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Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux Detailed Features & Benefits

Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux 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.

Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux Compiler
Object-Oriented COBOL
Debugging
Data Tools
Web Support

Fujitsu NetCOBOL for Linux Compiler

New
in:		 Feature Summary Detail of Feature Benefit of Feature
V7.3  

Support added for:

  • SYNCHRONIZED clause on group items
  • DEAD-LOCK statement
  • ADVANCING phrase in WRITE statements for line sequential files
  • SORT-CORE-SIZE special register (limits memory used by PowerBSORT)

     

 Increases coding options.
  Syntax support NetCOBOL for Linux supports:

COBOL 85, COBOL 89 addendum

Object-Oriented COBOL

Common Micro Focus® and IBM® extensions

 

 You can use your existing COBOL code.

You can apply your COBOL skills in the Linux environment.
  RDBMS access

You can use embedded SQL to access ODBC-compliant databases (though we recommend you thoroughly test the drivers to ensure satisfactory operation).
Fujitsu publishes a list of Oracle and Pro*COBOL versions with which NetCOBOL has been verified. 

 Access your company's data without complex database conversions.
  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.
+V7.3   Number of concurrent tasks that can share a single file increased to 1024.  

+V7.3

  

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

 

 COBOL data files can be shared between COBOL and non-COBOL programs/applications.
+V7.3   Supports the External File Handler interface, compatible with the similar interface provided with Micro Focus COBOL Gives the option of substituting a different file handler for the standard COBOL file handler and makes it easier to migrate Micro Focus COBOL applications that rely on that feature.

 
V7.3 Unicode Supports UTF-8 and UCS-2 encoding using PIC X and PIC N data types respectively.

Makes it easier to create applications that support multiple languages and character sets.
V7.3 COBOL compiler options

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

  • INITVALUE – specify value to which WORKING-STORAGE items are set when no VALUE clause is specified.
  • ASCOMP5 – new parameters added
  • DUPCHAR – selection Unicode encoding of hyphen
  • CHECK – options added for checking internal and external program parameters
 Increases your productivity
V7.3 Environment variables $ CBR_JOBDATE environment variable added to allow the run date of the program to be configured. Makes it possible to write programs that will take the run date from an environment variable, so date-sensitive logic will work even if the programs are being run on a different day (for example, if execution has been delayed because of machine failures).
"+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
  OO programming
  • 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
 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.

Debugging

New
in:		 Feature Summary Detail of Feature Benefit of Feature
 
 Full execution control The NetCOBOL for Linux debugger provides:
  • 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
 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 - Fujitsu's 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.
  Program status Call stack Helps you maintain the context of your debugging focus
  Code Coverage

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.
     
 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 or as complete command-driven testing sessions with results viewable in a log file.

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.
  Back trace Debugger can record and display up to the previous 1000 statements executed. This is particularly useful in situations where you break into execution after an error has occurred and want to see how execution arrived at this point.

+V7.3

 Runtime data and parameter checking

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
 Provides a means of trapping errors that might otherwise be difficult to identify or might cause serious problems if left undetected.
"+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.

Data Tools

New
in:		 Feature Summary Detail of Feature Benefit of Feature
  COBOL File Utility

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.
 Helps you perform the various file maintenance functions without having to write special programs.

Web Support

New
in:		 Feature Summary Detail of Feature Benefit of Feature
  CGI support

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.