Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Customer upgraded to the V8 C compiler in Net Express and now gets the error R6034 an application has made an attempt to load the C runtime library incorrectly. Resolution: When using Micro Focus NET EXPRESS with  .NET  products with Microsoft Visual Studio products: NET EXPRESS 4.0 with .NET is ONLY supported with VISUAL STUDIO 2003 and VISUAL STUDIO 2005 is NOT supported with NET EXPRESS 4.0 with .NET NET EXPRESS 5.0 with .NET is ONLY supported with VISUAL STUDIO 2005 and VISUAL STUDIO 2005 is NOT supported with NET EXPRESS 4.0 with .NET Old KB# 1454

Problem: For line sequential file processing, how can spaces be alternately permitted or suppressed? Resolution: set "STRIPSPACE" variable to either "ON" or "OFF" in extfh.cfg file. Example of extfh.cfg file as follows: [XFH-DEFAULT]        STRIPSPACE=OFF  (for all files) BASENAME=ON     (enables file handler -                                  anything following                                  pertains to particular files                       &nbsp

Problem: To differentiate faultfinder ouputs from one another, previously, in the faultfinder configuration details ($COBCONFIG file) you could specify :-      set faultfind_outfile="fault%p.log" where 'fault' would be a name of your choice, %p would be replaced with the process id of the faulting process, and '.log' would be another name of your choice When using faultfinder within Enterprise Server in a busy system, it can happen that the process-id is not sufficient to keep the Faultfinder dumps unique, especially in IMS and CICS where many transactions can be executed in a single SEP (therefore all of them under the same PID). Resolution: From Nexpress 5.0 Websync WS4 and Server Express 5.0 Websync WS4, the options %d and %t have been added. %d will be replaced with the date of the fault in the format <yyyymmdd> And %t will be replaced with the time of the fault in the format <hh

Problem: Passing Data to a property defined as a double in an Active X control. Within a charting ActiveX control it exposes a property thats is documented to be of type double. What parameter type should be passed across from COBOL ? Resolution: The equivalent COBOL type to a double is a COMP-2 floating point variable. Old KB# 1438

Problem: Is there a way in which data can be returned containing NULL values without specifying NULL indicators? The application returns a SQLCODE of -1405 on the fetch. Resolution: Use the Oracle precompiler directive unsafe_null=yes . Refer to the Oracle Pro*COBOL documentation for further details. Old KB# 1462

Problem: This KB and demonstration joined was tested with Net Express Websync3 and Server Express 5.0 Websync 3 on AIX  ( Server Express 5.0 WS3 PRN: RXCAM/AAI:9l.N6.50.03) ................................... How to set Environment Variables in COBOL and retrieve them to a shell ( .bat | .sh ) ? This is quite a common question asked more times to MF Supportline ................................... When you use the syntax        working-storage section.        01  ENV-value    pic x(200).        01  ENV-name     pic x(200) .        Procedure division *>        SetEnvtVar.       *--> set the value of environment name          &nb

Problem: Program is executing a SORT statement using the following syntaz; SORT SortFile ASCENDING Data-Item          USING InputFile          GIVING OutputFile The sort statement when executed results in a runtime error 153 - Subscript out of range. Resolution: When encountering this type of problem the first thing that should be looked at is the record definition of the sort file, input file and output file. In this particular case the error was due to the fact the the SortFile record definition length is shorter than the Input File and Output File. Using this type of syntax you must ensure that the record length of all files are equal. Old KB# 1502#RMCOBOL#netexpress#ServerExpress#AcuCobol#COBOL

Problem: Cannot find the runtime. Unable to find cblrtss, when running program on the server where Application Server for Net Express (runtime) is installed. The runtime license database has been activated with runtime licenses. Resolution: When building exes or dlls, must make sure of the following before deploying. In the Project, for Type of Build Highlight the programname.exe Next, at the top of the IDE select Project ->  Build Settings Click on the Link tab Under Run time library when you select  Shared, make sure  Dynamic is also checked. The default is that  Dynamic is not checked. For all exes and dlls make sure the above is done, then do a Rebuild all of the Project. Now , deploy exes and dlls to the machine where the Application Server for Net Express (runtime) is installed. Old KB# 1494

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: 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 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: This is a demo program that shows how to share files between different instances of the same class. Many people are confused as to where file definitions should reside in an OO COBOL program. Resolution:    ===========================================================                                               Micro Focus                                          N E T E X P R E S S       ===========================================================    &nb

Problem: How to tell what fixpacks ( updates ) are already on? Resolution: Using the MFSupportInfo utility, which will create a log with details of what is on the computer.   This utility can be downloaded from the samples and utilities page on the supportline website. http://supportline.microfocus.com/examplesandutilities/nesamp.asp#Utilities MFSupportInfo is part of the Net Express 5.0 installation based in ..\\base\\bin folder. This is also an essential to send in when  reporting any problems to supportline. To go also into netexpress - help \\ help about \\ and click on the more info button which will reveal the list of updates (version numbers) Old KB# 1301

Problem: How can I clear the highlighting after a text search? Resolution: Please choose View->Clear->Text Finds from the menu to clear the highlighting. Old KB# 1368

Problem: This article documents how to install silently Micro Focus patches in the shape of .msp files Resolution: The Windows Install utility msiexec is used to install .msp files. Running:    msiexec /? getting back the list of options that msiexec can use. The command line tested here for Micro Focus .msp files is:   start /wait msiexec /qn /l*vx myfile.log /p myfile.msp where /qn means that no user interface will be presented and  /l*vx myfile.log means that everything will be logged in myfile.log with verbose output and extra debugging information. Old KB# 1274

Problem: How can an empty idx file be used for rebuilding an ISAM file with a new key structure instead of specifying every key on the rebuild command line with the -k option? Resolution: For IDXFORMAT"3" and IDXFORMAT"4" files: - Copy the empty idx file to the existing dat file. - now rebuild the data file by specifying the infile only   rebuild MyFile.dat   specifying an outfile requires the additional option /d   rebuild MyFile.dat,NewFile.dat /d For C-ISAM files = IDXFORMAT"1", please review KB: 23664 Old KB# 1253#AcuCobol#ServerExpress#RMCOBOL#COBOL#netexpress

Problem: If a COBOL Application is called from a C DLL in a multithreaded environment then the C needs to call cobthreadtidy() when it will no longer call any COBOL from that thread. This will allow the COBOL runtime to free any Thread Local Storage that has been allocation and hence stop any memory leaks from occuring. In some applications it is difficult to determine when to call cobthreadtidy. Resolution: In the C DLL that called COBOL you could call cobthreadtidy() from DLLMAIN on  DLL_THREAD_DETACH. This would alleviate the need for any logic to determine when that last COBOL Call had taken place. DLL_THREAD_DETACH in DLLMAIN will be called then the thread is exiting cleanly and it is called on the thread that is terminating. Please see the Microsoft Platform SDK for more information on DLLMAIN. Old KB# 1363

Problem: As our products still includes .hlp files and WinHlp32 is not installed by default on Vista, you may want to pick it up from Microsoft. This includes; - Net Express - Mainframe Express - Revolve Resolution: Download the following from Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb&displaylang=en Old KB# 1287

Problem: Net Express 4.0 Dialog System Is there a way of making it obvious to a user that a tick box or radio button has the input focus? Most fields change in some way but these object types don't seem to. Resolution: This is a known issue on XP and 2000 operating systems. Pressing the 'Alt' button when the project is running turns on the highlighting. You can change this setting from 'Control Panel > Display > Appearance > Effects...'. By unchecking the last option 'Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key', the highlighting of the controls becomes visible. It is not likely that there will be an enhancement to Dialog System for this. Old KB# 1261

Problem: .NET Winform Application doesn't have the Windows XP Style when run Resolution: Just apply the method   EnableVisualStyles to the Application's class instance        $set preservecase        class-id. Main as "WinBook.Main".        environment division.        configuration section.        repository.            class class-main-form as "WinBook.Form1"            class class-application as "System.Windows.Forms.Application"            class class-STA-Thread as "System.STAThreadAttribute"           &nb

Problem: Microsoft SQL Server Insert statement with quote within value Resolution: To specify a value that contains a quote, i.e. Del'Oro, the following can be done: 1. Move the value to a host variable previously:        01 MYLNAME PIC X(20). ...            MOVE "Del'Oro" TO MYLNAME ...            EXEC SQL                INSERT INTO SQLTEST                (ID_KEY, LAST_NAME)                VALUES                ('123456', :MYLNAME)          &n

Problem: This error may be encountered when trying to use Dialog System within Net Express and is usually due to incorrect path settings during installation. Resolution: The simplest and fastest way to overcome this problem is to uninstall the NetExpress product via the Control Panel (including fixpacks) and then reinstall cleanly from scratch. Old KB# 1338

Problem: How do I find the cursor postion while animating? Resolution: Via View->Where in the menu or pressing the key command strg w. Old KB# 1366

Problem: When opening a Dialog System ScreenSet a message box reported a warning: IE: Font not found Resolution: The ScreenSet might be corrupted. 1. Please export the ScreenSet to an IMP file. 2.1. Open the IMP file with notepad or a similar editor and search for: font 2.2. If an illegal font name can be found, please correct it. 2.3. If nothing obviously false can be detected, import the IMP file into an empty GS file         The syntax check might find something which can be corrected.         Go back to the IMP file and try to correct what was detected as being wrong 3. Import the IMP file into an empty GS file ---------- For getting an empty GS file, please open a new ScreenSet. As a new ScreenSet is not empty, please delete - the global dialog - the data block - the existing window to get a really empty ScreenSet before importing an IMP file. Ol

Problem: Ist ein paralleler Einsatz des Net Express Application Servers der Versionen 3.1 und 4.0 moeglich? Resolution: Ja, es kann ein paralleler Betrieb der Net Express Application Server Versionen 3.1 und 4.0 auf einem Rechner ausfuehrt werden, wenn folgende technische Anforderungen erfuellt sind: a) Zunaechst werden die Installationen der Application Server 3.1 und 4.0  vorgenommen und damit  in der Windows Registry die passenden Eintraege hinterlegt (zu finden unter HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Micro Focus) b) Die auszufuehrende COBOL .exe (bzw. die erste COBOL .dll Datei) sollte  'shared dynamic'' gelinkt sein, damit beim Start der Applikation die dynamisch gebundene .exe (die erste .dll Datei) ueber die Windows Registry exakt das passende Runtime des Application Servers benutzt. Gelingt das nicht, dann wird ueber die PATH Umgebungsvariable ein dort gefundener Verweis auf ein Runtime benutzt und dieses gefunde