Problem:

The error “Micro Focus License Manager service is not running” almost always occurs when attempting to RUN a COBOL application – eg on a production machine with Application Server/Server for COBOL installed.

However, there are circumstances when this error might also occur when building a Project in the Net Express IDE. The project can be opened and worked on without issue, but when building the Project this error can sometimes arise.

Resolution:

This error might occur if Net Express has been upgraded from an earlier version or if the machine was originally a runtime server with Application Server installed but is now being used as a development machine.

The problem can be the result of the COBDIR environment variable setting. If COBDIR has been set at a System or User level in Windows (Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings and then the ‘Environment Variables’ tab) for a previous version of Net Express or Application Server it might be interfering with the required setting for the current version.

If you got to a Net Express 32-bit Command Prompt (Start > All Programs > Micro Focus Net Express 5.1 > Micro Focus Net Express 32 bit Command Prompt) and run the command mfsupportinfo a log file will be created and the COBDIR setting will show in the log file. COBDIR should only be pointing to the \\Base\\Bin directory for the currently installed version.

There is one way to test if this is the cause and that is to set COBDIR specifically in the IDE for one of your projects.

To do this, with the Project loaded in the Net Express IDE select 'Project Properties'.

Then click on the 'IDE' button in the 'Environment' box.

This allows you to set an environment variable specific to that project.

In 'Variable' type COBDIR.

In' Value' type C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Micro Focus\\Net Express 5.1\\Base\\Bin

Make sure you click the ‘Set’ button. This will override any existing setting for the COBDIR environment variable.

Rebuild the project - does it work after making those changes?

Note - we're assuming it's a 64 bin Windows 7 machine in which case Net Express will be installed in C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Micro Focus\\....by default. If it's 32 bit Windows 7 it will be installed in C:\\Program Files\\Micro Focus\\.... by default. You will need to check for your version.

If the Project rebuilds then it means that the COBDIR environment variable for the Project is correct but the COBDIR setting for the Net Express environment is incorrect. Therefore, you now need to determine when and where it is set.

It may be set in a batch file.

Or it may be set in the Environment Variables in the Control Panel, as explained above.

Or, if the project creates an executable the COBDIR may be built directly into the executable. (You can check this by making sure you are in Generic Release Mode, select the Project Properties and select the ‘Application’ tab in the Environment box. Then set COBDIR as explained earlier for the IDE tab).

So the way to resolve the error is to find where COBDIR has been set and change it to the correct location.