Rocket® COBOL

Problem: On the MSMQ Receive is it possible to specify a timeout ? Resolution: The timeout is actually the 4th parameter to the receive call. To specify just the tmeout you can mark the other parameters as "ommited", The relevant code for this call is:-       *> Receive message (using defaults)                move low-values to v                move VT-ERROR to VARIANTARG-varType of v                invoke OleVariant "newWithData" using v                                          

Problem: Is it possible to create a CISAM file with the record size is 50,000 . In the documentation , the record size is 62Ko for all file organizations. Resolution: At the moment with Server Express 5.0 , the limit of size of the record  for a CISAM file is 32767  ( 32Ko) . By default, the indexed file with fixed length records is created into CISAM format   Old KB# 2068#RMCOBOL#AcuCobol#ServerExpress#netexpress#COBOL

Problem: Object Cobol Developer Suite support's relatively large key sizes in small index nodes. Object Cobol Developer Suite allows a maximum of 248 byte keys in a 1024 byte node. This is not normal behaviour but can be enabled. Server Express, the maximum key size for a 1024 byte node is 100, but this can be overridden up to a size of 220 bytes. Resolution: Using keys greater than 100 bytes in a node of 1024 bytes. Change the EXTFH configuration file from: nodesize=1024 to nodesize=1024 force This overrides the internal fielhandler logic for allocating the nodes. This could result in the file having only 4 keys per node and giving a maximum of 65536 records. Also note that this has a negative effect on performance. Old KB# 2035#RMCOBOL#COBOL#AcuCobol#ServerExpress#netexpress

Problem: With simply a cob -x tictac.cbl the error: ./bin/cobchecker32 not found appears Looking for this  cobchecker32 in /opt/microfocus/cobol/bin indeed does not exist. Resolution: Problem is that the wrong product was installed. The server product is only the deployment products, you need studio for development. Server > Deployment Studio > Development Old KB# 2048

Problem: is there a way to run mfsupportinfo without the box popping up at the end? Tied cobsw=-L1  still pops up Resolution: Type MFSUPPORTINFO /?  there will be 2 options listed. /R and /S are the two options listed: /R, will create a registry dump of HKLM/Software/Micro Focus in the resulting log file. /S, will cause the pop-up box not to be displayed. A third one, not listed is /L, which will redirect the log file to an alternate location. Old KB# 1541

Problem: Is it possible to rebuild C-ISAM file without IDX file ? Resolution: With Server Express 5.0  the following command can be used rebuild OLDECDOS -k:1 16:17 7d -o:ind -r:F140 Old KB# 2056#AcuCobol#RMCOBOL#ServerExpress#netexpress#COBOL

Problem: This KB is an add-on to the demonstration GetDirectory.zip available on MF Net Express samples page http://supportline.microfocus.com/examplesandutilities/nesamp.asp#Win32API " "This program demonstrates the use of Win32 API calls SHBrowseForFolder and SHGetPathFromIDList to display a dialog box that will allow the user to select a directory. " ____________________________________________________________ This amended demonstration allows to browse for FOLDERS and FILES from the Desktop and from the Current Folder ____________________________________________________________ Resolution: The add-ons are: This amended demonstration allows to browse for FOLDERS and FILES from the Desktop and from the Current Folder =============== The content of the structure BROWSEINFO used by the MS API SHBrowseForFolder MS API SHBrowseForFolder http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762115(VS.85).aspx MS BROWSEINFO structure http

Problem: There is a problem with using CCITCP2.EXE after installing the APS10A40.EXE service pack for Application server to go with the ALL08N40 wrappack of Net Express. The installation of the APS service pack wil work correctly but after a reboot starting CCITCP2 as a service daemon will result in an error that the MFDS is not installed. Resolution: There are two versions of CCITCP2, one for Application Server and one for Enterprise Server. When creating the APS10A40 service pack the Enterprise Server version was accidently included instead of the correct version. This is a permanent restriction as no other websyncs will be delivered for Net Express 4.0. If it is necessary to use CCITCP2 for accessing Fileshare or Client Server binding then it would be necessary to save the version from the previous Application Server websync and then replace the version in APS10A40 with the saved version and use this one instead. This only applies to Applicatio

Problem: The customer was attempting to use the SORTSPACE by setting it as a compiler directive in the source code:   $set SORTSPACE=512M Sort space set to 1MB Received the folowing error: Set compiler directive SORTSPACE = 512M  "invalid, not allowed here COBCH0053S" Resolution: SORTSPACE is not a directive that can be set within a source program. It is an environment variable that needs to be set at the system level or by setting it within a projects properties for Application settings. Old KB# 1575

Problem: A window containing a toolbar war pushed/used several times by dialog system. After a while the icons in the toolbar get black and a few cycles later the program was stopped by a runtime error. The program ran out of memory. Resolution: This problem was caused by a missing finalize for the object "buttonImageList" in the "OnDestroyed"-Section of the toolbar control program which was generated some years ago when creating the screen set. The object "buttonImageList" needs to be finalized like:           IF buttonImageList NOT = NULL              INVOKE buttonImageList "finalize"                                      RETUR

Problem: Question: Is there a way to convert a compile Dialog System screenset (.rs) back into a source screenset (.gs)? Resolution: No this is not possible.  The data for the Dialog System painter is only in the GS file. Old KB# 1609

Problem: Is it possible to easily change the case of all files in a directory without renaming each one? Resolution: Yes. The following script will  convert all file names from UPPERCASE to lowercase, preserving the file contents in their original case: # Script to change file names from UPPERCASE to lowercase. # Leaves the file contents unchanged! # for file in 'ls' do     mv $file 'echo $file | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]'' done Changing the order of '[A-Z]' '[a-z]' to '[a-z]' '[A-Z]' in the above script will convert all lowercase filenames in a directory to UPPERCASE. Old KB# 2054#RMCOBOL#AcuCobol#netexpress#ServerExpress#COBOL

Problem: Does Micro Focus support UNISYS dialects in the Server Express Compiler? Resolution: We have no Unisys direct support in Net Express or Server Express.  Unisys specific extensions will not compile. Standard COBOL from a Unisys platform should compile and run correctly. Old KB# 2062

Problem: .NET applications are supported on Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. How about Windows 2000? Resolution: Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (the .NET development tool) is only supported in Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 Server. However, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 (the .NET support to execute .NET applications) is supported in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and other different Windows versions (see more details from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en) Old KB# 1560

Problem: Using NetExpress .NET in Visual Studio is it possible for a class written in OO COBOL to support a structure with lower level variables? For example:       01 wd-person.            05 wd-name          pic x(20).            05 wd-surname     pic x(20). Resolution: This type of structure should work correctly if the class is incuded in an environment which is purely COBOL.  If, however, the COBOL structure does a call to a J# environment, for example, then it would be better to write the structure as two separate strings. Old KB# 1563

Problem: What  is the different between 'system' and 'SYSTEM'   ? Resolution: What  is the different between 'system' and 'SYSTEM'   ? The 'SYSTEM' function restores the users terminal mode prior to executing any Unix command, after the Unix command completes, the terminal settings are restored to values needed for COBOL  screen handling . The 'system' function does not reset the terminal mode, screen output from a  Unix command   may not be properly formatted . An example of the application is attached . Attachments: cmain.c Old KB# 2072

Problem: There are times when printing a list file that you do not want to display the comment lines denoted by an asterisk (*) in column 1. Resolution: Turning on the MFCOMMENT directive will cause the compiler to ignore all comments in the listing that has an asterisk (*) in column 1.  They will appear in the Animator. This will not suppress comments denoted in column 7 with an asterisk and The syntax for the MFCOMMENT directive is: >>-.---.-.----.--MFCOMMENT-----------------><     -/- -NO- Parameters: None Default: MFCOMMENT (Dialect ) Old KB# 2039

Problem: Gibt es in Net Express Funktionen, mit denen man eine UTC-Zeit (ZULU) in lokale Uhrzeit umrechnen lassen kann? Resolution: Die intrinsische Funktion CURRENT-DATE liefert die Differenz zur GMT (Greenwich Mean Time => UTC => koordinierte Weltzeit) auf dem lokalen Rechner zurueck: Beispiel: 01 myDateTime pic x(21). . move function CURRENT-DATE to myDateTime . Auf einem lokalen Rechner mit Mitteleuropaeischer Zeit (MEZ=CET) liefern die Positionen 17 bis 21 von myDateTime diesen Inhalt zurueck: 0100 , entsprechend UTC 1 Stunde. Weitere Einzelheiten sind in der Net Express Dokumentation zu finden unter: Help -> Index -> CURRENT-DATE function -> COBOL Language Old KB# 1579

Problem: What is the command syntax to generate a .gnt from Net Express command line? Resolution: Bring up a 32 bit Micro Focus command prompt, and use the following form: C:\\>cobol  <your_filename.cbl> omf(gnt); Old KB# 1537

Problem: Question is whether the same procedure pointer data item can  be used to load multiple .DLLs simultaneously without a problem. Resolution: Yes, a procedure-pointer item can be used multiple times in order to load a new .DLL. The exception is if the procedure-pointer points to an entry point directly and that procedure-pointer is referenced directly within a CALL statement. Old KB# 1538

Problem: Iinstall the FSVIEW addpack for either Net Express 4.0 or Net Express 5.0. Create a desktop shortcut which has a target executable which points to the location of FSVIEW.EXE. Question: Why does it launch with  "Command Prompt"-style window with initial Title Bar text of icon name, before the FSVIEW GUI window is displayed? This didn't happen in Net Express 3.1. Resolution: There is a workaround, strange as it may seem. Open the Properties window for thr shortcut to FSView.EXE and click on the layout tab. Under Window Size change both the height and width of the window to a size of 1. Apply the change and press OK. There will still be a small command prompt displayed but it is too small to see. Old KB# 1574#ServerExpress#AcuCobol#RMCOBOL#netexpress#COBOL

Problem: Support for Generation Data Groups (commonly known as GDGs) was only introduced in version 5.0 of Server Express MTO. Resolution: Support for GDG is a complex subject but is explained in depth in the Server Express 5.0 documentation at: http://supportline.microfocus.com/Documentation/books/sx50/sx50indx.htm under the chapter:  Mainframe Transaction Option Developer's Guide > 10. Advanced Data Set Information Old KB# 2030

Problem: There are multiple servers on the network which contain COBOL data files. The COBOL applications and Application Server are also in a directory on the same server as the data files. CCITCP2 and Fileshare are both run as Windows Services on the servers containing the data and applications. The applications are started by logging into a Citrix server and clicking on a shortcut which will launch one of the COBOL applications on the data system. Resolution: Some people have a misconception of how a Citrix Server actually works.  It is basically just a computer to which multiple users can log on to and run applications. It is a misconception that if an application is started on Citrix which physically resides on another computer then the application will be run on that computer. This is false. The application will be run in a partition on the Citrix Server computer and the computer on which the application resides will just be used a

Problem: ccitcp2 is not installed when one opts to install Enterprise Server during the Server Express Install procedure. Resolution: If one installs Application Server or a Server Express development system without accepting the Enterprise Server (ES) option, ccitcp2 is installed. If one responds 'yes' to installing ES or installs a stand-alone ES, ccitcp2 is replaced with a script that runs mfds. Old KB# 1994

Problem: Writing large XML files using XML-I-O is time consuming. How can this be improved? The XML-File was declared as select myfile-frame assign "MyFile.XML"     organization XML                                 document-type "MyNamespace"                      file status XML-STAT.                XD myfile-content.        01 Support identified "Support".           02 rec  identified "Person".              03 Na