Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Running ES MTO - an abend occurred and the CICS was creating a dump. It hung the whole system and took like 2 hours. Resolution: In this case - the faultfind utility had been turned on Faultfind should NOT be used with  ES MTO This is a feature for debugging regular pc and cgi applications. ES MTO has its own dumping facility and the two conflict with each other for resources.   Old KB# 1290

Problem: The formatDateToOLE method in the olesup class only supports putting dates into a OLE Date. The OLE date format uses a floating point number with the decimal portion representing the time portion. Resolution: You can manually enter the time format into the OLE date field using code such as:-         program-id. "ConvertDateToOLE".       *****************************************************************       *       *    Program         ConvertDateToOLE       *       *    Author          davs - MicroFocus SupportLine       *       *    T

Problem: Using an XP machine with the Regional Language settings set to Japanese. receiving the following syntax error .... * 230-S************************************************ **    PICTURE string has illegal precedence or illegal character 1875             15  WPRTL-PRINT-AMOUNT2        PIC $$$$9.99. * 230-S************************************************ This line of code, compiles fine on an XP machine with the regional language settings set to English.     Resolution: Setting the compiler directive to CURRENCY-SIGN"36" corrects the problem. Old KB# 1370

Problem: Can the Net Express Development and Server products be installed on the same PC? Resolution: Unfortunately it is not possible to install both the development and runtime systems on to the same PC.  Our development environment contains all the runtime files anyway. If you need to run both on the same PC then you may want to consider Microsoft Virtual PC.  We use VPC here to run different products/versions on the same box. Old KB# 1396

Problem: Net Express 3.1 pre-Service Pack 1 Installation of the fixpack xfh09n31.exe fails. Resolution: The problem is caused by "spacey" paths for the TMP and TEMP environment variables. The solution is to create the directory c:\\temp and change the TMP and TEMP environment variables to point to this path. The installation should go through ok after this. Old KB# 1259

Problem: Bei einem Kunden funktioniert jetzt die Software, die mit Net Express 3.1 ohne Application Server entwickelt wurde, nicht. Es wird vermutet, dass es an dem zuvor installierten Net Express 4.0 Application Server liegt. Wie kann  bei einem Kunden der Application Server von NE 4.0 wieder deinstalliert werden? Resolution: (1) Eine Deinstallation wird wie folgt vorgenommen: Start -> Systemsteuerung -> Software -> und den Micro Focus Application Server in der Liste der installierten Programme markieren und deinstallieren (2)  Nachfolgend sollte in der Windows-Registry der Schluessel 'Micro Focus' geloescht werden, damit der dort eingetragene Verweis auf den Installationsort des Application Servers ebenfalls entfernt wird: Start -> Ausfuehren...-> regedit-> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Schluessel 'Micro Focus' loeschen (3) Die Vorgehensweise unter (1) und (2) kann automatisiert werden

Problem: Gets a 119 error when an EXE calls a DLL Resolution: Had a cobol exe calling a cobol dll -   was also always  using the link wizard for the creation of the EXE and DLL settings -- just highlight the EXE and DLL (separatly) and look at the build settings manually the exe had the system programs included - so did the dll - this caused the problem *** take off the system programs from dll - you do not need them if the exe has them also if you get an mf_id_dynlnk_lib_check error - this is caused by the exe being single threaded and the dll being multi threaded - again look at build settings manually and make sure everything matches now everything is single and shared dynamic - exe has system pgms - dll does not Old KB# 1306

Problem: How can I check to see if the Escape key was pressed in my graphical application ? Resolution: In Dialog System the escape key can be trapped with "ESC" Event. If you are using the GUI Class library for controls or windows then you can trap the ESCAPE key with the p2ce-functionkey event. Attach is some example code to illustrate how you can acheive this. Attachments: escape.zip Old KB# 1361

Problem: Is it possible to read a line sequential file that contains tab characters i.e. x"09"?  The tab control codes seem to get expanded to spaces. Resolution: By default the external file handler will convert tab characters (x"09") to spaces.  This functionality can be changed via the EXTFH.CFG file.  There is a configuration option called EXPANDTAB that if set to OFF will ensure that the x"09" are left in place. This can be applied to an individual file or on an application basis.  An example configuration file would look like this: [TESTFILE.DAT] EXPANDTAB=OFF Please see the Micro Focus online help for full details of this and other configuration options. Old KB# 1336#RMCOBOL#ServerExpress#netexpress#COBOL#AcuCobol

Problem: When a deadlock between 2 processes occured it was found that a SQLCODE was being returned with 100 (row not found) rather than a -1205 SQLCODE. Resolution: This issue has been fixed. Please download and apply the latest Net Express 4 patch to resolve the problem. Old KB# 1358

Problem: Passing parameters to a COBOL.Net WebForms application using an URL: http://testserver/testform.aspx?param1=TestValue then accessing the parameters using the "request" object. In C# this can be done using syntax such as: 'string paramvalue = Request.Params["param1"];'. How to access the parameters in COBOL? Resolution: Accessing the parameters using syntax such as:      set ls-param to self::"Request"::"Params"::"Get"("param1") A full example of this syntax is attached to this article. Attachments: 2149995.zip Old KB# 1276

Problem: After installing Net Express v5.0 you get a "188 Filename too long" error when trying to bring up one of the IDE Tools, such as Dialog for UNIX. Resolution: This happens when installing Net Express v5.0 on a machine with a previous version.  The install scripts detects that you have an older product and ask if you want to use the old configuration.  If you answer "yes" then you could get an incompatibility with the old and new settings. The resolution is to remove the IDE folder from the registry. From the Start button select Run and enter regedit - this will open the registry Open the HKEY-CURRENT_USER and select  - Software >> Micro Focus >> NetExpress >> 5.0 You will see two folders IDE and Unix Right click on the IDE folder and delete it  (It is recommend you back it up prior to deleting it) Exit out of the registry Start Net Express v5.0 When it ask if you

Problem: In graphical Dialog System how to specify what window will get focus when deleting a window. Resolution: The second parameter to the DELETE-WINDOW function allows to specify what window will get focus when the specified window is deleted. For example:-     DELETE-WINDOW WIN1 WINDOWFORFOCUS Old KB# 1280

Problem: Die Umlaute werden nicht korrekt in der Eingabeaufforderung angezeigt. Resolution: Die Einstellungen fuer die Eingabeaufforderung ("DOS-Prompt") muessen geaendert werden: Unter Eigenschaften, Schriftart muss TT Lucida Console oder andere True Type Schriftart ausgewaehlt werden. Darueber hinaus muss die aktive Codepage fuer die Konsole gewechselt werden. Dazu wird folgendes in der Eingabeaufforderung eingegeben: chcp 1250. Anschliessend werden die Umlaute korrekt angezeigt. Old KB# 1364

Problem: This example illustrates how the CBL_FILENAME_CONVERT call-by-name routine can be used to accomplish various filename conversions and measurements. Resolution: BUILD W/RELEASE:     Net Express v4.0 and up.                                   INTRODUCTION ========== The example program includes the code for 10 different conversions and measurements. This "Readme" file includes concise descriptions for each usage. The example program includes these descriptions together with the code that implements the example. SOURCE FILES: ========== Program Files      Description ----------------      ----------------------------------------------------------- CBLFNCNV.cbl    Example p

Problem: Is there a possibilty to develop an application on a 64bit Windows (x64 Edition) machine and then deploy that to an Itanium based machine? Resolution: It is not possible doing cross-develop for different 64-bit platforms. So, for example, building an application on an Itanium machine, it will not run on an X64 machine. It is the need to build it on an X64 machine for it to run there. Old KB# 1293

Problem: The classic tools were shipped as Addpack in NX 4.0 The classic tools were not shipped with NX 5.0 Resolution: The Classic Tools AddPack  is attached to this document. These tools are not supported i.e. No corrections for defects are available. Take the following steps to use the tools: 1) Unzip the attached ZIP in to a folder on your PC e.g. c:\\ClassicTools. 2) Copy the following files from \\NetExpress50\\Base\\BIN to c:\\ClassicTools.    mflang01.lbr    mflang05.lbr    mflangdf.lbr 3) Rename the original files in \\NetExpress50\\Base\\BIN to *.old i.e. create a backup    of them! 4) Run the INST.BAT file in the c:\\ClassicTools folder. 5) Copy all the files in c:\\ClassicTools to \\NetExpress50\\Base\\BIN. Run the tools as follows: * SCREENS by entering SCREENSW.EXE. * MFFINDER by entering MFFINDER.EXE or MFFINDEW.EXE. * SOURCE FILE COMPARE by e

Problem: The following CALL crashes with a runtime error 114. "GetParameter" is a C-function in a DLL created by Visual C . 01 buffer pic x(32000). 01 len binary-long value 32000. CALL WinApi "GetParameter"     using by reference buffer              by value len Resolution: For modifying a buffer with this kind of DLL, it requires a pointer to a buffer. 01 buffer pic x(32000). 01 len usage binary-long value 32000. 01 ptr usage pointer. SET ptr TO ADDRESS buffer. CALL WinApi "GetParameter"     using by reference ptr              by value len In a C program buffer might be specified as char **buffer; Old KB# 1281

Problem: File Handling; for indexed files under exclusive access mode, the maximum size is 4 GB by default using MF format (IDXFORMAT 3) and default FILEMAXSIZE at 4. Because fileshare open file in exclusive mode, does it mean that the maximum is also 4GB even multiple processes are using fileshare to gain access to a file concurrently.  As the documentation does not mention fileshare, please confirm. Resolution: Fileshare opens the files exclusively and maintains the locks. Even if two separate process are accessing the records thgrough fileshare the locks are still being maintained under the control of fileshare. Therefore as the file is opened exclusively the limits are the same as any other process opening the file exclusively. Old KB# 1376#COBOL#ServerExpress#AcuCobol#netexpress#RMCOBOL

Problem: There is no FTP routine in Cobol to access and interact with a FTP server. This however can be done by using the Windows Internet (WinINet) application programming interface (API). Resolution: BUILD W/RELEASE:     Net Express v5.x ============ INTRODUCTION ========== The attached demo uses the Windows Internet (WinINet) application programming interface (API) to interact with FTP protocols to access Internet resources. It is using WinInet functions to accomplish the following tasks:     1. open Internet session (InternetOpen)     2. log on to FTP server (InternetConnect)     3. determine current directory (FtpGetCurrentDirectory)     4. change directory (FtpSetCurrentDirectory)     5. create new directory (FtpCreateDirectory)     6. upload file (FtpPutFile)     7. rename file (FtpR

Problem: Is it possible to use the CALL-BY-NAME and CALL-BY-NUMBER routines within a multi-threaded application? Resolution: Yes, these routines are all thread safe and can be used within your code. Old KB# 1397

Problem: How can I set focus on an ActiveX control in Dialog. For example if my focus is on a entry field how can I reset focus on an ActiveX grid control. Resolution: You should use the "setfocus" method of the activex. Some example Dialog to do this is:-      INVOKE OCX-01-OBJREF "SETFOCUS" $NULL Old KB# 1282

Problem: Release 5.0: A new compile directive was introduced with Net Express v5.0, SHARE-OUTDD Resolution: When set, multiple threads can write to the same SYSOUT or OUTDD file. When not set, a file locking error occurs in this situation. Syntax: >>-.---.-.----.--SHARE-OUTDD-------------------><        -/- -NO- Parameters: None Properties: Default: NOSHARE-OUTDD Phase: Syntax check $SET: Initial Old KB# 1314#AcuCobol#COBOL#ServerExpress#netexpress#RMCOBOL

Problem: Net Express 4.0 Will Net Express be able to read files downloaded from the mainframe with COMP-3 fields? Files are downloaded as binary and therefore still in EBCDIC. Resolution: Net Express will be able to read the COMP-3 fields as they are on the mainframe. Files downloaded to the PC as EBCDIC will need to be converted to ANSI. When converting to ANSI or ASCII (in the case of UNIX platforms), the COMP-3 fields will remain the same. Old KB# 1260

Problem: A quick trick on how to speed up the loading of the Net Express product is by disabling the Splash screen when the product is started. Resolution: To do this after loading Net Express you go to the Option pull down menu, choose Customize and then click on the Workspace tab.  Under the Workspace tab you will find a pull down menu called "Splash screen", you then choose "None".  Finally, just click on OK. From this point on the Splash screen will no longer show when invoking the Net Express product. Old KB# 1312