Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Sometimes in COBOL applications there is a requirement for pausing execution of an application before continuing.  Most techniques for doing this involve tying up the processor (e.g. performing a large 'perform varying'), to the detriment of other users. Resolution: One method worth trying is to use  call "SYSTEM" and call a UNIX script containing a sleep statement.  e.g. working-storage section. 01 w-call-sleep.     03  filler pic x(7) value "sleep 5".     03  filler  pic x value x"00". procedure division.    ..........     ...........     call "SYSTEM" using w-call-sleep     ............    ............. The parameter for sleep is in whole seconds, and there may be OS discrepancies of up to one second

Problem: When compiling, you get the following error message:           cob32: can not execute CC Resolution: Use the command "which cc" or "which CC" to find out whether there's a "cc" or "CC" command on the path and if found, what directory is it in.  Also try the command "CC -V" or "cc -V" to give you some version information about your C or C compiler (respectively).  If those commands cannot find it, then the "cob" command won't find it either. It is possible that the system has no C (or C compiler) installed, which would obviously cause the "CC" command to fail The least likely, but another possible cause, is that the "CC" (or "cc") command is present in a directory specified on PATH, but the user lacks permission to run it. Old KB# 7163

Problem: NOT SEEING PARAMETERS ON INPUT FILE defined as STDIN Resolution: set command_line_accept=true in the cobconfig file, which is a run-time configuration file. The run-time configuration file is a text file, which you can edit with your standard text editor. It is an optional file (no error will be issued if it does not exist) with the default name $COBDIR/etc/cobconfig. You can specify a filename for the configuration file by setting the environment variable COBCONFIG; for example: COBCONFIG=$HOME/myconfig export COBCONFIG command_line_accept Syntax: set command_line_accept={TRUE|FALSE} Value: TRUE or FALSE If TRUE, the first ACCEPT or READ from STDIN takes the input from the command line. Default: FALSE. The first ACCEPT or READ from STDIN takes the input from the user. This provides direct ANSI conformance. You should set this if you want to execute a program that has been generated from convert3 or convert5. Old KB# 717

Problem: A programmer uses the REMOVE compiler directive to take a reserved word out of action, and they do this generally (for all programs), but in one certain program, they would like to restore this reserved word.   How can this be done? Resolution: Use the ADDRSV compiler directive, and put it in a $SET statement in the source code of the program in question.   Even though the REMOVE directive is specified on the "cob" command line,  $SET statements override settings made elsewhere, so $SET ADDRSV will restore the reserved word.   Here is an example: ---------------------  driving shell script --------------------------------- # compile the program with the reserved word SUBTRACT # removed from being a reserved word (compilation should # fail because the program uses SUBTRACT) cob -C REMOVE\\"SUBTRACT\\" -v  addrsv_not_there.cbl echo; echo; # Now try a

Problem: How to specify SIGN=EBCDIC in cobopt Resolution: insert line containing: -C sign=ebcdic in the cobopt file using text editor of your choice Old KB# 7159

Problem: projmake -Buildall  aProject.app "Generic Debug Build" ---> ERROR: "Could not open SYSTEM.DAT" Resolution: install Net Express 4.0 latest fixpack ( ALL04N40.EXE) ... Old KB# 7120

Problem: Receiving a compilation error when trying to compile from within the IDE, click on compilation error to bring up the offending program line and receiving message "cannot access message file". Resolution: Removing all the files from the debug directory and recompiling cleared the "cannot access message file" error. Old KB# 7142

Problem: Deployment of EJB mapdemo fails..."failed to create deployment package" Resolution: Make sure MFJ.CFG is pointing to JAVAC.EXE and MFJAR.CFG to JAR.EXE. These .cfg files are text files: ...Net Express\\Base\\bin\\mfj.cfg d:\\jdk\\bin\\javac.exe -verbose ...Net Express\\Base\\bin\\mfjar.cfg d:\\jdk\\bin\\jar.exe Old KB# 7110

Problem: We have done web service development using VB and C# in the .NET environment, and would like to incorporate COBOL.  However, it appears that the University edition of COBOL .NET restricts the creation of a web service.  It compiles, and is visible in IIS, but the required files to reference the web service are missing. Resolution: You cannot deploy a Web Service created with Net Express UE, as it does not include Enterprise Server and its associated facilities. You will need a Server installation to create and deploy a Web Service. Old KB# 7102

Problem: Can I use Rollback on files without the user of Fileshare ? Resolution: To do this you still need to use Fileshare, but in single user mode. This means you don't need the external fileshare and comms processes.  See the Advanced chapter in the Fileshare Manual for more information. Old KB# 7099#RMCOBOL#COBOL#netexpress#ServerExpress#AcuCobol

Problem: Use an environment variable for the compiler directive OUTDD($OUTDDENV) The $ is used to let the runtime know that it is to read this environement variable when the program does the first DISPLAY. Resolution:       $SET INITCALL(MFEXTMAP) OUTDD($OUTDDENV)       *       *    TO CHANGE THE CONTENTS OF AN ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE,       *    MFEXTMAP MUST BE LOADED.       *        IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.       **************************************************************       *        PROGRAM-ID.  OUTDDENV.       *       ******************************************

Problem: FAQ Net Express 4.0 old runtime availablity Resolution: On November 24 2004 the back level wrappacks for the Enterprise server for Net Express 4.0 and Application server for Net Express 4.0 were made available on the support website just under the current level of the runtime patches. http://supportline.microfocus.com Old KB# 7118

Problem: In Dialog System is there a password field type entry field? When entering the password into this entry field, an asterisk will appear for each keystroke. Resolution: In Dialog System use Object -> Entry field. Right mouse click on the entry field object and click on Properties. An Entry Field Properties window will appear. Click on the Options tab and checkmark  Noecho. Next, click on the OK at the bottom of the Entry Field Properties window. By checking this Noecho option, asterisks will appear for each keystroke that the user enters into this entry field object. Old KB# 7139

Problem: Microsoft SQL Server readonly cursor locking records without using AUTOCOMMIT Resolution: If you want to make the CURSOR read only within a program You can use after the connection is made.  This applies before the cursor is open. EXEC SQL        SET CONCURRENCY READONLY END-EXEC. Old KB# 7082

Problem: Problem with trying to drop/delete a table in XDB and getting error X153 no space for locks Resolution: Increase the sort space size in the XDB Server Configuration Old KB# 7135

Problem: What is the format of the connect statement when using a File DSN? OpenESQL application using a File DSN to CONNECT returns a -19703 SQLCODE. Resolution: The following formats are supported: 1. EXEC SQL        CONNECT USING        'FileDSN=testfile.dsn;UID=user;PWD=passwd'                     END-EXEC                                              2. EXEC SQL        CONNECT USING         'FileDSN=test2file.dsn'         END-EXEC 

Problem: I need constants in my code for an apostrophe and a quote. I've got an apostrophe ("'"), how do I define a nonnumeric literal that is a quote (") character? Resolution: 1) When you need to embed a quote character within a nonumeric literal that is delimited by quote characters, use two consecutive quote characters. 77  aQuote pic x value """". 2) Both quotes and apostrophes can be used within the same source text to delimit nonumeric literals, but the delimiters for any individual literal must match. 77  anApostrophe pic x value "'". 77  aQuote pic x value '"'. 3) There is a figrative constant avialable (QUOTE) that can be used to initialize variables and analyze values. 77  aQuote pic x. procedure division.     move QUOTE to aQuote     if aQuote = QUOTE    

Problem: The ODBC trace is somewhat difficult to decipher. Are there any other diagnostic capabilities available from OpenESQL? Resolution: Yes, you can compile your applicaion with the SQL(TRACELEVEL=n) directive. Notes : 1. The trace filename is actually OpenESQLTrace.processID.log . If your application is compiled with the SQL(DBMAN=ADO) directive, the trace filename will be ADOTrace.processID.rununitID.log . 2. If the OpenESQL application is executing under the auspices of ASP.NET, the effective user ID under which the application invokes is not your Windows user ID -- instead, the ASPNET user ID -- hence the location of the trace file may not be where you expect it. 3. If you have installed the ESQ08N40.EXE FixPack, or ALL06N40.EXE WrapPack , OpenESQL will write out trace files to the current directory. If the process doesn't have write permissions to the current directory, the trace file will get written to the directory specified by the TEMP

Problem: To be able to control a ListView via the keyboard you need to set focus on the control.  Is there a way of doing this? Resolution: Unfortunately the Dialog System SET-FOCUS function does not work with ListView controls.  So, it is necessary to look at the control program and add the following code: ... PROCEDURE DIVISION. ...    when "SET-FOCUS"       invoke Object-Reference "SetFocus"          ... This new function is then called from the screenset via the following code: ...           SET OBJECT-REFERENCE(1)  LVIEW MOVE "SET-FOCUS" call-function(1) CALLOUT "lviewctl" 3 $NULL ... Functions can also be added for hiding and showing the ListView control if required. Old KB# 7122

Problem: If it is desired to debug .NET code (C# or VB .NET) that is invoked from an unmanaged COBOL program, please try the following: In the Visual Studio .NET Project Properties menu, select Configuration Properties, Debugging. Make sure that "Enable Unmanaged Debugging" is set to true and that "Start Application" specifies the name of the COBOL executable (or the runw.exe trigger program if using .int or .gnt code). The "Debug Mode" property should be "Program".  When debugging, the COBOL program should run and execution should stop at the breakpoint you set in the .NET code. Resolution: If it is necessary to debug .NET code (C# or VB .NET) that is invoked from an unmanaged COBOL program, please try the following: In the Visual Studio .NET Project Properties menu, select Configuration Properties, Debugging. Make sure that "Enable Unmanaged Debugging" is set to true and that "Start Application&qu

Problem: Normally, when inserted the Net Express CD starts automatically by Autostart.The setup.exe in the root directory is started and launches the Internet Explorer to start this process. How can be the Micro Focus Net Express Setup.exe started when this is failing? Resolution: 1. You may try to copy the CD to your c: drive and start the setup.exe from there. 2. if this also fails: - start a CMD prompt - insert the CD into the drive - change the actual directory to the root directory of your CD drive - enter: \\setup\\setup.exe /ini=\\setup\\nxsetup.ini to start the Micro Focus Net Express setup. Old KB# 7100

Problem: Larger interfaces slow down operations when using the Interface Mapping Tools in the IDE. Some operations (such as canceling changes) can take an increasingly long time to perform as the size and complexity increases. Resolution: This has been accepted as a bug and fixed in the all04n40 wrappack released November 2004. The fix released is contained in the Interface Mapping Fixpack V4.0.005. Old KB# 7105

Problem: Session Recorder enables the recording of all keystrokes and screen images during the execution of a COBOL program. This was available in the old Micro Focus Workbench. Resolution: Session Recorder is not available in Net Express. Note: this feature is however available in the Micro Focus Object Cobol or Micro Focus Server Express on Unix. Old KB# 7123

Problem: When attempting to create a window that has 3 fields that occur 7 times per line for 20 lines the following message is reported: "You have attempted to add more than 255 gadgets to a window". Can a window contain more than 255 gadgets? Resolution: The answer is that a window cannot contain more that 255 gadgets. There is a limit in Dialog System that prohibits more than 255 objects (or gadgets) PER window.  This is documented under Dialog System Limits in the Dialog System Help or just type "limits" from the Help Index and double-click on the "Limits" topic. That would show the Dialog System Limits. Old KB# 7138

Problem: INSERT with ACCESS ODBC gets SQLCODE -106 optional feature not implemented Resolution: Compile the application with the SQL(USECURLIB=YES) compiler directive. Old KB# 7103