Rocket® COBOL

Problem: When you save the screenset how does it know what STYLENAME to use? Resolution: If you specify a font side file and save a screenset, the characteristics of each defined style are saved in a text file with a .dft extension whenever the screenset is saved. The screenset can contain fonts defined in more than one environment. In this case entries are generated for each environment. If the file already exists, the styles are appended. For example, if you use a style name of "Heading1" to represent a typeface of Helvetica (Helv under Windows) bold 12 points, Dialog System saves the following definition in the .dft file: [WINDOWS] FONT-RECORD     STYLENAME Heading1     ATTRIBUTES BITMAPPED, PROPORTIONAL     POINTSIZE 12     TYPEFACE "Helv" END-RECORD Old KB# 6570

Problem: How do I sort relative files? Resolution: See the attached source code example. Attachments: sortrel.cbl Old KB# 6144

Problem: How can I use ACCEPT to test for an escape key with a SCREEN SECTION? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: scrntst.cbl Old KB# 6141

Problem: How can I get correct positioning with DISPLAY in pop up windows? Resolution: The LINE / POSITION is relative to the popup window, not the runtime window. Old KB# 6129

Problem: How can I use C$SCRD to create a print file? Resolution: See the attached source code example. Attachments: scrd.cbl Old KB# 6140

Problem: Is there a line draw graphics example? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: linedraw.zip Old KB# 6133

Problem: Is there a normalize data file example? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: normal.cbl Old KB# 6136

Problem: Why are my bitmaps not displaying in my WOW Thin Client application? Resolution: The WOW bitmap control invokes the Windows API.  Since WOW Thin Client calls the Windows API on the client machine, any bitmap file that you wish to display needs to be accessible to the client machine. *The WOW bitmap control can use the RUNPATH environment variable/synonym to locate files on the client PC.      Old KB# 6447

Problem: Why doesn't the A option work with WOW Thin Client? Resolution: You can't  use the A option because the RPC Server uses it to pass the socket number to the COBOL process.  However, you can append arguments to the end of the command line tail like this: [ServerConfig] CmdArgs=myarg1 myarg2 myarg3 and the RPC Server will build this: A="5000 myarg1 myarg2 myarg3" where 5000 is the socket number being used, as defined by the rpcplus.ini file. From the RPC User's Guide: CmdArgs Restrictions: Windows Only Specifies alphanumeric data that should be appended to the command line used to start the server process. This data will be placed on the command line after the socket number and working directory (if specified). This is intended for use with thin client implementations on the server where rpcinit is not the initial program executed.  It is supported for all languages, but is particularly important when us

Problem: How do I correctly specify the inetd.conf entry for WOW Thin Client? Resolution: The /etc/inetd.conf (UNIX systems) entry for WOW Thin Client should read: rpcplus stream tcp nowait root /bin/sh rpcplus /usr/rmcobol/rpcstart The "rpcplus" part of this entry will show up in a process table listing (ps command). The "root" part of the entry may be changed to which ever account you wish to run the service. The beginning of the usr/rmcobol/rpcstart file (or where ever the rpcstart file is located), should have the following as the first line: #!/bin/sh Remember to do a kill -HUP on the process ID of inetd whenever you have changed the configuration file. This will save you having to reboot the system.      Old KB# 6438

Problem: How can I test a field to see if it is alphanumeric? Resolution: Please see the attached source code example. Attachments: alpnmtst.cbl Old KB# 6131

Problem: Why is CALL .. ON EXCEPTION not returning a STATUS value? Resolution: The CALL .. ON EXCEPTION statement does not return a STATUS value, but does go to the exception statement, whereas, on a CALL PROGRAM .. ON EXCEPTION statement returns a 3 digit STATUS value. Old KB# 6126

Problem: Is there an example LINAGE clause code? Resolution: See attached example source code. Attachments: linage1.cbl Old KB# 6134

Problem: How can I return a value to the O/S upon termination? Resolution: See the attached source code example. Attachments: returnc.cbl Old KB# 6138

Problem: How do I send control sequences to a printer? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: printest.cbl Old KB# 6137

Problem: Is there a general purpose example of RM/COBOL's built-in line draw facilities? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: lin.cbl Old KB# 6135

Problem: How do Isearch a HEX table? Resolution: See the attached source code example. Attachments: searchx.cbl Old KB# 6143

Problem: Is there an index file handling example? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: ismalt.cbl Old KB# 6132

Problem: How to change the foreground color of a text object Resolution: Net Express Dialog System 2.0 under Windows NT4.0 How to change the foreground color of the text object Description of Problem How to change the foreground color of the text object Solution Text foreground color cannot be changed. Here's what can be done: 1) use an entry field 2) change its properties/options to make it a display field 3) specify initial text 4) then change the color of the text In design mode, it will look like an entry field, but at execution time, the entry field will look like text. Old KB# 6561

Problem: Is there a way to copy a file to/from a UNC path from a COBOL program? Resolution: You could do a CALL "SYSTEM" or use the BinaryFileCopy.zip attached. The library it contains will copy a file from a network UNC to a printer via a UNC from RM/COBOL. The attachment includes the C source, the CodeBridge template and a COBOL example. Disclaimer This is not an official Liant Software Corporation product and is therefore unsupported although enhancements and fixes will be considered time permitting.  Please forward any queries to the London office of Liant Software at support@liant.co.uk.      Attachments: BinaryFileCopy.zip Old KB# 6130

Problem: Is there an example of how to read and write to a device? Resolution: See the attached example source code. Attachments: wrtdev.cbl Old KB# 6148

Problem: On some instances, the focus mark on a radio button is not seen. The radio button can be selected, but the focus mark is not seen. This behavior only occurs in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Resolution: This is not a bug, but it is actually an operating system setting issue. To be able to see the focus mark on the radio buttons, the "Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key" option must be unchecked from "Display Properties > Appearance > Effects" in Windows XP and from "Display Porperties > Effects" in Windows 2K. You can get to Display Properties by right-clicking on your desktop and clicking on Properties -OR- by going to Start > [Settings] > Control Panel > Display. Old KB# 6571

Problem: How do I print rotated text? Resolution: Use the "P$SetFont" call with the LF-EscapementParam parameter.  See attached example POrient.zip Attachments: POrient.zip Old KB# 6127

Problem: Do you have any split key examples? Resolution: Yes, please see the two attached source code examples. Old KB# 6145

Problem: Is there a C$SCWR example? Resolution: See attached source code example. Attachments: scwrtest.cbl Old KB# 6142