Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Set up COBOL application to use Non-COBOL web services Resolution: In order to use web serivces from with a COBOL application the best thing to do is generate a client side program based on the WSDL (.wsdl) which is made available by the supplier of the web service. After aquiring the .wsdl file execute the following command: imtkmake -genclientwsdl clientwsdl=[name of the wsdl file]   This will create a client application program and a cleint proxy program, the application program can be used to test the ability to use the web service,  The proxy program can be called by any COBOL program passing the proper arguments and it performs all of the work of communicating with the web serivce/ Old KB# 2347

Problem: * 801-S************                                                    (   0)** **    External Compiler Module message **    ES0103 INT-COL does not have a suitable definition to be used as a **    host variable. What does this message mean ? Resolution: The field INT-COL is not defined as a SQL Data Type (ODBC)  ; If INT-COL is defined as COMP-3 numeric field , it must be signed Old KB# 2375

Problem: Error occurs trying to compile under sde (Server Express Integrated Development Environment) Compile works fine from the command line. enter sde, load the file and choose  "F2 Compile" a message is displayed at the bottom of the window: DIRECT: Memory allocation failed Resolution: During compile under sde Micro Focus tries to allocate some work files in the background. The error "DIRECT: memory allocation failed" may occur if the user's umask is incorrect. Set umask=022 to avoid this error. Old KB# 2302

Problem: What is the replacement for the watch option (as found in OCDS) in Server Express 5.0? Resolution: In Server Express this is now called 'monitor'. Once you've started animating, you can do Query > Cursor > Monitor. Old KB# 2244

Problem: Items with value clauses within a group level entry are reset to defaults spaces for alphabetic and zeroes for numeric. How can the coded values be retained?       Resolution: The correct command is initialize ws-group all to value. If items have been coded with value clauses these values will be restored when the items are initialized even if they have been set to other values in the meantime. Old KB# 2113

Problem: Compiling Server Express 5.0 for Itanium  Using same flags, dirs, etc. as on HP PA-RISC now get the error Load error : file '/opt/cobol/dynload64/inoc.gnt' error code: 217, pc=0, call=1, seg=0 217     Incompatible host for native code file In 32 bit get the error: Load error : file 'inoc' error code: 173, pc=0, call=1, seg=0 173     Called program file not found in drive/directory Resolution: For Server Express on HP Itanium it is now necessary to set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH. LD_LIBARY_PATH=$COBDIR/lib export COBDIR This resolves the problem Old KB# 2176

Problem: Need hardcopy listing output from the compiler Resolution: Set the enviroment variable DD_LST as follows: DD_LST="> lp" export DD_LST Now when compiling programs using the TBOX/SDE developers environment - use F4 to toggle the listing option to PRINT The hardcopy listing will be sent to the UNIX print spool using the 'lp' command Old KB# 2209

Problem: When publishing Cobsql applications to UNIX, even if the Oracle environment is set up within the users' .login/.profile etc., this may not get picked up correctly by the remote command. This will lead to Cobsql attempting to invoke procob18, rather than procob, which will either fail (if Pro*COBOL 1.8.xxx was not installed), or invoke the wrong precompiler. Resolution: In order to resolve this, follow the instructions documented in the UNIX Option User's Guide appendix on publishing Cobsql applications. Copy the created Makefile to CSQLMakefile,  then to add to the entries which create mfenv.sh : mfenv.sh:         @echo "#!/bin/sh" > mfenv.sh         @echo "ORACLE_HOME=MY_ORACLE_HOME" >> mfenv.sh         @echo "export ORACLE_HOME" >> mfenv.sh        &n

Problem: These two(2) characters appear because specified a 'CODE' clause in the RD (Report Descriptor).  allowing multiple reports to be included within a single report file The two(2) report 'code' characters are included in the final report output, at the beginning of each line Is there a way to have Report Writer NOT include the report CODE at the beginning of each report line? Resolution: When the CODE clause is specified, literal-1 is automatically placed in the first two character positions of each report writer logical record. Following example of using code clause and  how to remove the two characters- select my-file assign to "a.pnt". file section. fd my-file report report-1 report-2. report section. rd report-1 code "R1". 1 my-detail type detail column 1 line plus 1 pic x(10) source "abcd". rd report-2 code "R2". 1 my-detail-2 type detail column 1

Problem: Which version of Server Express will be comatible with RedHat Enterprise 5.0?   Resolution: Later in 2007 Server Express 5.1 should support this version of RedHat. Old KB# 2171

Problem: A JCL Job ends before completion with no errors after going through a User Exit or Printer Exit. Resolution: Do not code a STOP RUN statement in the exit program, use GOBACK instead. Old KB# 2137

Problem: I understand that Server Express v2.2 is an older version, and that the current version is SX v5.0, but when is the end-of-service date for SX v 2.2? Resolution: Here is a link to a chart showing end-of-service dates for Micro Focus UNIX products:     http://www.microfocus.com/products/Withdrawal/UNIXDisDev.asp SX v2.2 has been beyond end-of-service since Dec 31, 2005. This information was current as of August 2007.   The Micro Focus web page may evolve over the years, the above link may not remain accurate.  In that case, use the search feature on the main Micro Focus web page, and specify search words such as "sundown" or "end of service" to locate the information. Old KB# 2230

Problem: If web service is running on IIS 5, Return-code 0014 can be returned if the data format used by the server is not understood. Resolution: This is due to IIS sometimes sending "chuncked" data. This is fixed for Net Express 5.0 WS3 and Server Express WS3. There is also a hotfix for Server Express WS1 on HP-UX (Fixpack 50.02_16). Old KB# 2161

Problem: By just trying to execute "cob tictac.cbl" the error 1504-S appears. Resolution: You should have pemisions on the $COBDIR directory else the object file cannot be created. Setting this correctly and the error disappears. Old KB# 2188

Problem: Release 4.0: Which changes needed running Server Express 4.0 on SuSE / Novell Enterprise Server 10 i386 (32bit)? Resolution: $COBDIR/etc/cobopt: from set GCC_LIB=/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i586-suse-linux/3.3.3 to set GCC_LIB=/usr/lib/gcc/i586-suse-linux/4.1.2 Old KB# 2127

Problem: Does Micro Focus support Clear Case for version management? Resolution: Currently the only way it is supported is via the Net Express IDE. However it is anticipated this to be supported in the future with the eclipse support for Windows and UNIX Old KB# 2175

Problem: When is the best time to commit a fixpack? If 2 fixpacks are installed, can the first be committed after 2nd is installed? Resolution: Fixpack administration can be entered by logging-on a root and entering: sh $COBDIR/bin/mfadminfp This will present you with the following screen: Pack Administration 1) Uninstall a Pack 2) Commit a Pack q) quit COBDIR is set to /home/products/SX50GA Select option (1,2,q): 1 When uninstalling a fixpack you can only install the last installed (uncommited) fixpack.  However if you have several installed, uncommitted fixpacks you could run the uninstall several times to take-out many fixpacks. When committing a fixpack, all earlier fixpacks are also committed, however it is possible to commit an earlier fixpack after installing a later one.  Example screen:             Commit a Pack The following Packs are currently i

Problem: When linking big cobol object files on RHEL 4.5, the linker ld prints an error like: ld: /tmp/cob5HrVpd/ldtab.o: Can't relax br at 0x42 in section '.fini'. Please use brl or indirect branch. ld: can't relax section: Bad value Resolution: There is a patch to help overcome that particular error. http://www.gelato.unsw.edu.au/archives/linux-ia64/0004/0141.html After updating binutils from version 2.15 to version 2.17, the problem disappeared. This is a bug in the version included in RHEL 4.5. Old KB# 2190

Problem: Release 5.0: What has to be changed on SLES 10 i386? Resolution: After installation you need to change  $COBDIR/etc/cobopt from set GCC_LIB=/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i586-suse-linux/3.3.3 to set GCC_LIB=/usr/lib/gcc/i586-suse-linux/4.1.2 Old KB# 2125

Problem: An entry has been added to the exgfh.cfg entry to resolve a particular problem but the parameter is not being picked up. Resolution: The entry in the extfh.cfg file was incorrect. The extfh.cfg file entry was: SET EXPANDTAB=OFF Changed this to: EXPANDTAB=OFF "SET" is not valid for this parameter. See the File Handling reference manual for correct syntax for the External File Handler configuration file options. Old KB# 2093#AcuCobol#ServerExpress#netexpress#COBOL#RMCOBOL

Problem: How can COBOL access the system time?  How can I write a program that will display a clock showing the system time, in real time, for the purpose of checking the system time's accuracy? Resolution: Following is a complete COBOL program (not a fragment).  It will compile as written: 000001 01 time-ws pic 9(08) value zeroes. 000002 01 filler redefines time-ws. 000003 05 ws-hours pic 99. 000004 05 ws-minutes pic 99. 000005 05 ws-seconds pic 99. 000006 05 ws-hundredths pic 99. 000007  01 count-ws pic 9(8) value 0. 000008 000009 procedure division. 000010 loop-top. 000011  accept time-ws from time 000012  display ws-hours   at 0303 000013          ":"        at 0305 000014          ws-minutes at 0306 000015   &nbsp

Problem: When linking a application under Server Express which has been precompiled with the Sybase precompiler, cobpre, the following error was returned: ld: fatal: libcobrts.a: open failed: No such file or directory This did not occur with Object COBOL Developer Suite. Resolution: The makefile being used was written to work with Object COBOL Developer Suite (OCDS). Under Server Express, a number of the modules, including the COBOL run-time, have been repackaged. Whereas under OCDS, the COBOL runtime was shipped as libcobrts.a, under Server Express, it is provided as a shared object. After updating the makefile to remove the hardcoded reference to the archive, the application linked cleanly. Old KB# 2144

Problem: When running a COBOL program with working storage defined as: 30* test structure with mixed case. 31* 32 01 XML-str. 33 05 XML-nbr-comp pic 9(03) value 111. 34 05 XML-nbr-fund pic 9(05) value 22222. 35 05 XML-nbr-acct pic 9(15) value 333333333333333. The procedure division XML code OPEN OUTPUT OUTFILE. 46 XML GENERATE WS-XML-BUFFER 47 FROM XML-str 48 COUNT IN WS-XML-CNT 50 WRITE OUTFILE-REC FROM WS-XML-BUFFER The problem is that the output tags are all uppercase, rather than mixed case <XML-STR><XML-NBR-COMP>111</XML-NBR-COMP><XML-NBR-FUND>22222</XML-NBR-FUND><XML-NBR-ACCT>333333333333333</XML-NBR-ACCT></XML-STR> The problem is that their web service programs are looking for mixed case. Resolution: If you are using the directive DIALECT(ENTCOBOL) then it should work okay. However you are using

Problem: Debian is a free operating system which uses the Linux kernel (the core of the operating system), but most of the basic operating system tools come from the GNU project. http://www.debian.org/ So are Micro Focus Linux / UNIX products certified on Debian? Resolution: Micro Focus products are not supported on Debian. Micro Focus only supports the Enterprise editions of SuSE and Red Hat Linux.  While it may be possible to install and run Server Express on other Linux distributions, the amount of support we would be able to offer will be limited.   This is because each UNIX product is built on a platform made up of a combination of operating system, C and C compiler, assembler, and system linker each with a particular version. In addition to this there may be specific patches required and on certain Server Express platforms there are also JVM/JDK components required. This combination is referred to as the product 'referenc

Problem: Error compiling program being migrated from Object COBOL. cob32: error opening: /tmp/cobxyz/a.out Error in compiling and linking file xyz.cob Compile command: cob -C IBMCOMP -xv -Q -o xyz.exe xyz.cob Resolution: The -Q flag passes option to the system linker (See the Server Express User's Guide > 10. Descriptions of cob Flags). In this particular case it was not followed by a valid linker option. The "-o" is supposed to be passed to cob causing it to take the next parameter as the ouput name, in this case xyz.exe. This affected the intermediate workfile a.out created by the cob/lilnk process. Removing the -Q resolved the problem. Old KB# 2216