Rocket® COBOL

Problem: Error Edit134 appears when attempting to save an edited source member to a SAMBA drive. Resolution: Incorrect permissions prevented the deletion of temporary file mfeditor.sav. Change permissions to allow deletion from the directory. Old KB# 1342

Problem: When using the Examine feature of the Net Express Animator by clicking on the "Change" button a grayed out window will appear that will not permitting to change the value of the data item. Resolution: One possible cause is that one of the Micro Focus OCX was not registered properly during installation or that the version registered is too old. The OCX is valueedit.ocx. That file can be found in c:\\program files\\common files\\Micro Focus, where the last part of the directory structure could also be Merant, depending on the product installation. Go to a command prompt and then do a directory change to go to the above mentioned location and register the OCX, i.e. regsvr32 valueedit.ocx Still experiencing this problem? Please contact your local SupportLine office to pursue. Old KB# 1311

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: 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: How can the e-mail program be determined which is installed on the Windows PC Resolution: Please have a look into the registry. Step1: Directly under \\\\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT the entries for the e-mail protocols pop and smtp can be found. The subentry PROTO HANDLER shows a (different) CLSID for each of used protocols. Step 2: This CLSID references its own entry under \\\\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\CLSID. Open the subentry belonging the CLSID found in step 1. There, on the next level, the subentry InprocServer32 shows the DLL which handles the actual  protocol for the search started in step 1. Old KB# 1394

Problem: My SQL Server stored procedure  takes a list of parameters and returns a result set what is the required syntax to call this stored procedure? Resolution: from docs: If a stored procedure call returns a result set, it must be used in a cursor declaration, thus:     EXEC SQL         DECLARE cursorName CURSOR FOR storedProcecureCall The stored procedure is then called by OPENing the cursor and FETCHing result set rows, like any other type of cursor. Currently OpenESQL supports only a single result set. The code for calling a stored procedure that has two input parameters and returns a result set containing 3 output values for each fetched row would be something like the follows:           exec sql               declare c1 cursor for    &n

Problem: A problem has been encountered when attempting to install NetExpress 3.1 on a machine running Windows 2000. (However, this may occur with other versions of the product and operating systems).  Despite there being more than sufficient disk space available, the system reports that there is insufficient space and so the installation aborts. Resolution: To overcome this problem, carry out the following steps: 1)  First, log on as Administrator 2)  Enter into the registy and open the following keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Micro Focus delete the "Micro Focus" key and close Regedit. 3)  Empty the contents of the environment variables TEMP and TMP and then ensure that they point to C:\\Temp 4)  Disactivate any AntiVirus software 5)  Ensure that there are no other installations of Application Server x NetExpress on the machine in question. 6)  Attemp

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: The SHA1 is a standard hashing algorithm that given a sting of bytes will produce a hash code for the string. Any changes to the string would result in a very different hash code so it can be used to ensure a message has not been tampered with. How you use this algorithm in .Net COBOL ? Resolution: The .Net Framework contains an implementation the SHA1 algorithm.  You can use these classes from COBOL. An example project that does this is attached to this RPI. The program code is:-       $set sourceformat"variable"        program-id. HashIt as "SHA1Hash.Hashit".        environment division.        configuration section.        repository.            class cSHA1Managed as "System.Secu

Problem: Micro Focus documentation describes WRITELINE for the extfh.cfg configuration file as: WRITELINE -  Determines whether mainframe or PC behavior is used for WRITE record. What does this actually do and what type of file does it affect? Resolution: The WRITELINE option only affects line-sequential files that contain qualified writes. When switched on any unqualified writes are treated as a write after 1 making it a qualified write. Note: Set WRITELINE=OFF if  PC print behavior for WRITELINE is desired  when using mainframe dialects. Old KB# 1402#AcuCobol#COBOL#netexpress#RMCOBOL#ServerExpress

Problem: Releases: Net Express and Mainframe Express: Want to know which files are involved to store breakpoints / watchlists during an IDE session. Resolution: The file which stores the breakpoints is the projectname.~ds file on Net Express and projectname.dbs on Mainframe Express. The ~ds/dbs file is only written when the project is closed. So if for example Net Express  just had the unfortunate occurrence to crash, then the breakpoints do not get saved and they are lost. Alll the watchlist information is stored in the ~ds/.dbs file as well. Net Express:The .idy file and .app file do not store breakpoint information. Mainframe Express: The .idy file and .mvp file do not store breakpoint information. Old KB# 1268

Problem: Subprogram's Working-Storage is only initialized the first time is called. Any subsequent calls to the same subprogram will find the previous values of Working-Storage. Resolution: Add the INITIAL clause to the subprogram's PROGRAM-ID, e.g. PROGRAM-ID SubProgram IS INITIAL. An initial program is one whose program state is initialized when the program is called. During the process of initializing an initial program, that program's internal data is initialized as described in the section State of a Function, Method, Object or Program. The initial attribute is attained by specifying the INITIAL clause in the program's Identification Division. Old KB# 1350

Problem: Both Netexpress 5.0 and 4.0 are on the machine,  trying to run a 4.0 exe and getting an error that it cannot find the 4.0 run time: "Runtime dll 'cblrtss, version 4.0 entry pint mf_ld_dynlnk_lib_check not recorded in registry not found or incompatible with requirements of dynamically bound cobol program dynamic binding of rts requires runtime dll, at least version 5.0" Resolution: To ensure that the EXE has been compiled under the 4.0 runtime, the problem is can be that the EXE is calling a DLL - and there is a mix one if not more of the DLLs it is finding has been compiled with the 5.0 version. Assure that all modules being used have been compiled under the same version and that if there are other versions of the same modules from a different version that they cannot be found in the PATHing and COBDIR when running a different version. Old KB# 1325

Problem: How to perform Implicit Connection to a MS SQL database from a COBOL program in Net Express 4.0? Resolution: 'Database Access' book > 'Part 2: OpenESQL' > '7: OpenESQL' Create an ODBC data source to the MS SQL database and test the connection. Set the SQL directives INIT, DB (name of the ODBC data source) and PASS (username.password to access the database) Example - $set SQL(INIT DB=mydatasource PASS=username.) Micro Focus recommends that rather than using the SQL(INIT) compiler directive, that EXEC SQL CONNECT statements be used instead. Old KB# 1258

Problem: Problem running getdirectory demo. Getdirectory.cbl was not properly built. Resolution: Cleanup procedure for Rebuilding GetDirectory demo. 1)  Open up the getdirectory project. 2)  In the IDE on the left hand side delete everything for type of build DEBUG and also delete           everything for type of build RELEASE. 3)  Close down Net Express. 4)  Manually, outside of Net Express IDE,  go to the folder where to have the getdirectory      demo. Delete everything in the debug and release folders. 5)  Bring up the getdirectory.app again in the Net Express IDE. Go to the Release build for Type      of Build. 6)  On the right hand side  from the source pool, drag over the getdirectory.cbl to the Release       &nb

Problem: The .Net framework v2.0 introduced some new classes for ftp such as System.Net.FtpWebRequest. How can you use these classes from COBOL to perform an FTP request. Resolution: The exmaple project is attached. Some sample code to perrform ftp in .Net is:-       $set sourceformat"variable"       ***********************************************************       *            *    Author  -  Micro Focus SupportLine       *       *    Date    -  Aug 2006       *       *    Demo of .Net Framework 2.0 class for FTP File Transfer       * &nbs

Problem: Working Storage of a subroutine is not re-initializing after a CANCEL is done in the calling program. Subsequent calls to the subroutine have the Working Storage items in the same state as after the end of the previous CALL. Resolution: This is caused by the use of the NODYNAM directive.  Using this directive causes the CANCEL statements to be ignored. Even if you don't explicitely use the NODYNAM directive, you might have a DIALECT directive that will set it for you.  If you do use the DIALECT directive, simply add the DYNAM directive after DIALECT and it will take effect. Old KB# 1362

Problem: In Dialog System how to control the First Window displayed? Resolution: Dialog System will display the first Window as defined in the screenset. This screen is configurable at design time via the Sceenset/First Window menu option. If you want to control at runtime you can use the SET-FIRST-WINDOW function. This needs to be done in the SCREENSET-INITIALIZED function in Global Dialog. For more information please see the online documentation on the SET-FIRST-WINDOW function. Old KB# 1278

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: 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: Release 4.0: Applying websync and get message that dsc00nxx (xx would be version of product) cannot be applied. Resolution: The dialog character component goes with the unix option - The reason the dsy update did not apply is the unix option was not installed. Put the cd in and install the unix option if there is the need to apply this Dialog Character component. Old KB# 1324

Problem: Running a job that has 14 sort steps and then a COBOL program that does delta reporting. The files range in size from 1 million to 3 million records with record sizes from 100 bytes to 400 bytes. The largest file in this test run is just under 2 gigabytes. The entire job takes One hour to run on a Windows Server 2003 machine with 2 gigabytes of memory One hour and twenty minutes on a Windows/XP, laptop with 2 gigabytes of memory Ten minutes on the ZOS mainframe. Have been experimenting with the following in the EXTFH CONFIG file. SEQDATBUF=4096, 32K, 132K READSEMA=OFF IGNORELOCK=ON Some things managed to get a 10% performance improvement but would like to get a lot more. Are there anymore directives (remember most of this is MFSORT, not COBOL)? What is the recommended setting for SEQDATBUF when using large sequential files?    Resolution: Definitely defrag first, but also to set: TMP Tells the run-time syste

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: 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: Wie loesche ich die Markierungen der Elemente, die bei der Textsuche gefunden wurden? Resolution: ueber den Menueeintrag View->Clear->Text Finds. Old KB# 1367