This tool (as well as providing some useful functionality to COBOL and other language
programmers who need to deal with COBOL data structures) is intended to demonstrate the
process of leveraging standard COBOL code onto the Windows desktop, and specifically,
the level playing field provided by the Microsoft .NET framework.
ANY compatible Object
Class (written in ANY compatible language that supports Object Orientation)
can run under the Framework and utilise the 40,000 ready made Classes it provides.
COBOL code can run alongside and interact with code written in C#, C++, VB, and scripting
languages.
The tool has been developed and made public out of some discussion which took place on
the unmoderated USENET forum: comp.lang.cobol (CLC). (You can access this forum through GOOGLE groups
if you don't have access to a newsreader; just click the link in the top right of this page.) The majority of posters there are either currently employed
as COBOL programmers, or have a background involving COBOL.
So, what does this tool do?
It allows you to see instantly the offsets and lengths of fields which comprise a COBOL record definition
(structure). COBOL has a number of rich and useful "clauses" which can be applied to data definition. They can
be bewildering to other language programmers who need to interface to COBOL created datasets.
While you are editing a COBOL record definition, you can select with the mouse the block of fields (or the whole record) which
you want details on. Copy your selection to the system clipboard (Ctrl/C), maximise the tool from the task bar, and click the "Execute"
button. The clipboard is converted to a data stream, which is fed to the COBOL engine, and offsets and lengths for each defined name are calculated,
taking into account REDEFINES, hierarchic group levels, OCCURs, and common data formats.
Much more importantly...
Because we have provided complete and free access to both the COBOL and C# source code, you can see a process
for refactoring Legacy code, in action. Although the authors retain intellectual property rights to the code, you are free
to re-use and copy any part of it, within the terms of the Freeware License (which you must view before you can download the tool)
Information on the following:
For COBOL...
1. Use of nested COBOL programs in standard in-line COBOL, along with use of modern constructs for both data and procedure coding.
2. COBOL source for a COBOL language parser which can be usefully employed in other applications.
3. Conversion of the code in 1 above to Object Oriented COBOL and wrapping of this code as a COM server.
For C#...
1. The use of .NET forms and components to create a rich GUI environment.
2. The use of .NET InterOp services to allow the COBOL object to run in the Framework as unmanaged code.
3. Examples of clipboard, file, and shell use from C#, multi-level menus,
tooltips, XML setting saving, and much more...
For both...
Description of a process that brings standard COBOL code into a full GUI, object
oriented, .Net environment.
See the details of the process and code, download sources (COBOL, OO COBOL, and C#) and executable...