Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Is there any easy way to identify any other products running under the Micro Focus runtime on Windows ? Resolution: To use the Windows command prompt command:- tasklist /FI "MODULES eq cblrts*" and this will list any processes that are running under the Micro Focus Net Express runtime. Old KB# 4330

Problem: Previously the customer was asking about using REENTRANT(2) to achieve a multi-user COM component for use with Microsoft.NET. They have now developed that module and it is working well. Whilst working on that project they found that all COM modules within an application seem to run sequentially. Let me give an example to explain what I mean by this: This is an ASP.NET Web application. User 1 runs program A.aspx which calls COM module AA.dll. If User 2 runs program B.aspx and this tries to call COM module BB.dll then this call will be suspended until the Method in AA.dll completes. They can see that if we want 2 users to be able to run the same program and call the same COM module simultaneously then this will need to be built as REENTRANT(2). They are not sure what we have to do to resolve the problem that only one COM module will execute at any one time and so all calls to Methods in different COM modules are effectively queued up and executed seque

Problem: The documentation for NetExpress states that for this to work it is necessary to have SCP and SAMBA installed. Could something like Microsoft Services for UNIX be used in place of SAMBA? Resolution: Publishing or indeed using other options like verify server settings, unix publisher uses scp to interrogate the capabilities of the cobol system publishing to.  This is unavoidable; scp has to be used for this. Samba (or anything equivalent) is not needed for publishing. Importing a project, then that is when something that maps the unix end to a drive is needed. Something other than Samba should work ok, as it should be transparent to the Net Express IDE. Old KB# 4308

Problem: To open a new, empty email form with a filled out email address. From a command prompt and using: start mailto:firstname.lastname@domain.com How can this be done from Dialog System? Resolution: To achieve the same from within Net Express with     call "system" using z"start mailto:firstname.lastname@domain.com" From Dialog System, to use a CALLOUT or a RETC and call the "system" from COBOL. It was tested successfully on Windows XP Professional where Microsoft's Outlook 10 is installed. Hint: The CALL to "system" opens a Command prompt, which cannot be closed without ending the program. Old KB# 4325

Problem: When building web pages the resulting page on the client side has Net Express comments included which bloats the html size.  These comments look like <!--/*MF NetExpress embedded COBOL begin*/>. Resolution: In eht02n40 of the all08n40 Net Express 4.0 WrapPack, a new preprocessor flag (NOCGICOMMENT) has been added to optionally ignore the MF comments being inserted into the HTML sources at runtime. This means that pages output by the COBOL CGI program will not include the comments (you can check by viewing the html source from a browser), but the source in the project will have them. Below is a description of the flag: CGICOMMENT Causes the preprocessor to insert Micro Focus specific comments into the output HTML codes. Syntax: >>-.---.-.----.--CGICOMMENT----------------><     -/- -NO- Parameters: None Properties: Default: CGICOMMENT   Phase: Syntax check   $SE

Problem: Release 4.0: Runtime DLL 'CBLRTSS', version 4.0, entry point CBL_CTF_TRACER_GET not recorded in registry, not found or incompatible with requirements of dynamically bound COBOL program. Dynamic binding of RTS requires: Any Runtime DLL, at least Version 4.0 Resolution: There is a mismatch between the update version of the compiler and the update version of the application server (runtime). Please update the runtime to the same level as the development environment. recent: all08n40.exe for Development environment / aps10a40 for Application Server. Old KB# 4304

Problem: When using the GUI Interface Mapping Toolkit within Net Express to create a Web Service mapping for a COBOL subprogram which will be run as a service, the drop-down list of possible data types is a bit confusing. The IMTK currently allows you to create mappings between fields in a programs linkage section or within a BMS screen or COMMAREA. These can be mapped to services such as Web Services, EJB's COM Serrvers or .NET WinForm/WebForm front end. Resolution: Please look at the attached table in a Word document format named "COBOL Data Item.DOC". This will show the best fit selection for a data type from the dropdown list of data types in the Interface Mapping Toolkit. Although you can choose a different data type then what is used in the sending program and receiving Web Service there is always a chance that if you specify the incorrect type then invalid data might occur or an invalid parameter might occur because of truncatio

Problem: If you have an object reference instance, is it possible to tell if it is a CharArray or a something else at runtime. Resolution: You can use the "class" method on the object and compare that to the class in class-control. Example program is attached. The code to do this is:-       $set ooctrl( P)        program-id. TestClass.       ******************************************************************       *       *    Author  - Micro Focus Technology Support (davs)       *       ******************************************************************        special-names.            call-convention 74 is winapi

Problem: Release 4.0: COBCH0912S Internal error - Dictionary invalid r/w 00000000 Inform Technical Support when compiling program with XML PARSE statement. Resolution: The specific problem description is: Compiling XML PARSE syntax with the directive VSC2 resulted in the error "COBCH0912S Internal error - Dictinary invalid r/w". This issue has been fixed with the Net Express 4.0 all06n40.exe WrapPack (compiler fixpack version 4.0.008) Old KB# 4327

Problem: Where are the options for the javac compiler call specified? To change the option -g:none which can be seen in the compiler output window, also to have -g as an option. Resolution: To find these options for the EJB generation in the file deploy.mfscript, which is located in the Net Express\\base\\bin directory. For any java compile, to specify the options in the mfj.cfg-file, where to be specified javac.exe to be called in the IDE. (Doing so with EJB does not set the -g option, because the compiler would be started as javac -g -g:none which overwrites the intended -g settings.) For java files in the IDE, to specify also the java compile options with right-clicking on the java file on the left side in the project view. Choose build settings and change to the tab compile. Old KB# 4309

Problem: The Net Express 5.0 install does not show PVCS Version Manager in its install options. It was available in Net Express 4.0 install. Resolution: PVCS Version Manager is not a Micro Focus product, and it is not available an install option in Net Express 5.0. If you are interested in acquiring PVCS, you will find more details about it at the Serena Software site (http://www.serena.com) See also KB #20582 for support Source Control System. Old KB# 4332

Problem: If you have a segmented program (one in which SECTIONs have segment numbers), you may notice that the reference count for a particular paragraph is incorrect. The reference count (how many times the paragraph is referenced) can be seen by hovering the mouse over a paragraph name after the program has been compiled. Resolution: To get an accurate reference count, you will need to compile the program with the NOQUALPROC compiler directive. Old KB# 4272

Problem: Is there a way to turn the default file locking from exclusive to automatic without having to code LOCK MODE IS AUTOMATIC on the SELECT statement. Resolution: It is possible to affect this via the AUTOLOCK compiler directive. Old KB# 4280#RMCOBOL#netexpress#COBOL#AcuCobol#ServerExpress

Problem: Is there a way to dynamically set the position of a screen created with Dialog System when we call it from a program, depending on some parameters? Resolution: You can do this with the "dsmovsz" function in Dialog. This allow you to dyanmically set and change the Windows location and also its size. Old KB# 4282

Problem: Can a Visual Studio 2005 solution or project be rebuilt directly from the command line? In the classical Net Express IDE, there is the utility ProjMake.exe. Is there a program similar to this for .Net COBOL solutions/projects? Resolution: Yes. In the .Net Framework V.2.0, there is the program MSBuild.EXE for this purpose. The .Net Framework V.2.0 has to be used together with Net Express Version 5. The program MSBuild.exe is located in a directory similar to: C:\\WINDOWS\\Microsoft.NET\\Framework\\v2.0.50727 You can rebuild the solution MyApp.sln e.g. by: MSBuild MyApp.sln /t:Rebuild /p:Configuration=Release Or a COBOL project by: MSBuild MyApp.cblproj /t:Rebuild /p:Configuration=Release For full details of the command line switches for MSBuild, just enter MSBuild /? For more information, please read also: 64-bit Support in the chapter: Known Errors and Restrictions in COBOL Support for .NET in Net Express Help - Start here! -

Problem: Release 4.0: You may get an error when opening a Btrieve file using OPEN OUTPUT: returning file status 9/139. Resolution: Run-time system errors produced by a Btrieve file, i.e. 9/139, are mapped 'backwards' to this COBOL run time system. To determine the reason for this exception you should do the following: a) Net Express Help -> Help Topics -> Index -> Btrieve -> status codes At this point you will find references to Btrieve status code numbers related to that run time error 9/139 ->  7, 22, 27, 28, 44 b) Net Express Help -> Help Topics -> Index -> Btrieve -> errors shows you a table including all  'Btrieve error codes' also 7, 22, 27, 28, 44. In that case: You should check the Btrieve environment first because record length is greater than 1024, according to the doc files: BTRPAGE Environment Variable The BTRPAGE environment variable specifies the page size that is use

Problem: Net Express 3.1 When using the PC_PRINTER_OPEN or PC_PRINTER_DEFAULT routines, it has been found that using a printer name with spaces in it i.e HP Laser, causes an error 9. Other than remove the space - is there anything else I can do? Resolution: Put the printer name in quotes, and add a NULL terminator, for example: move "spacey printer name" & x"00" to l-printer. Old KB# 4286

Problem: The attached readme includes changes since Net Express 5.0 went GA. Resolution: Attachments: READN-50.ZIP Old KB# 4296

Problem: How do you set "Duplex Printing"? (printing on both sides of a page requires optional printer feature) Resolution: This will only work for a printer that acutally can print on 2 sides Manual Duplexing does not work with this method Using PC_PRINTER_DEFAULT_PROPERTIES. The PCPDP example program demonstrates how to use the PC_PRINTER_DEFAULT_PROPERTIES routine. The routine requires two parameters, "flags" and "properties".            call 'PC_PRINTER_DEFAULT_PROPERTIES'                using by value     flags                      by reference properties                returnin

Problem: This program demonstrates how to create a Windows 32-bit .DLL from a COBOL program which can be called by a Microsoft Visual C program. Resolution: The .DLL will be loaded by the C executable CALLER.EXE. The entry points will be made public and then GETSTR1 will be called to get the first string to display and GETSTR2 will be called to get the second string to display. Both of these strings will then be output in the Window which is created and maintained by CALLER.EXE. This program was tested using Microsoft Visual C/C V6.0. SOURCE FILES: ========== Program Files Description ---------------------  --------------------------------------------------------- WINDLL.CBL           Program which is built into WINDLL.DLL and is called by CALLER.EXE WINDLL.DEF          Definitions file created by the Net Express build. CALLER.C &

Problem: This demo shows how to generate an exception in a COBOL COM Class and trap it in a .Net C# Application. Resolution: INTRODUCTION ========== This demo shows how to generate an exception in a COBOL COM Class and trap it in a .Net C# Application. DESCRIPTION ========= This demo shows: o     Create a COM Exception in COBOL o     Trap and handle the exception in C# Projects ========= The example contains 2 folders with 2 projects:- - COBOL COM Object.app         This is the Net Express COBOL Project for the COM Object - TestCOBOLCOMException.sln    This is a C# .Net application that invokes the COBOL COM Object and traps the generated  exception via a try catch block. REQUIREMENTS ========== .Net Framework V2 and Visual Studio 2005 OPERATION ========= - Open the COBOL App file and rebuild the project - Open a

Problem: Release: 4.0 How to setup Application Server for Net Express at client site? Resolution: Install from cd by running setup.exe in application server folder. Also, you can manually copy the runtime folder to the deployment machine and create the license database folder see below. Note: If  not installing from the cd (manually copy runtime folder to deployment machine),  then there is the need  to update the path to where the runtime files are located. Please  make sure that where the deployment of the application is also on the path and may need to be on the cobdir. If your customers have already tried to setup their license database without success.  If this is the case tell them to go into the registry and delete the Micro Focus folder that can be found under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software\\Micro Focus\\ASLMF The hkey_local_machine\\software\\micro focus should not be deleted just the ASLMF fol

Problem: 'Page cannot be found' message when trying to edit an htm page or view Solo admin. If you double-click a .htm file in a Net Express Web project or if you double-click the Solo web server icon in the Windows systray to bring up it's admin screen, but get an error '404 the page cannot be found', then the problem may be with configuration of the Windows Internet Explorer Web browser. Resolution: Check the Internet Explorer browser settings by selecting the Tools menu from Internet Explorer, select "Internet Options...", select the "Connections" tab, click the "LAN Settings..." button, and notice if the "Use automatic configuration script" checkbox is checked. If it is checked, then a script may be specifying configuration information that may affect interactions between the browser and web server. Please contact your IT administrator to find out what configuration can be altered to allow it to

Problem: Assuming that an Indexed datafile exists that you want to be able to look at without having to write a COBOL program read and display all the fields. This file may also include compressed fields etc. Resolution: Net Express has a tool called the Data File Editor which will allow you to look at such things as indexed files in a text editor style format. It also displays compressed fields in numeric display format. Firstly, for the Data File Editor to be able to read an indexed file it needs to have a file that specifies the layout of the file so it can mask the data. The obvious thing it uses to create this is the FD as specified in your program. To create this file do the following: Open a project with a program that you know has the file you want to read specified in the FD. Compile the program if it's not already compiled. In the left hand pane of the project (i.e. Project View) right click on the program name .cbl (ie progname.

Problem: Release 4.0 above: Installation - Install NetExpress on Microsoft Terminal Server and/or Citrix Resolution: To use Netexpress on a Terminal Server or with Citrix you have to ensure the following things: This file system.dat in ..\\documents and settings\\all users\\application data\\micro focus\\netexpress\\4.0 must have normal user rights. The user needs to have read access to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. They also need write access over HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Micro Focus for Net Express. Old KB# 4275