Rocket® COBOL

Problem: How can I enter a username greater than 8 characters with IBM UDB? Resolution: IBM DB2 UDB limits you to 8 character logon id's - see: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/db2luw/v9/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.db2.udb.uprun.doc/doc/r0006867.htm USER authorization-name/host-variable Identifies the user ID trying to connect to the application server. If a host-variable is specified, it must be a character string variable with a length attribute that is not greater than 8, and it must not include an indicator variable. The user ID that is contained within the host-variable must be left justified and must not be delimited by quotation marks. USING password/host-variable Identifies the password of the user ID trying to connect to the application server. The password or host-variable can be up to 14 bytes long. If a host variable is specified, it must be a character string variable with a length attribute not greater than 14, and it must not

Problem: Compiling PROGRAM1.CBL with PROGRAM1.CPY as a copybook fails with "COBCH0056S COPY is recursive" [PROGRAM1.CBL] ...         COPY PROGRAM1. ... Resolution: COPYEXT(CBL,CPY) is a default compiler directive that causes the compiler to pick up a copybook with CBL extension first. In a case where the copybook has the same name as the program, the compiler will pick up the program itself. To avoid this, here are two options: 1. set COPYEXT(CPY) to pick up copybooks with CPY extension first, or 2. rename the copybooks that have the same names as programs Old KB# 1405

Problem: You may want to do the following Visual Basic function in COBOL: ReDim Preserve FileArray(1 To ArraySize) It basically allows you to increase the size of your array as you need it at runtime. Resolution: You could move the large array to linkage then allocate memory for it at runtime when you know how many elements are needed and fix its address using "set address of lnk-array to the-pointer". It won't allow for a redim but gives some flexibility on the array size. Here is a technique that is used by some of our developers when they want to increase the array! They allocate a new block of memory with the new size, copy the contents across, and then free the old memory. There is a whole selection of CBL_ routines for allocating memory dynamically. Old KB# 1447

Problem: This demo program will show you how to create your own functions using the COBOL language. Resolution:     ===========================================================                                             Micro Focus                                        N E T E X P R E S S       ===========================================================                         &

Problem: Is it possible to colorize the ListViewItems with alternating colors? Resolution: To do this you have to derive your own list view class from the standard list view and use this class in the class control paragraph of your list view control program. You find a sample "owndrawlistview" as attachment. The "owndrawlistview" defines a method "wmGadgetNotify" which handles a redraw of the list  view items in the desired style. ------------------------------------ To use the "owmdrawlistview" in your application, the class declaration in the control program has to be changed from            ListView is class "listview" to            ListView is class "owndrawlistview" and owndrawlistview class has to be added to the application -----------------------------------

Problem: Is it possible to use .Net Classes without using the Repository Section ? Resolution: This is possible using the "type" keyword to specify a class on an object declaration. For example you can declare a variable as follows:-        01 wsToday type "System.DateTime". In addition to this you can specify namespaces via the "ilusing" directive so that you can drop the use of a namespace to further simplify the declatation. For example:-       $set ilusing(System) .....        01 wsTomorrow     type "DateTime". Attached to this article is a working example showing how the syntax can be used. Attachments: NoRepository.zip Old KB# 1431

Problem: Release 5.0.NET: Visual Studio 2005 There is an error message trying to open a Visual Studio project in regard with cblproj project type: >Make sure the application for the project type (.cblproj) is installed< What to do to prevent this? Resolution: Probably, there are some steps to ensure that COBOL cblproj types can be used again: (1) Open a Net Express 5.0 command prompt and point to: ..\\Net Express 5.0\\PACKAGES >regsvr32 cblprj.dll to re-register cblprj.dll  (s. also KB article 23027) (2) If this is not helpful: he Visual Studio 2005 environment should be repaired, therefore point to Microsoft's common area to pick up devenv.exe: ..\\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\\Common7\\IDE >devenv /ResetSkipPkgs and after finishing try to open this project again. (3) Lastly, for the Visual Studio 2005 environment as of b) >devenv /setup Old KB# 1455

Problem: Receiving an SQLCODE of -1131 (Process terminated abnomally) after recompiling DB2 Stored Procedures using Net Express 5.0 with WS03 applied. The same Stored Procedures ran correctly when compiled under Net Express 4.0. Moving the Stored Procedure .DLLs to a server machine to run after compiling them. Resolution: This problem can occur when the product release levels differ between the development and deployment systems. Ensure that both systems are at the same product and WrapPack level. Old KB# 1413

Problem: Is there a way to place TYPEDEFs  where they would be useable for any of these sections FILE SECTION FDs, WORKING-STORAGE, or LINKAGE SECTION , Resolution: Typedefs can be defined in an external program (or program prototype) which is placed before the main program and is therefore available to all sections. See example below. program-id. mytypedefs is prototype. working-storage 01  STD-KEY             PIC X(46) IS TYPEDEF. end-program program-id. myprogram. file section. FD ....       ...  USAGE STD-KEY. WORKING-STORAGE. .... Old KB# 1420

Problem: This demonstration shows how to create a simple ASP.NET application. It was rewritten from the CGI demo program which is documented in the Net Express Help tutorial section. Resolution: Please folllow the instructions in the README.DOC for more information. Attachments: BevordASPNetDemo.zip Old KB# 1476

Problem: A negative value should have ended in a } but instead is shown as a p. This causes a problem as the end user now gets instead of a negative amount -35,000.00 the end-user sees -35,000.07 -35,000 should end with } to close. But it is closed by a p as last character. And this p in ASCII ends in -7 which is actually the true representation. Why is the } not displayed in the first place? The code used is: SELECT BBCONVHY ASSIGN TO EXTERNAL BBCONVHY ORGANIZATION IS LINE SEQUENTIAL ACCESS MODE IS SEQUENTIAL. 01 HR30-HOOFDSOM-REC. 03 HR30-SAL PIC S9(13)V9(2). DISPLAY "Uitvoering: 1300-HOOFDSOM". PERFORM 1300-HOOFDSOM. WHEN HULP-REC-SRT = 30 ADD 1 TO REC-30-AANT Resolution: Use the directive SIGN"EBCDIC" and the correct symbol will be displayed here. Old KB# 1471

Problem: When trying to add an option to our Net Express installation, we continually receive the message - 'unable to load c:\\supportdir\\xinstaln.dll' as we try to install a new option. Where is the DLL xinstaln used? Resolution: This installation process uses this module as a part of its processing. The customer was using the CD labeled 'Studio for Mainframe Migration'. For Windows XP Pro, if he went to the Windows Control Panel 'Add/Remove Programs', then 'Change', he could select the desired option. For Windows Vista it is slightly different in this area: go to 'Programs and Features', then 'Change'. Because the new releases of Net Express and Mainframe Express use the Microsoft Installer, one cannot re-insert the CD to add/remove options. Instead, one must use the Windows interface via the Control Panel. Old KB# 1517

Problem: compiling from a Net Express command prompt using the COBOL command to compile a program The compilation hangs after displaying the line '* Checking complete with no errors - starting code generation' Resolution: In this scenario; The dir file has COBIDY($COBIDY), Specifying $COBIDY with the COBIDY environment variabe should not be done. Just specifying COBIDY is the correct method to get the same behaviour. The problem is, that COBIDY environment variable is set to the directive parameter COBIDY=$COBIDY and this causes an infinite loop  when trying to resolve the COBIDY environment variable later. Old KB# 1446

Problem: CHANGING ONE LINE OF CODE AND TRYING TO COMPILE SINGLE PROGRAM. THE REST OF THE MESSAGE STATES - THE FILES MAY BE LOCKED OR READ ONLY. CUSTOMER USED SAVE AS TO SAVE TO ANOTHER FILENAME. SOURCE CODE IS ON A NETWORK DRIVE. CUSTOMER HAS CHECKED ALL  RIGHTS AND CUSTOMER HAS FULL ACCESS TO THE FILES. CUSTOMER IS ABLE TO USE EXPLORER TO READ THE FOLDER AND THE SOURCE. Resolution: Close down Net Express IDE. Check the DEBUG and RELEASE folders and any other place where programs are  compiled. Look for any files where the extension of the filename starts with  .$$ If any files with this extension are found, then delete them. Now, start Net Express IDE and edit your file and the EDIT 147 should not appear. Old KB# 1453

Problem: Other than in compiler directives within the NetExpress IDE, can the TARGETDIR environment variable for NetExpress 5.0 IDE path concatenation be exported or set? Resolution: Yes.  For the sake of convenience, create a new batch file, (e.g., "NetX.bat") and include "set TARGETDIR" and PATH variable statements, then invoke NetExpress at the end of the .bat file. Place the .bat file in the root of the local C: drive, or any other location within the system path.  Then create a new shortcut for this batch file on the Windows desktop. Old KB# 1497

Problem: Installation terminates with "Internal Error 2908" message. Resolution: Internal 2908 error in NetExpress 5.0 indicates that a Micro Focus runtime environment was previously (or is currently) installed on the intended target machine for the NetExpress 5.0 installation.  Both runtime and NetExpress environments cannot be installed on the same physical machine. Solution:  Remove any previous Micro Focus runtime installations (Application Server, Server for COBOL 5.0, etc.) Locate any system registry keys containing "ASLMF"  (Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry  hive) and delete them.  Reboot the system, then remove any Micro Focus folders that remain on the file system.  Reboot the system once more, then re-install NetExpress 5.0. Old KB# 1507

Problem: using the eza socket feature.   Trying to run an  initapi, but receives a return code of -1, and receives the error number 0.   Resolution: The console showed that he EZASOKET was stopped becuase of bad data and needed to be restarted.   0918 11381705       5820 EZATEST   CASSP0002I Server manager informed of process termination, pinfo =  S,0000006484 11:38:16 070918 11381705       6680 EZATEST   CASOP0000I 01 of 02 From (,,CSKL) EZY1298E 09/18/07 11:38:17 CLOSE CALL FAILURE TRANSACTION= CSKL  11:38:17 070918 11381705       6680 EZATEST   CASOP0000I 02 of 02 From (,,CSKL) TASKID= 0015 ERRNO=    00                     

Problem: TC040E Missing idy file no source available message is produced when running tcreport on the tcresult.tcz file from a test run. The IDY and CBL are resident in the same directory. Resolution: This issue was caused by product versioning. The report from a Net Express V5 compiled application was being formatted with the tcreport tool from Net Express V4. Using the the tcreport tool from V5 resolved the problem. Old KB# 1440

Problem: Release 5.0 .NET: Trying to install Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition as part of the Net Express 5.0.NET delivery gets back: error1311 _2_RTL_x86_enu_Visual_Database_Tools_Core.cab - File not found Resolution: This .cab file can be found among others on Disc 2 of the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition delivery. Old KB# 1480

Problem: Customer runs Fileshare as a service on 2 separate machines. The name of the Fileshare service is the same on each machine. Since installing WS03, whichever Fileshare is started last gets and error: FS077-S A Fileshare Server of the same name has already been defined - the Fileshare Server is closing down. Resolution: Go to ES Admin > Configure > Options > General and uncheck 'Generate UDP Broadcast Search Requests' on all machines. This will prevent the Fileshare Server from broadcasting its presence to other MF Directory Servers and will allow Fileshare Servers of the same name to run on separate machines. Old KB# 1464#RMCOBOL#ServerExpress#netexpress#AcuCobol#COBOL

Problem: A client installed his application on Windows Vista for the first time. The machine had Application Server for Net Express 5.0 (i.e. Micro Focus Server 5.0)  installed. The application was character based and required settings in ADISCTRL. In partucular it required function keys to be enabled. Testing led him to believe that ADISCTRL was not being read and that defaults were therefore being taken. Yet, the same configuratiopn worked correctly on XP and previous Windows versions. Resolution: When the application was distributed the preset copy of ADISCTRL was copied into the Application Server directory (eg C:\\Program Files\\Micro Focus\\Server 5.0\\bin). As this was Application Server he was not able to run adiscf to make the appropriate adjustments. When running the application the F-Keys (and other settings such as having the enter key work as a tab key) were not being recognized. The PATH was checked and seemed correct. C

Problem: Micro Focus Net Express V5.003.0082 RUN TIME ENVIRONMENT Copyright (C) 1984-2007 Micro Focus (IP) Limited. URN AXCGG/AA0/00000         1 file(s) copied.           Boolean operator 'ZD' invalid SORT015U: Command statement error(s) detected 16:mfsort take CIPS0270A JOB is abending due to return code 16 SORT FIELDS=(3,10,CH,A) RECORD=(F,450) OMIT COND=((1,2,EQ,C'50'),OR,(1,2,EQ,C'52'),OR,(1,2,EQ,C'51',AND,               13,9,ZD,EQ,000000000,AND,22,9,ZD,EQ,000000000,AND, *************               31,9,ZD,EQ,000000000,AND,40,11,ZD,EQ,00000000000,AND,               51,11,ZD,EQ,00000000000,AND,406,9,ZD,EQ,000000000)) Resolution: The error is not

Problem: Customer reported that after installing WrapPack #3 for Net Express 5.0 he started getting the following error message when compiling any COBOL program from Visual Studio 2005: error COBCH0857 : System error - failure during ILASM phase Resolution: In WrapPack 3 the checker was modified to use some temporary directories on the system. The problem was solved by changing the following registry entry that disables the creation of short names. And on the problematic machine this entry was set to true. HKLM\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\FileSystem\\NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation = TRUE The solution was to set this entry to false and recreate your logon on that machine. Old KB# 1463

Problem: Is it possible to terminate an ACCEPT using the TAB and F8 keys?  If so, how are these keys detected within a COBOL program? Resolution: Yes it is possible to terminate an ACCEPT with the TAB and F8 keys.  This is done by calling ADIS and enabling a function key (F8) and an ADIS key (TAB).  The following program demonstrates how this is done and also how to detect the use of these keys. There are many other options and these can be found in the online documentation for ADIS.        special-names.            crt status is key-status.        working-storage section.        01  key-status.            03  key-type            &n

Problem: Trying to execute a CICS program from a batch job by using web services and EXCI.  If running ZCOMMAND.jcl, which executes COMMAND and passes parms to it.  COMMAND then calls COMMSERV, passing along the parms.  COMMSERV invokes the web service using the client program CommandService-proxy and is supposed to link to CICS program TRNSTRT. Animating the job and stepped through COMMAND and into the COMMSERV entry point in the proxy program.  You will  see that the parms were correct before the call to COMMSERV.  As soon as the proxy program is entered, looking at the parms again and saw that an additional 16 bytes of nulls had been inserted at the beginning of the parms.  This caused error 458 (illegal character in SOAP string) when it tried to invoke the web service. Resolution: This issue was using a Migration project that has PCOMMAIN used for directives which created the webservice us