Have you ever wanted to create a COBOL DLL under .NET that holds multiple COBOL programs, that are grouped functionally? For example, maybe you want to have one DLL that holds all of your file maintenace tasks that you can call, such as creating a file, deleting a file, renaming and copying a file (and yes, maybe even check if one exists). This Blog covers this task in a way that you can not only learn or brush up on, how to create such a multiple Entry Point DLL and use it, but also gives you some NetCOBOL for .NET experience with the SYSTEM.IO Namespace for files.  Read Full Post

This tutorial describes how you can develop NetCOBOL for .NET routines, and use the added functionality that .NET has to offer from your NetCOBOL for Windows COBOL code. In order to do this, Your NetCOBOL for Windows code relies on the same feature it did to call an ActiveX DLL (see video of NetCOBOL for Windows calling a VB6 ActiveX DLL for reference). This layer is called the Component Object Model or COM. COM works in conjunction with .NET by the use of two tools (TLBExp and RegAsm). Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

This tutorial describes how you can develop VB.NET routines, and use the added functionality that .NET has to offer from your NetCOBOL for Windows COBOL code. In order to do this, Your NetCOBOL for Windows code relies on the same feature it did to call an ActiveX DLL (see video of NetCOBOL for Windows calling a VB6 ActiveX DLL for reference). This layer is called the Component Object Model or COM. COM works in conjunction with .NET by the use of two tools (TLBExp and RegAsm). Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

 This video covers the basic steps that you need to take a .NET DLL and make it visible to COM(component object mode), so that your NetCOBOL for Windows routines can access them. It covers the Type Lib Exporter(TLBExp), the Register Assembly routine(RegAsm) and touches upon the Global Cache Utility (gacutil). Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

This tutorial describes how you can develop NetCOBOL for C#(CSharp) routines, and use the added functionality that .NET has to offer from your NetCOBOL for Windows COBOL code. In order to do this, Your NetCOBOL for Windows code relies on the same feature it did to call an ActiveX DLL (see video of NetCOBOL for Windows calling a VB6 ActiveX DLL for reference). This layer is called the Component Object Model or COM. COM works in conjunction with .NET by the use of two tools (TLBExp and RegAsm). Note: You should watch the video NetCobol For Windows - Call .NET DLL - Shows basic steps for using COM Interop, and registering the DLL. Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

 A prior video shows you how you can create a DLL that simply calls a Windows API with no other calls embedded in the same program. This tutorial shows you how you can combine COBOL Program calls with Windows API calls in-line in the same program by use of an "Entry File" while still utilizing your compiler options you need. Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

Case sensitivity is important for making API calls using the proper Entry Point in the DLL. For this, we have the ALPHAL compiler directive. This video shows a simple example of an API function being called from a COBOL program. Download the sample source code used in this tutorial. Read Full Post

Matt Moser NetCOBOL for Windows tutorial covering: Read Full Post

Matt Moser NetCOBOL for Windows tutorial covering: Read Full Post

Matt Moser NetCOBOL for Windows tutorial covering: Read Full Post