Fujitsu provides two NetCOBOL product packages for Windows, four for .NET, two for UNIX, and one for Linux so we are often asked, "Which is the right NetCOBOL for my purposes?". This page provides you with the answer.

Overview of Editions

There is actually only one NetCOBOL for .NET product, but you have the choice of buying it alone, or with Standard or Enterprise editions of NetCOBOL for Windows, or with Data Tools for Windows (note that the Windows Standard Edition is not sold separately; it is only available as part of the .NET Developer package).

• NetCOBOL for .NET Professional (contents)
• NetCOBOL for .NET Developer (contents)  (.NET Prof. + Windows Std.)
• NetCOBOL for .NET Universal (contents)  (.NET Prof. + Windows Ent.)

The two NetCOBOL for Windows packages, in descending order of price and functionality, are: 

• NetCOBOL for Windows Professional Edition (contents)
• NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition (contents) 

The two NetCOBOL for UNIX (i.e. NetCOBOL for HP-UX, or NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture) packages, in descending order of price and functionality are: >

• NetCOBOL for HP-UX/SPARC Architecture Standard Edition (contents)
• NetCOBOL for HP-UX/SPARC Architecture Enterprise Edition (contents)

NetCOBOL for Linux comes in a single package:

• NetCOBOL for Linux Standard Edition (contents)

Choosing the Right NetCOBOL for You

Targeting only .NET
Migrating from a legacy environment and targeting only .NET
Targeting only Windows
Targeting both Windows and .NET
Targeting either SPARC Architecture or HP-UX
Tarteting only Linux on Intel Architecture Machines

Targeting only .NET

If you only want to write applications for the .NET environment you need NetCOBOL for .NET Professional, unless you need some functions that are not currently supported in the .NET product REPORT WRITER or SCREEN SECTION, in which case you need NetCOBOL for .NET Developer.

Migrating from a legacy environment and targeting only .NET

If you are migrating to NetCOBOL for .NET from a legacy environment, such as an IBM mainframe, you may have no interest in having mixed Windows and .NET applications but you are likely to need Fujitsu’s Data Tools (the Data Converter and Data Editor) to help you migrate your data and maintain it in the new environment. It is also extremely useful to have these tools available to help create test data for future application enhancements.
If this is your situation, the NetCOBOL for .NET for Legacy Migration package has been created for you.

Targeting both Windows and .NET

If you want to write applications for both the Windows and .NET environments then you need either NetCOBOL for .NET Universal, or NetCOBOL for .NET Developer. The .NET component of both packages is the same. Therefore the decision between Universal and Developer depends on the functionality you require in the Windows environment. Universal contains NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition, and Developer contains NetCOBOL for Windows Standard Edition.

Look at the criteria below in "Targeting only Windows" or the NetCOBOL for Windows package content lists to determine if you want NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise or Standard in your package.

Targeting only Windows

Walk down the following criteria and buy the first product that matches your criteria. The features or tools that support your criteria are listed in parentheses. Note: The Enterprise Edition includes all features and tools that are available in the Professional and Standard editions and the Professional Edition includes all features and tools that are available in the Standard Edition.

NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition
Buy the Enterprise edition if you:

• Want to deliver multi-threaded applications (such as ISAPI , SAF or SAF Web Server applications) (MultiThreaded Run-time distribution license)
• Want professional COBOL-driven reports, including graphics, possibly replacing expensive pre-printed forms. (PowerFORM)
• Are likely to do many data file manipulations, such as creating test files, editing data or converting from one file format to another. (Data Converter, Data Editor)
• Have a group of developers who share code and need a source control or configuration management system. (PowerGEM Plus)
• Need the full features of PowerBSORT - such as faster sorting, stand-alone sorting, or sorting from other languages. (PowerBSORT)
• Are offloading applications from mainframes. (Data Converter)

NetCOBOL for Windows Professional Edition
Buy the Professional edition if you:

• Want to create professional Windows GUIs using COBOL as the scripting language. (PowerCOBOL)

Targeting either Solaris or HP-UX

Walk down the following criteria and buy the first product that matches your criteria. The features or tools that support your criteria are listed in parentheses. Note: The Enterprise Edition includes all features and tools that are available in the Standard Edition.

NetCOBOL for HP-UX/NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture Enterprise Edition
Buy the Enterprise edition if you:

• Regard your developers' time as important and want to be sure they have the best tools immediately at hand. (All Enterprise features)
• Have a group of developers who share code and need a source control or configuration management system. (PowerGEM)
• Need the full features of PowerBSORT - such as faster sorting, stand-alone sorting, or sorting from other languages. (PowerBSORT)

NetCOBOL for HP-UX/NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture Standard Edition
Buy the Standard edition if you:

• Develop mission-critical COBOL applications for UNIX workstations (COBOL compiler and run-time)
• Can use a basic tool for data file manipulations, such as creating test files, editing data or converting from one file format to another. (COBOL File Utility)

Targeting only Linux on Intel Architecture Machines

Product Maintenance
Buy it! Don't short-change yourself! Give us the opportunity to provide you with the best support and save yourself the hassle of figuring out your support options when your need is most urgent.

Note: All NetCOBOL for .NET packages include one year's maintenance, these packages are not available in software-only versions.

Product Editions for .NET:

NetCOBOL for .NET Professional

- NetCOBOL for .NET compiler
- Visual Studio IDE (with integrated support for NetCOBOL for .NET)
- COBOL File Utility
- Support for Windows Forms Designer, Web Forms Designer and Web Services & Component Designer

NetCOBOL for .NET for Legacy Migration

- NetCOBOL for .NET Professional plus
- Data Tools for Windows

NetCOBOL for .NET Developer

- NetCOBOL for .NET Professional plus
- NetCOBOL for Windows Standard Edition
- NetCOBOL for Windows Server Run-time

NetCOBOL for .NET Universal

- NetCOBOL for .NET Professional plus
- NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition
- NetCOBOL for Windows Server Run-time

Product Editions for Windows 98/Me/2000/NT/XP:

NetCOBOL for Windows Standard Edition
Not sold Separately
- NetCOBOL Compiler and Run-time System
- Integrated Development Environment
- NetCOBOL Debugger
- OO COBOL Support
- CGI Subroutines
- Adobe Acrobat Reader™- (Adobe Systems)
- NetCOBOL for Windows Run-time Installer

NetCOBOL for Windows Professional Edition
All of the products available in NetCOBOL Standard, plus
- Fujitsu PowerCOBOL
- Fujitsu PowerCOBOL Run-time Installer

NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition
All of the products available in NetCOBOL Professional, plus
- ISAPI and SAF Subroutines
- Invoking COBOL from Active Server Pages (ASP)
- Fujitsu PowerBSORT
- Fujitsu PowerBSORT OCX
- Fujitsu PowerFORM
- Fujitsu PowerFORM Run-time Installer
- Fujitsu PowerGEM Plus
- Fujitsu Data Converter
- Fujitsu Data Editor
- Installation wrapper for NetCOBOL for Windows, PowerCOBOL and PowerFORM
- Support for multi-threaded applications such as ISAPI, SAF and ASP server applications.
- Server Run-time distribution kit (this is the run-time that provides support for multi-threaded applications)

Product Editions for HP-UX:

NetCOBOL for HP-UX Standard Edition
- NetCOBOL Compiler and Run-time System
- NetCOBOL Debugger
- Adobe Acrobat Reader™ (Adobe Systems)
- NetCOBOL Run-time Installer

NetCOBOL for HP-UX/NetCOBOL Enterprise Edition
All of the products available in NetCOBOL for HP-UX/SPARC Architecture Standard, plus
- Fujitsu PowerBSORT
- Fujitsu PowerGEM

Product Editions for Solaris/SPARC:

NetCOBOL for Solaris/SPARC Standard Edtion
- NetCOBOL Compiler and Run-time System
- NetCOBOL Debugger
- Adobe Acrobat Reader™ (Adobe Systems)
- NetCOBOL Run-time Installer

NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture Enterprise Edition
All of the products available in NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture Standard, plus
- Fujitsu PowerBSORT
- Fujitsu PowerGEM

• Support for remote development from Windows workstations (requires NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition on the client machines)Support for interactive Data Editor and Data Converter (requires NetCOBOL for Windows Enterprise Edition on the client machines)
• PowerFORM run-time package for running graphical, COBOL-driven reports on Solaris platforms. (Forms are developed under Windows but can run under NetCOBOL for SPARC Architecture.)

Product Edition for Linux:

NetCOBOL for Linux Standard Edition
- NetCOBOL Compiler and Run-time System
- NetCOBOL Debugger
- CGI Subroutines
- Eclipse IDE