Fujitsu NetCOBOL for .NET
Fujitsu NetCOBOL for .NET contains the tools and utilities covering the full spectrum of COBOL development. The tables below list key features and benefits for each of these components.
Key Product Features
Fujitsu NetCOBOL for .NET Compiler
Visual Studio Integration
Utilities
Object-Oriented COBOL
Debugging
Key Product Features
| New in: |
Feature Summary |
Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | COBOL for .NET | GUI design. (WinForms)
Integrates with other languages and tools (as supported within the .NET Framework) |
Lets you use the application-supporting power of COBOL, seamlessly integrated with other Windows and .NET components. |
| V1 | COBOL support for ASP.NET (LANGUAGE="COBOL") | Use existing COBOL skills to create up-to-date interfaces and applications. | |
| V3 | Supports .NET Framework 2.0 including generation of code for 64-bit environments | Lets your COBOL applications take advantage of the latest .NET features | |
| V3.1 | Supports .NET Framework 3.0 including support for Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) | Lets your COBOL applications take advantage of the latest .NET features. | |
| V4.0 | "WCF Service Library" template added | Simplifies creation of WCF services | |
| Access to data | Access most popular databases such as SQL Server, Oracle®, Informix®, Sybase®, and any ODBC compliant database. | Access your company's data without complex database conversions. | |
| V3 | Supports SQL Server including the ability to write stored procedures, user-defined functions and triggers based on SQL CLR | Use type-safe code in stored procedures to make certain database queries more efficient and have the option of directly migrating mainframe applications that include stored procedures. | |
| V3 | Embedded SQL can use ADO.NET | Improves the performance of embedded SQL by as much as 30%. | |
| V2.1 | Flexible data encoding support |
ANSI Code Page (ACP) and Unicode runtime data modes. Programs can be compiled to assume alphanumeric data is stored in ACP or UTF8, with functions supporting conversion between the different encoding forms. |
Greatly eases the COBOL migration of programs/data coming from single byte encoding environments, such as EBCDIC or ACP (usually thought of as ASCII) systems, as the lengths of alphanumeric items can be left as they are when using the ACP mode. |
| +V4.0 V3 V2 +V1 |
Complete development environment |
Includes Visual Studio Shell that provides:
Other tools that cover:
|
ALL your critical COBOL development needs are met in a single package. You don't need to mix and match from different suppliers - just install the Fujitsu product package and get going. |
| V1.0a | Designer support |
COBOL code generated and used with the following designers:
|
Removes complexity of creating and coding .NET GUIs and ASP.NET pages as well as speeding application development. |
|
V1.1 +V3.1 |
IntelliSense |
Visual Studio IntelliSense is enabled for COBOL, including the following features:
|
Improves the coding experience giving programmers the information they need to create code correctly first time. |
| V3.1
+V4.0 |
Website support |
Includes support for:
|
Able to create the Website features your business needs. |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||
Fujitsu NetCOBOL for .NET Compiler
| New in: |
Feature Summary | Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | Syntax support | NetCOBOL for .NET supports:
Most of COBOL 85, 89 addendum Object-Oriented COBOL .NET-supporting extensions CBL_ Routines |
You can use your existing COBOL code. You can apply your COBOL skills in the .NET environment. Provides greater compatibility with Micro Focus COBOL programs. |
| V2 | Ability to define enumerations Ability to define interfaces Specify access attributes (PRIVATE, PROTECTED, PUBLIC) on fields Compare Boolean types New BINARY- data types (SHORT, LONG and DOUBLE) Supports nested programs |
NET concepts/objects/ abilities that can be useful to the COBOL programmer.
Provide compatibility with .NET short, long and double types. Enables use of new or existing code that uses this COBOL 85 feature |
|
| V3 | Referencing generic types - Allows the types of parameters to be defined at run-time – so a method can be defined and coded using a “generic” type, a type that isn’t precisely defined, and at run time when objects are instantiated the actual types are specified. | Provides more flexible coding options. | |
| V3 | Static constructors can be defined in COBOL | Fills out the functionality of NetCOBOL | |
| V3 | TRY-CATCH-FINALLY statement added as new option for exception handling | Provides style of exception handling similar to that provided in C#. | |
| V3 | PERFORM VARYING-THRU format provides iteration of code through the members of a collection class object. | Useful construct for working with collection classes | |
| V3 | Ability to define assembly custom attributes in COBOL. | Fills out the functionality of NetCOBOL | |
| V3 |
Special subroutines for converting between different formats of included signs in zoned (display) decimal items extended to include Micro Focus formats. New subroutines called • #DECFJTOMF |
Helps communicate zoned decimal data between different systems, if you have a need to do so.
Helps support a COBOL migration to NetCOBOL. |
|
| V3.1 | SYNCHRONIZED clause allowed on group items. | Convenience in specifying SYNCHRONIZED for many items. | |
| V3.1 | RESUME statement added to support transfer of control from USE AFTER EXCEPTION procedures to specified procedures outside DECLARATIVES. | Greater control when recovering from exceptions. | |
| RDBMS access | You can use embedded SQL to access the following databases:
SQL Server, Oracle, Informix, Sybase Any ODBC-compliant database Extensive setup instructions |
Access your company's data without complex database conversions.
Improves the performance of embedded SQL by as much as 30%. |
|
| V3 | Supports creation of code for the SQL common language runtime (CLR) enabling the creation of stored procedures, user-defined functions and triggers. | Use type-safe code in stored procedures to make certain database queries more efficient and have the option of directly migrating mainframe applications that include stored procedures. | |
| V3 | Embedded SQL can work with ADO.NET | Improves the performance of embedded SQL by as much as 30%. | |
| V3 | Trace output of user-defined messages when using an ADO.NET connection. | Helps monitor/debug user-defined messages. | |
| V3 |
Retrieve return values of stored procedures. |
Important when using stored procedures in databases. | |
| COBOL File Handling | Supports all COBOL file types (sequential, line sequential, relative and indexed). Provides fast, reliable file handling. |
You can rely on the integrity of your data and give great response times to your users. | |
| V2.1 +V4.0 |
Provides option to use the Btrieve file handler provided with the Pervasive.SQL product. Supports partial keys as well as full keys in the START statement. |
Btrieve can support larger indexed files and can offer transaction support when used with NeoKicks. | |
| V3 | Append data to an existing record-sequential file using standard COBOL I/O | Useful additional option when working with record sequential files. | |
| V3 | Concatenate multiple record sequential files to be used as a single input file to COBOL | Useful additional option when working with record sequential files. | |
| V1.1 | Pointer items |
Support for USAGE POINTER data items for handling dynamic memory within the NetCOBOL environment. |
Enables migration of code that has extensive use of pointers to NetCOBOL for .NET. |
| V1.1 | Large sequential files | With Fujitsu's BSAM module, allows sequential files to grow to 4GB and higher. | Removes limitation present in earlier releases. |
| V1.1 | External file handler |
Standard COBOL I/O statements (OPEN, READ, WRITE etc) can generate calls to an external file handler (one other than the regular NetCOBOL file handler). The external file handler interface is compatible with that defined for Micro Focus COBOL. |
Of greatest benefit to those emulating other systems where programs other than COBOL programs might access files. |
| V2 | Verifiable code | Option to have compiler generate verifiable (memory safe) code. | For applications that may be downloaded over the Internet having verifiable code can be an important feature. |
| V2 | Print files | Both COBOL “ASSIGN TO PRINTER” and PowerFORM print files supported. | Adds ability to print from .NET applications. |
| V2 | Sort/Merge | COBOL SORT and MERGE statements supported. | Enables execution of sort and merge applications under .NET. |
|
V2 V3.1 |
Unicode and ACP support |
COBOL intrinsic functions to convert between ANSI Code Page (ACP) encoding to Unicode (either UTF-8 or UCS-2 depending on context): NATIONAL function extended to convert between UTF-8 and UCS-2 when executing with COBOL alphanumeric data in the UTF-8 code set. |
Provides more coding options for working with ACP applications or data files. |
| V2.1 | Support provided for compiling programs in ACP or Unicode runtime data modes. Alphanumeric items are stored using ACP or UTF-8 depending on the mode. |
Greatly eases the COBOL migration of programs/data coming from single byte encoding environments, such as EBCDIC or ACP (usually thought of as ASCII) systems, as the lengths of alphanumeric items can be left as they are when using the ACP mode. | |
| V2.1 | Ability to configure whether the message output file and SYSOUT files are written in ACP or Unicode. |
Provides flexibility to choose the appropriate character encodings for these files within your organization. | |
| V2.1 | Ability to check for differences in the runtime code set for data or files with the EXTERNAL attribute. See white paper for more details on using Unicode |
Ensures EXTERNAL items are not inadvertently shared by programs using different code sets. | |
| V2 | Hexadecimal numeric literals | Supports numeric literals in the form:H”XXXX” where the X’s represent hexadecimal digits. | Convenient format for specifying numeric values when those values are most meaningfully expressed in hexadecimal. |
| V2 | CONSTANT SECTION | Fujitsu extension used for defining constant values. | Useful extension for giving names to constants. |
| V2 | Source code | Sources files can be encoded in UTF-8 as well as ACP. | Provides a Unicode-compatible source file encoding. |
| V2 | Compiler options |
AUTO option added to ALPHAL to provide better case-insensitive coding support. FLAGSW, SHREXT and XREF directives (available in NetCOBOL for Windows and other products) implemented. |
Removes the need to be aware of case-sensitivity issues in most situations. |
| V2.0 | CHECK option provides ability to check for runtime data errors and subscripts going out of range. | Useful option during testing to alert you to errors that might otherwise go unnoticed. | |
| V3 |
/platform option indicates the target processor for which the code should be generated:
|
Allows users to specify the platform on which their application may run | |
| V3 | DECIMAL option provides the ability to choose the convention used for storing included signs in zoned (display) decimal items: • FJ – Fujitsu convention • MF – Micro Focus convention • 88 – 88 Consortium convention (values resulting from EBCDIC to ASCII conversion) |
Provides easier COBOL migration options for those coming to NetCOBOL from the mainframe or Micro Focus COBOL. | |
| V3 |
INITONLY, SQLSCOPE options support SQL CLR requirements |
Make it possible to write COBOL code for SQL Server’s SQL CLR. | |
| V4.0 | /win32manifest option allows for specific manifest files to be embedded in applications. | Gives richer application building options. | |
| V3 | Runtime options | Ability to configure a runtime date that is different from the system date using the @CBR_JOBDATE environment variable | Allows code to be written so that operators can specify the effective run date. |
| V3.1 | Application execution | Support for side-by-side execution of multiple versions of applications or components on the same computer | Gives greater flexibility in upgrading groups or individuals to new versions of applications. |
| V3.1 | Prototypes provided for the special subroutines, JMPCINT2, JMPCINT3, used for calling NetCOBOL for Windows programs from .NET languages. | Eases the process of calling NetCOBOL for Windows programs. | |
| V2.1 | Application configuration file | All runtime environment settings can be specified in the application's ".config" file and can be entered and edited using the Runtime Environment Setup Utility. |
Simplifies deployment with all runtime settings stored in the standard .NET, XML application configuration file that is given the appropriate name and copied to the output folder at build time. |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||
Visual Studio Integration
| New in: |
Feature Summary |
Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 +V1 |
Project Manager | Full Integration with Visual Studio Project Manager. | After defining your project structure (how programs and source files are related), Project Manager takes care of dependencies - for example which programs need to be recompiled when you change a particular source file. You can focus on programming.
Visual Source Safe helps you control developments across your team. |
| V2 | Custom build steps provided (ability to invoke commands before and/or after the normal build operation) | ||
| V2 | Supports the Navigate Backward and Navigate Forward functions for easy movement between document locations. | ||
| +V1 |
Tree view of project (application) structure. COBOL sensitive editor. Integrated with Visual Source Safe configuration management. Compile, debug, build, execute, sensitive to any changes to sources or objects. |
||
| V1 |
Includes easy movement of projects from folder to folder. Run-time Environment Setup tool incorporated for COBOL specific items. |
||
| V2.1 | COBOL Runtime Environment Setup Utility integrated in Tools and context menus. COBOL File Utility available from Tools menu. |
Gives ready access to commonly used tools. | |
| V3 | Supports creation of database projects for creating SQL CLR programs. | Easier creation/maintenance of programs intended to run in SQL CLR. | |
| V3 | Supports MS Build | Allows extensibility of the build process | |
| V4.0 | Specify the target versions of .NET in the Application page. | Easier setting of this information. | |
| V1.0a | Designer support |
COBOL code generated and used with the following designers:
|
Removes complexity of creating and coding .NET GUIs and ASP.NET pages as well as speeding application development. |
|
V1.1 +V3.1 |
IntelliSense |
Visual Studio IntelliSense is enabled for COBOL, including the following features:
|
Improves the coding experience giving programmers the information they need to create code correctly first time. |
| V1.1 | Outlining | Information is provided to the Visual Studio Editor so that it can "outline" COBOL programs. I.e. structures such as divisions and sections can be collapsed and expanded using the outlining feature's -/+ handles. | Helps programmers focus on the code of interest. |
| V1.0 | Online documentation | The NetCOBOL for .NET User Guide integrates with the Visual Studio combined documentation collection so that it is available when you invoke Help or Visual Studio documentation. It is presented in the standard Microsoft .NET Help format and, where appropriate, provides links to associated Microsoft help topics. | Provides fast, convenient access to product documentation in a manner consistent with other Visual Studio information. |
| V2.1 | Descriptions of all new features plus detailed information on ANSI Code Page (ACP) and Unicode coding considerations. |
Quickly learn how to take advantage of the features of the latest release. | |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||
Utilities
| New in: |
Feature Summary |
Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
|
V4.0 |
PowerBSORT | Enhances SORT statement performance, includes interactive interface for ad-hoc data sorting, and provides a command-line interface that can be used for performing batch sort/merge operations. | Faster sort operations and more options for performing sorts. |
| V4.0 | PowerFORM | A WYSIWYG graphical form designer and layout tool for creating complex print forms | Easily replace your traditional plain text reports with graphical COBOL reports. |
| V4.0 | Data Tools | A combination of the Fujitsu Data Converter and Data Editor tools. Data Converter converts different file organizations: sequential, indexed, relative, text file (line sequential), binary, XML data and comma-separated values (CSV), it also converts different character code systems: ASCII and EDCDIC. Data Editor lets you create and manipulate the data files for your COBOL applications with an interactive, easy-to-use editor. Because Data Editor is focused on COBOL, it understands COBOL record descriptions and displays the data using the record descriptions from your COBOL programs. | Data Converter let's you convert your data files from format to format or from code set to code set with an interactive, easy-to-use interface. Data editing is fast and intuitive, allowing you to make your updates with minimal amount of effort. |
| V2.1 | Runtime Environment Setup Utility | Utility provides an easy-to-use interface for creating and maintaining the NetCOBOL sections of the XML application configuration file as well as the ability to import settings from the runtime settings files used with earlier releases of NetCOBOL. | Provides single point for configuring all NetCOBOL related runtime information including environment variables, SQL information, and program entry information. |
| V3 | Extended to support new variables such as those required for ADO.NET and SQL CLR support. | Setup Utility continues to make it easy to set up and maintain runtime environment variables. | |
| V2.1 | Program Prototype Definition Wizard | Uses Source Analysis Information (SAI) files output in NetCOBOL for Windows to create program prototype definitions for invoking programs created in NetCOBOL for Windows. | Saves the effort, and possible errors, involved in hand coding program prototypes. |
| V2.1 | .NET Remoting Proxy Generator | Tool designed for situations in which you need a non-COBOL client to call a COBOL program over .NET Remoting. |
Simplifies the process of creating a .NET Remoting proxy. |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||
Object-Oriented COBOL
| New in: |
Feature Summary | Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| +V1 | OO programming |
OO COBOL syntax, and run-time support, are built into Fujitsu NetCOBOL for .NET and are tailored specifically for the .NET environment. Consequently not all standard OO COBOL features are supported, some features have different behaviors than standard OO COBOL, and some additional features have been added. OO features supported:
|
If you are using OO design techniques, OO COBOL gives you a viable means of implementing those designs.
Continue to use your COBOL expertise while transitioning to the latest OO design techniques. |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||
Debugging
| New in: |
Feature Summary | Detail of Feature | Benefit of Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| +V1 | Full execution control | The Visual Studio 2005 debugger provides:
Simple breakpoints Conditional breakpoints Break after n executions Break on change of data items Step statements - over subroutines Step into subroutines Run program to cursor position Change current execution location |
Fast resolution of bugs requires that you have many options on controlling program execution.
For example, if a problem occurs at the 1000th record in a file, you need a way to break execution at the 1000th iteration - the Visual Studio debugger gives you this degree of control. |
| Data query and update | View data values
Update data values Watch data values while programs execute |
Checking and monitoring data values is an essential part of debugging. | |
| Datatips | Hover mouse pointer over data items to see the data value displayed beside the item. | You can check data values quickly, in the context of source, using a minimum of screen "real estate". | |
| Watch multiple data items | Use one of the following windows to watch the values of multiple data items:
SELF - shows values of the current object's items Locals - shows values of items local to the current method Autos - shows values of data items used in the current and previous statement |
||
| Program status | Call stack
Loaded modules Active threads |
Helps you maintain the context of your debugging focus | |
| Colorable source |
Configure colors to indicate source line states such as breakpoints set, current position. Configure colors for reserved words and comments. |
Helps you focus on the critical aspects for your debugging session. | |
| Automated debugging | Record, store and execute sequences of frequently used debug commands, as macros |
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.
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| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release in which the new feature was introduced. | |||