crt-status = 95 then RECEIVE message...". If the RECEIVE is missing, the message queue will become full, because of the SEND to all threads. That's when this error can be seen. If this message is seen in a version prior to 7.2.2 and the threads are coded correctly, there is a possibility that the Runtime encountered a problem where under certain rare circumstances it fails to clear an internal flag related to thread messaging. T

This article describes what to do when encountering the error "Invalid Key". Problem: When entering the license key in AppTrack the error "Invalid Key" appeared. Why is this? Resolution: Ensure that when entering the key Application Server Licenses are those that use AppTrack. If you get the above error you are most likely trying to enter the key in the wrong license database. A developer license should be entered in the Licence Manager database. By default this is similar to /usr/bin/mflmf or /opt/lib/mflmf. Old KB# 14147#ServerExpress#COBOL#Licensing

This article explains Server Express and Application Server licenses. Problem: When done infrequently, installing of license keys can be confusing because of the different types of licenses, license utilities, and ways in which licenses can be installed and uninstalled. The following should help with your understanding of the processes involved. Resolution: Server Express comes packaged two ways. One is called Server Express, the other is called Application Server. Server Express is the development product. It allows users to write, compile, test, and debug COBOL applications. Application Server is a deployment execution subset of Server Express, intended for the production or end user environment where COBOL programs are run and no development activity takes place. In order to use Application Server in a production environment, it is necessary to create COBOL programs on the same version of Server Express, then port (copy) them to the production system. Howev

This article addresses the recommendations from IBM on performance issues with indexed files on AIX 5.x. Problem: Compiling legacy code with Server Express and running on AIX 5.x can incur singificant performance degradation with respect to same code compiled on older Micro Focus products (Object Cobol Developer Suite) on AIX 4.x. This performance degradation occurs when the system is using a JFS file systems. Resolution: Version 5 of IBM's AIX operating system can benefit from application of certain tuning parameters to JFS file systems. The following are general recommendations from IBM. The effect upon a specifc system may vary. Additional tuning may be required. AIX 5.1 vmtune -c 4 This tuning command will not be retained across a reboot. Therefore, a small shell scirpt with this command should be executed from /etc/inittab at boot time. AIX 5.2 and 5.3 ioo -p -o numclust