Rocket® COBOL

Hi.Following our migration from MF Enterprise Developer to Rocket Cobol for VSCode, we are experiencing some Language Server errors in VSCode that do not show up in MF, but we are unable to figure out how to fix them. We assume is probably related to missing or incorrect compiler directives, but we are not sure. This is the actual configuration of Cobol directives in MF: ​​​​​​And this is the configuration of Cobol Default Directives on Rocket Cobol (basically replicating the ones in MF, but including a few extra ones, like assign”external” to fix some COBCH0005 errors)  However, with this configuration, we are seeing some errors, such as COBCH0641 , COBCH0628 or COBCH0002, and  we have no clue how to fix them. Here are some of them: (at least we can see the OUTLINE section seems to be working fine and recognizing Cobol structures) Any idea how to ensure Language Server behaves in the same way as MF ? We are NOT using directives.mf files so far, but direct configuration on the Rocket C

Did the RM/COBOL support syntax FUNCTION? How to use? And document to refer   

We currently have a native COBOL application that uses dynamic SQL (via OpenESQL) to fetch, insert and update into Microsoft SQL.This includes varbinary(max) columns which we have working and I suspect it was based on the demo which was available from this link https://community.rocketsoftware.com/rocket-visual-cobol-28/demo-using-the-varbinary-max-column-type-from-cobol-4560. Unfortunately the link to the actual demo is no longer available.I now have the fun and games of trying to convert this logic to .NET core Visual COBOL and I am really struggling to work out how to ‘stitch’ the 65k blocks back together into the correct format and would really appreciate some guidance on this (the same goes for splitting it into the 65k blocks to insert/update).Is there any chance for the demo mentioned to be converted into .NET Core VC so that I can refer to it and work out what I need to do?Thanks in advance 

We have a cash register program that prints directly to a receipt printer via LPT1.One of our customers do not have their printer setup that way, and it was working for them for years, and then all of a sudden, it stopped.  Here is what the customer has said about their setup in our support ticket: “These are IP-based Star sp712 printers that are designed to be plugged into the network (not a USB or LPT port).  Initially, we had the receipts printing and the cash drawer opening but there is something wonky in the cash register app related to if a user has the option for printer selection enabled.  Once a user with that option tries to print it boogers up the computer for all users in that when they attempt to print, it will open the drawer but not actually print.  Meanwhile, we can use a legit program like notepad or Word and it prints and opens the drawer properly.We went to another PC not at the counter and got that to work and also confirmed on both that it wasn't a windows user per

I think that no, but…Can I do something like that?:       77 lsMethod string.           Move 'gabert' to lsMethod           Invoke Classes lsMethod returning QuebraGalho  Hugs.Antonio JoãoVisual COBO + Visual Studio.

Hi everyone,Thank you again to everyone who joined the State & the Future of COBOL webinar.  If you missed it or would like to share it with your colleagues, here is the recording: The State & The Future of COBOL | Rocket SoftwareStay tuned and turn on the Rocket Forum notifications so you don’t miss the next event. Here are the quiz winners:Marc C.Sebastian S.Thibaut C.Elsabe A.Frank B.Jebastin K.Paul M.Jonathan S.Juan U.Florian G.And then Allan L. who guess the author of the COBOL quote.We'll share the gift details with everyone next week.Best,Rocket COBOL team

Hi everyone, The idea that COBOL is "stuck in the past" is one of tech's most persistent myths - and one of its biggest disconnects, given how much COBOL is still actively being developed. Even those once familiar with the language can struggle to see how it fits into a modern tech stack in the age of AI. Perhaps you're one of them? There's more than a grain of truth, of course - many COBOL systems do carry the weight of their history. Real-world COBOL often contains layers from different eras, as you'd expect from software that's delivered value for decades. But to examine a few lines of code written from 1980s or earlier and conclude COBOL has no place in modern IT is like dismissing smartphones because you once used a brick-sized mobile phone in the '80s. Don't let your memory of COBOL - as it once was and when you once wrote it - cloud your judgment of what it's capable of today. And perhaps most regrettably, don't let that lead you to trade it for something that's little more tha

If so, is there an option to open a copybook? I can not find this essential functionality….

Hi! I am currently testing Visual COBOL 11 against my software, and when I run a program that has Database Connectors in them, I get a 9D,25 error on all the SQL tables that are in the program.Copilot tells me that the 9D,25 means the XFD is corrupt, but I re-created the XFDs and I am still getting the error. I re-created the Aculock DB, and made sure that my ACUFH file is pointing to the correct folder, and I have a valid license.  Is there anything else I can look at? 

I installed the latest Personal Edition of Visual COBOL.I'm trying to create a class that inherits from base and I'm getting the message "Inherited class 'Type base' not found".How do I fix this?

Welcome to Rocket® COBOL Fuel, your monthly source for all things COBOL. In this issue, you’ll learn about the first challenge of modernization and get the latest webinar recording.  Release of the year: Rocket Visual COBOL 11.0 Your COBOL applications hold decades of mission-critical business logic and data. They are not roadblocks. They are strategic assets. With Rocket Visual COBOL 11.0 released this year, you can unlock, modernize, and extend the value of these applications without disruption.Modernize your development Adopt Agile and DevOps practices in COBOL development using industry-standard tools and GenAI assistance. Onboard and train developers faster with AI-driven insights that make even the most complex codebases easier to understand. Modernize your infrastructure Run COBOL anywhere, from commodity platforms to containers, microservices, and the cloud. Version 11.0 introduces ARM support for greater deployment flexibility and cost optimization. It also expands coverage of

Welcome to Rocket® ACUCOBOL® Fuel, your monthly source for all things COBOL. In this issue, you’ll learn about the main ACUCOBOL release of 2025 and the first challenge of modernization.  Release of the year: Rocket ACUCOBOL extend 11As 2025 comes to a close, we’re proud to look back on one of our biggest milestones: the launch of Rocket® ACUCOBOL extend 11, the most significant update in seven years.Thanks to our incredible beta testers and this community, we delivered a thoroughly tested and refined release that empowers you to modernize mission-critical ACUCOBOL applications, enhance user interfaces, and unlock new business value faster than ever.This update brings major improvements across Rocket® AcuToWeb™, Rocket® AcuSQL™, Rocket® Acu4GL®, and Rocket® AcuXDBC™, giving you more flexibility and power to meet today’s business demands.Highlights of Rocket ACUCOBOL extend 11:Visual Studio Code Extension Developers can now work with ACUCOBOL in one of the most popular development tools

Visual COBOL 11, COBOL .NET, .NET Core -  using methods.When using namespaces why use:       $set ilusing "System.Collections.Generic"Over right clicking on the project, properties ~Namespaces or visa versa?The $set places it in the code vs properties~Namespaces setting it in the project.I think the $set is more visible personally at a developer level, But properies~Namespaces might be better for Pipelines. (Easier to pick up dependencies)What is the benefit of either method?Neil

I have MF Netexpress 5.1 installed on my laptop runing Win7 Ultimate. I want to move To Win11 with fresh installation not upgrade installation.before doing this I want to keep my Netexpress license,, this requires me to Revoke it, is it possible to get a response key after revoke?the name of the installer executable I have:  nxp3251060079 Bel ShattyIT managerManara Inforamtions Tecgnology

I am trying to call the direct ODBC API from a Visual COBOL program using Visual Studio 2022. I want to know if there are any specific configuration changes required in Visual studio 2022 to make ODBC calls work correctly, especially when linking DLLs that are not part of the same solution. Also, if anyone has a small sample COBOL program that demonstrates how to call ODBC APIs directly (for example: SQLConnect, SQLExecDirect, SQLDisconnect), it would be very helpful. Could you please guide me on the correct setup and share any sample code?

Visual Studio 2022, Visual COBOL 11 Update 1. When migrating old native COBOL code to COBOL .NET which has lots of reference modification code you have to sometimes work out something simple as the length of a string.In OO COBOL you had character arrays and you could get “size” or “sizeinbytes”. Due to my very poor understanding of what a character array was many years ago I got unstuck when using simplified Chinese to do reference modification as getting the “size” means how many simplified Chinese characters are in the array and doing reference modification would truncate the data because I didn’t use “sizeinbytes”.So now moving to COBOL .NET I’d better check the behaviour of this and see how it works.I have a simple C# winform Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = new CultureInfo("zh-CN");Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = new CultureInfo("zh-CN");  This is passed into a C# class and and the RunUnit started.The data is then passed from the class into 2 working storage fields, 1

Hi,I have found that the EXIT PARAGRAPH doesn’t work in .NET COBOL. Is this an error or is it deliberate, and if it is deliberate then is there an alternative?Thanks in advance

Does anyone know if there is documentation on the “*** System error value = # *** errors? I see them pop up in my logs from time to time, but I’m not able to find what they mean in the AcuCOBOL documentation. I’m using 10.5.1 on RHEL if that matters.Thanks for your help!

Hi,Is there any documentation around that cross references the OO COBOL objects to help me identify what I need to use in .NET COBOL as replacements? For example: characterarray = stringAt this point I have no specifics but any help would be gratefully received.Thanks in advance 

Hi, I'm running a program with an old version of the RM/COBOL runtime. After the recent Windows 11 update (08-2025), the runtime no longer works with the following error: "Cannot load RMGUIFE.DLL..." (see attached file). Has anyone encountered this problem? Is there a new compatible runtime? Where can I get information on purchasing one? I tried submitting a contact request on the website form, but received no response.Thanks------------------------------Simone TrezziRocket Software Forum Member------------------------------

Hello, we are migrating our Visual COBOL development for Eclipse from a AIX server to a Linux server. We have a utility to convert text from ASCII to UTF-8, but it has stopped working because the NATIONAL-OF function does not recognize UTF-8 characters in linux. the locale data are ----AIX LANG=CLC_COLLATE="C"LC_CTYPE="C"LC_MONETARY="C"LC_NUMERIC="C"LC_TIME="C"LC_MESSAGES="C"LC_ALL=-----LinuxLANG=CLC_CTYPE="C"LC_NUMERIC="C"LC_TIME="C"LC_COLLATE="C"LC_MONETARY="C"LC_MESSAGES="C"LC_PAPER="C"LC_NAME="C"LC_ADDRESS="C"LC_TELEPHONE="C"LC_MEASUREMENT="C"LC_IDENTIFICATION="C"LC_ALL=And the code of the utility is :       PROGRAM-ID. anook2       ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.       CONFIGURATION SECTION.       INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.       file-control.           select futf8 assign to f-utf8                  organization line sequential                  status is io-estado.           select fascii assign to f-ascii                  organization line sequential                  status is io-estado.       

Hi, we are working with MF visualcobol 8.0 and we want to read a big binary file. Asking for the use of the CBL_OPEN_FILE to the IA it say that we have to use this format, baut in te MF documentation don´t presents parameter Organization!--scriptorstartfragment-->CALL "CBL_OPEN_FILE"    USING BY VALUE 0              *> File handle (returned)          BY REFERENCE FILE-NAME  *> Nombre del fichero          BY VALUE 1              *> Mode: input          BY VALUE 4              *> Organization: binary          BY VALUE 0              *> Options    RETURNING STATUS-CODE. how must  we usei it!--scriptorendfragment-->

In native COBOL I make heavy use of the compile directive:CALLFH"ABCDEF"Where “ABCDEF” is  ABCDEF.GNT.Moving to COBOL .NET  and .NET Core, “ABCDEF” becomes a DLL but should it be a class or program?What is the benefit of either, if that’s an option?Neil