Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux


Contents

• Overview
• Highlights
• Detailed Features and Benefits
• Platforms Supported
  
• Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux Version 7.3, brings the reliability of the NetCOBOL for Windows product to the Linux environment. It is targetted primarily at the creation of server applications or for applications that need the power of COBOL's business logic processing behind user interfaces written in other languages.

Support added for:

You can use embedded SQL to access ODBC-compliant databases (though we recommend you thoroughly test the drivers to ensure satisfactory operation)

Provides file access subroutines that enable programs written in other languages to access NetCOBOL files.
Routines enhanced to support Unicode.

Makes it easier to create applications that support multiple languages and character sets.

Many options provided to tailor compiler behavior to your preferences.
V7.3 adds:

The IDE provides various views on project related structures and common project management tasks including:

• Hierarchy view
• Dependency view
• Template view
• Outline view
• Resource view
• Builder View
• Building multiple target files
• Building specified target files
• Execution support
• Setting compiler options
• Setting linker options
• Repository support
• Pre-compiler support
  

Editor features include:

• Syntax coloring
• Reference format
• Syntax templates.

• OO COBOL syntax, and run-time support, are built into Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux. The support includes:

• Class/Object models
• Information hiding (data encapsulation, object properties)
• Modularization (methods, including prototype methods)
• Single and multiple inheritance
• Context-dependent functions (polymorphism)
• Conformance checking
• Static and dynamic binding
• Garbage collection
• Exception handling
• Indirect reference classes
• Cross reference classes
• ANY LENGTH - variable length parameters can be used in the linkage section of Method definitions

• Simple breakpoints
• Conditional breakpoints
• Break after n executions
• Break on change of data items
• Step statements - over subroutines
• Step into subroutines
• Change current execution location
• Execute specified number of statements
• Execute until a specified statement or file is encountered
• Execute until a given program is entered or exited

Functions give statistics on:

• % of code tested
• Number of test runs and compiles (including ability to merge information about tests by different group members)
• Lines not executed
• Number of times each line has been executed.
  

For bugs that are deep in the logic or execution sequence, automated debugging gets you to the point of interest with the minimum of effort.

Storing frequently used sequences of commands helps you become more productive.

Batch testing can be useful for running regression tests and confirming satisfactory results.

Programs can be compiled with the CHECK option which turns on checks for the following:

• Subscripts, indexes and reference modifiers out of range
• Numeric data exceptions
• Division by zero
• Method parameters
• Internal program call parameters
• External program call parameters

File maintenance utility providing command line driven functions including:

• Conversion between text and sequential file formats.
• Loading of all file formats from variable length record sequential files.
• Unloading of all file formats to variable length record sequential files.
• Browsing of all file formats.
• Adding records to all file formats.
• Sorting all file formats.
• Displaying indexed file record and key information.
• Recovery of indexed files.
• Reorganization of indexed files.

Fujitsu COBOL CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is a set of subroutines that support the creation of CGI scripts in COBOL.

Makes it possible to provide web interfaces to existing COBOL server applications.

Use COBOL expertise to create Web applications.

The table below lists the platforms supported.

1. Q: Fujitsu has just released NetCOBOL for .NET. Why has a Linux version of NetCOBOL also been produced?

A: This is a good question to ask as Fujitsu's strategy is to create high quality, high performance COBOL compilers on only a few selected platforms. We see a strong future for COBOL in the (Web) server environment and both .NET and Linux are significant players in that arena. In recent years we have seen Linux establish itself as a serious player so it made sense to add Linux to the selected list of platforms for NetCOBOL.

2. Q: What are the main benefits of NetCOBOL for Linux over other COBOL offerings on Linux?

A: NetCOBOL for Linux has been created using well-proven technology, both in the front-end with the NetCOBOL syntax processing and the back-end with many parts of the Intel architecture code generator applying to the Linux product. The main benefits this technology brings are:

• Proven reliability
• Highly optimized object code

In addition to these technical benefits, NetCOBOL for Linux also offers a significant business benefit:

• No run-time license fees.

3. Q: How do I obtain the license file to enable my NetCOBOL for Linux product?

A: Provide the information requested on the NetCOBOL for Linux Product Registration page

4. Q: How easy is it to port applications to NetCOBOL for Linux from other environments?

A: The answer to this question really depends on two factors in the application code:

1. Whether the syntax used is standard ANSI COBOL or includes only those IBM, Micro Focus or NetCOBOL (previously called Fujitsu COBOL) syntax extensions that are supported by NetCOBOL for Linux.
2. Whether the applications have extensive screen interactions.

Applications that use NetCOBOL supported syntax and have no or little screen interaction should port very easily to NetCOBOL for Linux.

Applications that make extensive use of unsupported IBM or Micro Focus extensions may be able to use the IBM or Micro Focus syntax converters.

Applications that have extensive screen interactions may take more effort to port. Depending on the design and purpose of the applications, they may be able to transition to becoming Web-based applications using CGI, or take on new graphical user interfaces using a more GUI focused language while preserving the main business logic in COBOL.

5. Q: Are there any significant limitations in the NetCOBOL for Linux product?

A: There are some restrictions in NetCOBOL for Linux Version 7. Whether they are significant or not will depend on the application. The key restrictions are:

• SCREEN SECTION is not supported
• Unicode is not supported
• National Language items and literals are not supported
• COBOL files cannot be larger than 2 GB.

6. Q: Is NetCOBOL for Linux an Open Source product?

A: As desribed above NetCOBOL for Linux has been created using proprietary Fujitsu technology that has been proven and sold for many years on other platforms. It therefore does not make sense to make NetCOBOL for Linux an Open Source product. However, Fujitsu recognizes the success and potential of the Open Source movement so has chosen to base the IDE for NetCOBOL for Linux on the open source IDE created by the eclipse.org consortium.

7. Q: What is Fujitsu's involvement with eclipse.org?

Fujitsu is part of the Eclipse consortium and is a voting member on the Board of Stewards. Fujitsu believes that Eclipse will become the IDE platform for a diverse range of products providing a standard development environment. Fujitsu is already planning to incorporate Eclipse into serveral of its own products.