Micro Focus
®Object COBOL ™ v3.3
Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 is a powerful 32-bit COBOL compiler product, enabling development and deployment of COBOL and Object COBOL applications for OS/2
®or Windows NT.™ Micro Focus has brought the power of COBOL to the PC with extensive syntax support, including object oriented COBOL, IBM
®OS/VS COBOL, DOS COBOL, COBOL/370™ and a wide range of other dialects. Micro Focus also supports calling operating system APIs, enabling Presentation Manager
®and Win32 COBOL applications to be created and debugged as well as support for OLE automation for application connectivity. This release of Object COBOL extends the power of previous versions of Micro Focus COBOL by adding full support for object oriented programming and exploiting the power of 32-bit architectures.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Available for 32-bit OS/2 or Windows NT
• Full 32-bit Tools and Performance
• Advanced Production Debugging Capabilities
• Powerful, Efficient PC COBOL Compiler
• Object COBOL Support, Including:
- Programming Language - Run-time System - Class Library Browser - Class Library - GUI Classes
- Requirements-based Vocabulary
- OLE2 Automation support on Windows NT 3.5
• Animator v2 Visual Development & Debugging Tool
• Extensive PC and Mainframe COBOL Syntax
• Flexible Compiler
• DCE Support on OS/2
• Seamless Mixed-language Interfacing
• Large System Support
• Static and Dynamic Linking Models
Continued on next page PRODUCT FEATURES
Micro Focus Object COBOL is a powerful compiler product for PC application developers. It includes the Micro Focus COBOL compiler and a number of development and debugging tools for the development of high-performance COBOL and Object COBOL applications.
Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 provides a native 32-bit compiler that enables you to fully exploit the power of today’s high- performance PCs and operating systems. It provides all the functionality that you would expect from an object-oriented compiler - including encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, and persistence. The compiler supports Object COBOL syntax - a super-set of the proposed ANSI standard for object oriented COBOL. The compiler also supports the highest level of ANSI standard COBOL syntax along with many other syntax variants, including those of IBM’s mainframe COBOL compilers.
Among the development tools included are the Micro Focus graphical Animator®Version 2 and graphical Class Browser.
Animator v2 is simply the best GUI language debugger and editor available. Animator v2 enables you to edit, compile, and debug your production code (at source level) within a single, powerful visual environment. The graphical Class Browser enables you to view existing class definitions and create new sub-classes. The Browser and Animator v2 are linked together, providing a flexible way of developing and debugging object-oriented applications.
32-BIT TOOLS AND PERFORMANCE
Micro Focus Object COBOL is available for either 32-bit OS/2 or for Windows NT. It provides full 32-bit tools for developing COBOL and Object COBOL applications for those two operating systems. This enables COBOL applications to benefit from executing in a native 32-bit environment, providing access to 32-bit API routines, offering 32-bit performance, and making it easier to interface to 32-bit non-COBOL programs.
32-bit systems offer potential for increased application performance. In particular, commercial applications incorporating large amounts of code and data, and those that are calculation-intensive stand to benefit most from
performance improvements. Customer feedback has shown that performance improvements of between two-fold and ten- fold can be realized.
ADVANCED PRODUCTION DEBUGGING CAPABILITIES The 32-bit development tools provided in Micro Focus Object COBOL enable you to debug fully compiled COBOL programs.
Applications compiled to .INT, .GNT, or .OBJ (including .EXE and .DLL modules) can be debugged using Micro Focus Animator v2. This enables developers to debug applications as they would be supplied to end-users in a production
environment.
Trap Insulation
When debugging, Animator will remain active after a ‘Trap’
violation has occurred in your application. This enables the developer to investigate the cause of the ‘Trap,’ using Animator to examine the values of data-items associated with the offending statement.
POWERFUL, EFFICIENT COBOL COMPILER
The Micro Focus COBOL compiler supports important features such as network file sharing (through file and record locking syntax), calling operating-system API, and mixed-language programming. With Micro Focus Object COBOL, you can create industrial-strength applications for your PC/LAN environment, and develop applications that work across your enterprise on OS/2, Window NT, and UNIX®platforms.
This release includes support for Object COBOL syntax, providing all the functionality that you would expect from an object oriented compiler (including encapsulation,
polymorphism and inheritance) together with the benefits such as reusability, real-world modeling and increased
maintainability of code.
OBJECT COBOL SUPPORT
Object COBOL Programming Language
Object COBOL is a super-set of the proposed ANSI standard for object oriented COBOL syntax. With the inclusion of some extensions to the COBOL language, Micro Focus enables the key features of object orientation to be presented in the context of the COBOL programming language. These features include the ability to:
• Combine data with operations on the data into objects (“encapsulation”)
• Create new objects by specializing existing objects (“inheritance”)
• Create a large number of instances of objects dynamically (“instantiation”)
• Activate instances of objects at will (“messaging”)
• Have the appropriate routines (“methods”) respond to messages (“dynamic binding”)
• Have objects respond to a common message with behavior that depends on the object itself (“polymorphism”).
For a definition of these terms, see the Glossary section of this Product Announcement.
Object COBOL Run-Time System
Many features of object orientation require special support in the underlying run-time environment. Support for features like re-entrancy, recursion, dynamic storage management, and object reference resolution are provided by the Object COBOL Run-Time System.
The Object COBOL Run-Time System provided in this product is 32-bit, providing a high capacity for creating and
manipulating applications containing large numbers of objects.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
(continued from previous page)
• Programming for OS/2 and Win32 API
• Simplified Compile & Link Interface
• Easy migration for 16-bit Applications
• Data Handling Capabilities
• Screen Design and Code Generation
• On-line COBOL Help System
• Full On-line Product Documentation
• Portable Intermediate (.int) Code Across All Micro Focus Supported Platforms
• Portable Generated (.gnt) Code Across 32-Bit OS/2, Windows NT and SCO UNIX Operating Systems on Intel Platforms
• Royalty Free Run-Time System
• SQL (integrated pre-processor) for Microsoft SQL Server and IBM DB2/2
Class Library Browser
To make it easy to work with the Class Library, Micro Focus Object COBOL includes a “Browser.” The Browser is a GUI environment that provides a way to examine existing class definitions and to write new sub-classes based on them. The Browser provides links to the compiler and to Animator v2, so that Object COBOL applications can be easily developed and debugged.
Class Libraries
One of the key attributes that makes OO popular is reuse - the ability to produce new applications by reusing what has already been written. This is made possible through libraries of extended data type descriptions (“classes”). Micro Focus Object COBOL comes with a rich Class Library that contains class definitions for Lists, Sets, Dictionaries, and Collections that ease the creation of new applications. In addition, there are a group of classes that support Graphical User Interface development.
GUI Classes
Elements of the GUI classes include TextEntry, Subpane and ListBox. Also included are classes for defining events (such as keyboard and mouse events) and for associating these events with actions. Using this Library, you can create new instances of these classes or you can write your own class descriptions that are based on ones in the Class Library.
Requirements-based Vocabularies
Micro Focus Object COBOL contains a feature that
differentiates it from other object orientated languages. This feature is designed to make programs easier to read, as well as easier to write.
This feature, called ‘Requirements-based Vocabulary,’ allows the writer of a new class to specify how the operations on this class are to be written. For examples, the programmer writing an accounts class can determine that accounting ‘language’ can be used rather than COBOL syntax. So, for example, to add money to an account you could code:
‘Deposit an amount into an account.’
rather than:
‘Invoke anAccount “deposit” using AnAmount’
As a result, the code written by application developers has statements that :-
• Model the business world
• Are easy to read
• Are easy to maintain
• Are appropriate to the type of application
• Can be understood by a non-programmer.
(Support for Requirements-based Vocabularies is an Early Release feature of Micro Focus Object COBOL V3.3.)
OLE2 Automation Support
OLE2 Automation provides a way to manipulate an
application’s objects from outside that application. Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 for Windows NT provides full support for OLE2 Automation, including:
• The ability to create and expose COBOL objects that can be driven by other OLE2 applications
• The ability to access objects in OLE2 applications from Object COBOL
• Demonstration programs showing COBOL Objects driving, and being driven by, other OLE2 applications such as Microsoft®Word™ and Microsoft Excel.™
Support for OLE2 Automation enables Object COBOL applications to be tightly integrated with other OLE2 applications. Object COBOL can be used as a “scripting language” to bring together objects from OLE2 applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, Object COBOL, and other OLE2 language objects.
(Note that OLE2 execution support is supplied with Microsoft Windows NT V3.5 or later; it is not supplied with Microsoft Windows NT V3.1)
ANIMATOR V2 VISUAL DEBUGGING TOOL
Micro Focus Object COBOL includes the latest version of the best GUI language debugger and editor available - Animator v2.
Animator v2 combines the functions of the Editor, Animator, Analyzer and COBOL Source Information (CSI) tools into a single graphical tool. Animator v2 is designed to meet the needs of the COBOL programmer, for both COBOL and Object COBOL applications development. Animator v2 provides a rich set of editing functions as well as direct access to the COBOL compiler and debugging functions from within the editing session.
Edit Capabilities
Features specific to source editing include:
• Configurable margins and tabs
• Clipboard support
• Macro support
• Colorized COBOL source code
• Multiple file editing mode
• Selectable fonts
• ‘Suggest Word’ to suggest most likely data-name or paragraph-name when typing
• Dynamically configurable toolbar
• Access COBOL Source Information (CSI) to help understand a programs code and data
• Quick context-sensitive access to Micro Focus Object COBOL On-line Help
• Bookmark capabilities, for rapid access to different portions of a file.
Debug Capabilities
Features specific to program debugging include:
• Ability to debug .INT, .GNT, .EXE, and .DLL COBOL applications
• Ability to debug COBOL programs calling operating-system API, including applications calling the Win32 API or OS/2 PM API
• Ability to dynamically inspect objects within an application, and to view and modify their instance data (Early Release feature)
• Single-step, and variable speed trace
• “Zoom” through selected portions of code, or entire programs
• Reset execution to any statement in a program
• Skip statements, or ranges of statements
• Retrace execution path with the Backtrack feature
• Conditional and unconditional multiple breakpoints
• Set breakpoints on statements or on program entry
• Breakpoints are preserved across compiles and from one debug session to the next
• Code and execute COBOL statements on the fly
• Examine and change contents of data items at any point of execution
• Monitor data items on-screen in windows.
Program Navigation
Micro Focus COBOL Source Information™ (CSI™) technology is tightly integrated within Animator v2 for efficient and ease of use. CSI provides a range of information about the code and data in a COBOL program. Among these are features that enable the programmer to find:
• Where Procedure Names are called
• What Data, Paragraphs, Performs, GO TOs and CALLs are used in a program
• Where and how data-items are defined, used, or modified
• What the impact is of changing program code
• Where COBOL Reserved words are used.
COBOL Metrics
COBOL metrics provided within Animator v2 include:
• Lines of source
• Lines of code
• Comments per 100 lines
• Total data size
• Checked code size
• Verb counts
• I/O counts
• Program exits
• Arithmetic statements
• ANSI ‘85 END statements
• Maximum nesting levels
• Halstead program complexity metric.
EXTENSIVE PC AND MAINFRAME SYNTAX
Modern COBOL syntax includes all the features required in a PC programming language. This includes features such as:
• Object COBOL support
• Support for structured programming concepts
• Reference modification
• Mixed case support
• Intrinsic functions
• Recursion
• Floating point
• API programming
• Call-convention control.
ANSI’85 COBOL With Intrinsic Functions
The Intrinsic Functions Amendment to the ANSI’85 standard introduced high-level syntax for common business
programming needs. Functions include:
• Calendar processing
• Business functions
• Trigonometric functions.
Mainframe COBOL Support
Micro Focus supports extensive syntax beyond the scope of this announcement, for example:
• All the common OS/VS COBOL syntax (Release v2.3 and later)
• DOS/VS COBOL (Release 3.1)
• All the common VS COBOL II and COBOL/370 syntax
• Mainframe and PC style PERFORM handling.
Micro Focus Syntax Extensions
As an innovator in the COBOL language arena, Micro Focus offers its own extensions to the COBOL language. Micro Focus extensions add such features as:
• Screen handling
• File and record locking
• Transaction commit and rollback
• Names for constants
• Systems programming
• Recursion
• Pointers
• Variable CALL conventions
• Object COBOL syntax.
FLEXIBLE COMPILER
The Micro Focus Object COBOL compiler has several features which help developers customize the behavior of the resultant program. This includes:
• Extensive compiler directives
• Compiler constants
• Conditional compilation
• Integrated preprocessor support.
Extensive Compiler Directives
The Micro Focus Object COBOL compiler lets programmers:
• Use over 100 behavior-controlling directives
• Configure default behavior
• Easily understand and use directives
Micro Focus Object COBOL compiler directives offer control over:
• Error and flag messages
• File Listings
• Input/output files
• Directives locations
• Object and debugging file formats
• Add-on product information
• Dialect conformance
• Speed and size optimizations
• Compatibility details
• Reserved words
• SQL database use
• Run-time behavior
• File handling.
Compiler Constants
• Give names for literals other than constants
• Are defined as level “78” in the data division or on the compile command line
• Take no space in the data division
• Assist in readability of source code.
Conditional Compilation
This unique feature allows the usage of simple $IF ... $END style syntax to selectively compile portions of the source code.
Code can be included or excluded from compilation by changing compiler constants at the beginning of the program.
INTEGRATED PREPROCESSOR SUPPORT
The Micro Focus Object COBOL compiler supports an interface which permits preprocessors to be invoked by the compiler.
Preprocessors enable special source processing such as:
• Process source code only once
• Use Animator v2 to debug original source
• “Stack” several preprocessors for mixing several special syntax variants. (e.g. SQL and CICS).
DCE SUPPORT ON OS/2
Micro Focus Object COBOL on OS/2 includes support for the Open Software Foundation™ (OSF™) Distributed Computing Environment (DCE).
DCE simplifies the development of seamless distributed applications in heterogeneous computing environment, such as networked machines using different operating systems. DCE is a set of tools and services that have been defined by the OSF.
Micro Focus Object COBOL supports DCE by providing:
• Tools to automate the development of DCE client/server applications written in COBOL
• Support for DCE Remote Procedure Call (RPC) for COBOL applications
• A COBOL Interface Definition Language to define interfaces between clients and servers, allowing the passing of most COBOL data types
• An easy to use interface for COBOL programmers to call the DCE Applications Programming Interface (API) via CALL statements
• An additional Micro Focus API set which groups together common DCE API functions, thus making it easier to write DCE applications in COBOL.
SEAMLESS MIXED-LANGUAGE INTERFACING
Micro Focus 32-bit COBOL system enables COBOL and non- COBOL programs to be easily mixed in the same application.
The COBOL compiler produces COBOL object-files (.OBJ files) that conform to the operating-system standard for the host platform. COBOL and non-COBOL object-files can be linked together and can CALL each other. Micro Focus Animator v2 can be used to debug the COBOL modules within mixed- language applications, enabling you to use the best COBOL debugger to debug the COBOL portions of the application.
LARGE SYSTEMS SUPPORT
The increased system limits provided by 32-bit hardware architecture and operating-systems offer the potential for maintaining large amounts of code and data on a PC. The Micro Focus 32-bit COBOL system realizes this potential for COBOL applications by supporting applications with massive code and data requirements as well as supporting applications
containing large numbers of program modules (typically found in mainframe COBOL applications).
STATIC AND DYNAMIC LINKING
Micro Focus Object COBOL provides support for both dynamic and static linking models on OS/2 and Windows NT.
Static linking model allows you to link the Run-Time System along with your COBOL application, such that your COBOL application .EXE and .DLL files contain the Run-Time System code. This avoids the need for you to supply the Micro Focus Run-Time System .DLLs as separate files to your end-users.
Dynamic linking enables you exclude the Run-Time System files from your COBOL application .EXE and .DLL modules. Your COBOL application .EXE and .DLL files contain references to the Micro Focus Run-Time System .DLLs, which must be present at execution time.
PROGRAMMING FOR OS/2 AND WIN32 API
Micro Focus Object COBOL supports the syntax required for coding applications for OS/2 (including Presentation Manager) or Win32 API. Key features supporting PM and Windows programming include:
• Support for calling complex OS API
• Conversion of C “header” files to COBOL COPY files
• System library routines
• Debug using Animator v2.
Support for Complex OS APIs
Micro Focus Object COBOL supports all the complex API used in writing PM and Windows applications. This is enabled through support for:
• Data and procedure pointer handling
• Operating system bit and byte manipulation
• Recursive calls to a program
• Operating system calling conventions (including ‘StdCall’
on Win32, and ‘OptLink’ and on OS/2).
Convert C “Header” Files To COBOL COPY Format Micro Focus has support for converting C “header” files to their equivalent COBOL “COPY” files. This support is particularly useful when calling API which only provide their interface definitions in C header format. The COBOL compiler will even translate C header files at compile time, enabling you to directly include COPY “include.h” statements in your COBOL programs.
System Library Routines
For commonly used or special functions, Micro Focus Object COBOL provides call-by-name (CBL_) routines providing functions for:
• Logic operations (AND, OR etc.)
• File and directory handling
• Screen and keyboard handling
• Mouse handling
• Operating system information
• Text conversion to upper/lower case.
These routines provide a COBOL-oriented API making them easy to implement in COBOL applications. The same API is also supported in Micro Focus COBOL implementations on other platforms, enabling applications using these functions to remain portable across operating systems while making use of operating system level functions.
SIMPLIFIED COMPILE & LINK INTERFACE
Compiling and linking PC applications couldn’t be easier! The new CBLLINK utility provides a simplified interface to the system linker, enabling .EXE and .DLL modules to be created from multiple modules using a single command-line. CBLLINK automatically links in the required operating system and run- time support modules, insulating you from the complexities of the link process.
EASY MIGRATION FOR 16-BIT APPLICATIONS Applications developed for 16-bit operating systems (DOS, Windows V3 and OS/2) using the 16-bit Micro Focus COBOL compiler can be easily migrated to 32-bit operating systems using Micro Focus Object COBOL. COBOL programs will usually only require recompiling in order to take advantage of all the benefits of executing as true 32-bit applications on OS/2 or Windows NT.
Intermediate code files (.INT) developed with Micro Focus COBOL v3.2 on other platforms can be directly executed by the Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 Run-Time Environment.
DATA HANDLING CAPABILITIES
File Types
Micro Focus Object COBOL supports Micro Focus COBOL type files and many common SQL databases. Standard COBOL file types include:
• Sequential
• Relative
• Indexed
• Line Sequential
Line sequential file format is where records are separated by carriage return and/or line-feed characters.
File and Record Locking
Files can be shared across multiple sessions running on one machine or on a network. Record locking on shared files can be provided transparently by the file handling system or by coding explicit LOCK, UNLOCK and COMMIT statements.
Key and Data Compression
Use Micro Focus compression to compress keys and data in indexed files. Compression can yield up to 40% of disk space savings. Compression is easily controlled by a compiler directive.
BTRIEVE Interfaces
Micro Focus Object COBOL for OS/2 supports the use of the popular BTRIEVE file system in several ways, including:
• CALLs to BTRIEVE®can be switched to use Micro Focus’ file handler (EXTFH)
• COBOL I/O statements (Read, Write etc.) can be directed to use BTRIEVE
Note: This does not apply to Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 on Windows NT, as BTRIEVE is not currently available for Windows NT.
Rebuild
If Indexed files should ever become corrupt due to system outages, etc. these files can be recovered using the Micro Focus Rebuild utility. Rebuild supports recovery of the following file type:
• Micro Focus Indexed Files
• Microsoft COBOL v1 and v2 formats
• Level II COBOL®file format
• BTRIEVE file format.
Direct SQL Support
The Micro Focus compiler directly supports SQL syntax from some vendors. The SQL statements that you debug with Animator v2 are the same SQL statements you code in the program source, not the dozens of lines generated by the preprocessor. For these SQL products, a preprocess step is not required. Micro Focus Object COBOL provides checker support for the following databases:
• OS/2 DB2/2® (including support for binding to SQL databases on remote machines)
• Microsoft SQL Server™ Version 4.2 or later for Windows NT or OS/2, with Micro Focus Embedded SQL Toolkit™ for Microsoft SQL Server
Stand Alone SQL Preprocessors
Oracle®provide a stand alone SQL preprocessor for Micro Focus Object COBOL on 32-bit OS/2:
SCREEN DESIGN AND CODE GENERATION
Micro Focus Screens utility provides a fast, easy method to:
• Paint character based panels and user screens
• Generate COBOL copy books based on screens painted
• Generate simple file maintenance COBOL programs
• Use COBOL ACCEPT/DISPLAY verbs to handle screen I/O.
ON-LINE COBOL HELP
On-line Help provides quick access to product information, including:
• COBOL language syntax
• Compiler directives
• COBOL system library routines
• RTS switches
• Compile and run time error messages.
The on-line Help system is only a mouse-click away. General ease of use features include:
• Fully graphical interface (uses Native Help on Windows NT)
• Accessible from Animator v2
• Context sensitive
• Support cut & paste via system clipboard
• Use of bookmarks.
FULL ON-LINE PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION
The full set of Micro Focus Object COBOL documentation is supplied on-line, along with a powerful graphical reader, OmniSearch, to enable you to view it and search for areas you are interested in.
OmniSearch has powerful search capabilities, enabling you to find all references to a word or a combination of words. In addition, you can combine words or phrases in a number of ways to narrow down your searches to very specific topics.
OmniSearch features include:
• Multiple views of the documentation
• ‘Fuzzy logic’ searching
• Supports wild-cards in search strings
• Search for words, combinations of words, or phrases
• Copy selected text to system clipboard
• Print portions of documentation
PORTABLE CODE GENERATION
Micro Focus Object COBOL is capable of producing intermediate (.INT) code, Micro Focus native code (.GNT) code, and standard system object code (.OBJ) files.
Intermediate code contains instructions and tables designed to be processed, in an interpretive fashion, by the Micro Focus Run-Time System. Intermediate code is portable to other Micro Focus supported platforms, without needing to recompile your application.
Native code (.GNT) contains fully compiled instructions in the instruction set of the workstation processor, and uses the Run- Time system only for support routines. As native code is fully compiled, it usually provides significant performance improvements over intermediate code. Micro Focus 32-bit Native (.GNT) code is portable across OS/2, Win32, and SCO UNIX on the Intel®32-bit architecture.
ROYALTY-FREE RUN-TIME SYSTEM
The Micro Focus Run-Time System provides all the runtime support routines needed by Micro Focus Object COBOL programs, in a single, free-standing, memory resident, run-time system. This Run-Time Environment contains facilities for program loading and memory management that can load and execute COBOL programs (.INT and .GNT) without requiring a link step. Single-user (or “client”) applications created with Object COBOL can be distributed royalty-free.
Run-Time charges are applicable to all multi-user (or “server”) applications. This policy applies to 32-bit products only.
Licensing of 16-bit Run-Times and Operating System Extensions (OSX) remains unchanged. Please contact your sales
representative for details.
This glossary provides a basic definition of some of the terms referenced in this product announcement.
BINDING
Selecting which method should respond to a given message.
Static binding is done at compile time; dynamic binding is done at execution time.
CLASS
The blueprint, or template, from which new objects are created. It defines the data as well as the methods that operate on the data.
ENCAPSULATION
The result of combining data with methods that access and operate on the data. Encapsulated data can only be accessed by the methods that have been defined within the object to do.
INHERITANCE
A method of reuse wherein a new (sub)class acquires the data and methods from its ancestors within an inheritance hierarchy.
INSTANTIATION
The process by which new object instances are created. The underlying Run-Time System must allocate storage and provide a unique identifier for the new object instance. (The terms
“object” and “object instance” are used synonymously.)
INTERFACE
In the context of object orientation, interface means the collection of methods, parameter types and return values that defines the services provided by an object A class definition consists of both an interface definition and its implementation.
METHOD
Objects have encapsulated information and operations that make use of that information. These operations are called
“methods.” Methods respond to incoming messages and generate outgoing messages. These messages represent the events that drive object-orientated applications.
MESSAGE
The name of a desired service along with any parameters needed by the method that provides the service. For example, one could send the DEPOSIT message to a bank account object along with the amount to be deposited. A return value can also be associated with the message, so in our bank account example, the new balance of the account could be sent in response.
OBJECT
The combination of data with the methods that operate on the data. Objects are used to represent anything from a paper-clip to your entire business.
PERSISTENCE
The ability of the Object COBOL run-time system to remember the state of all objects in the system between runs.
POLYMORPHISM
The ability of one object to send another object a message, relying on the receiving object to “do the right thing” in its response to the message. For example, if a geometric design program sends a “draw” message to each of its contained objects, it expects a rectangle object to draw itself as a rectangle, and a circle object to draw itself as a circle. Thus, one expects many (poly) forms (morphs) of response to each message sent.
SERVICE
What an object can do. An object’s services are defined by the designer of the class from which it was created.
GLOSSARY OF OBJECT ORIENTED TERMS
EDUCATION
Micro Focus offers training classes for a number of products and purposes. Contact your Micro Focus Sales representative for more details.
SUPPORT
Micro Focus is committed to providing quality support for its products and has a multi-level support plan to meet the growing needs of our customers.
GENERAL RELEASE
General Release components are those components which Micro Focus believes are fully tested and suitable for release to customers for use in pursuit of developing enterprise applications.
EARLY RELEASE
Micro Focus sometimes includes new features as Early Release components. These features or components are at an earlier development stage than the other components.
Early Release components, or features, are supported through Product Support representatives. However, since these components are Early Release, representatives will not necessarily have the same level of information as with Full Release items.
Early Release features in Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 include:
• Object-Inspector: New support provided within Animator v2 to dynamically inspect objects within an application, and to view and modify their instance data
• Vocabularies: Support for defining the syntax for an object’s interface
• Persistence : The ability of the Object COBOL run-time system to remember the state of all objects in the system between runs.
LEARNING MORE ABOUT OBJECT-ORIENTATION The documentation supplied with Micro Focus Object COBOL will help you to start programming in Object COBOL.
However, if you are new to object-orientation, learning about the principles of Object-Oriented Design and Analysis (OOD and OOA) will enable you to make the best use of this new technology.
The Recommended Reading and Computer-based Training sections below outline some reading materials and training courses that will be of use.
RECOMMENDED READING
The following is a short list of texts dealing with object- oriented methodologies and technologies.
• Grady Booch: Object-Oriented Design,
Benjamin/Cummings, 1994, ISBN: 0-8053-0091-0
• Ivor Jacobson: Object-Oriented Software Engineering, Addison-Wesley, 1992, ISBN: 0-201-54435-0
• James Rumbaugh: Object-Oriented Modeling and Design, Prentice Hall, 1991, ISBN: 0-13-629841-9
• Raymond Obin: Object Orientation - An Introduction for COBOL Programmers, Micro Focus Publishing, 1993, ISBN:
1-56928-005-3
The following texts are aimed at existing COBOL programmers who want to learn about Object-orientation, and the
forthcoming ANSI extensions to the COBOL language.
• Sally Shlaer and Steve Mellor: Object-Oriented Systems Analysis: Modeling the World in Data, Prentice Hall, 1988, ISBN: 0-13-629023-1
• Sally Shlaer and Steve Mellor: Object Lifecycles: Modeling the World in States, Prentice Hall, 1992, ISBN: 0-13-629940-7
• David Taylor:, Object Oriented Information Systems:
Planning and Implementation, John Wiley, ISBN: 0-471- 54364-0
This final text is aimed at managers who need to make informed decisions for successful system installation and development.
• Rebecca Wirfs-Brock and B. Wilkerson:, Designing Object- Oriented Software
COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING
The following courses were developed by Object Management Labs and are available through Micro Focus publishing:
The Executive Series (OML 1) - For managers and executives needing an overview of object-oriented analysis and design.
The OOA/OOD Series (OML 2) -For programmers and technical managers involved in object-oriented projects.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
• Class Extension: The ability to extend a class without needing to modify the source code for that class. This allows additional methods to be added to a class, and for those new methods to be inherited by all existing sub- classes, without changing the original class definition.
RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE
Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 is available for :
• OS/2 2.1 or higher, both standard and Extended Editions.
(Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 for OS/2 includes LINK386.EXE and system libraries required for creating linked-executables. No further toolkit is required in order to create .EXE and .DLL COBOL applications)
or:
• Windows NT v3.1 or higher.
Note that the Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit for Windows NT is required to achieve linked-executable support in your applications (This is not required to use this product, or for support of Micro Focus INT or GNT code).
RECOMMENDED HARDWARE
Hardware for application development, and application execution :
• IBM or highly compatible system, based on Intel 386 or higher.
• 1 Mb to 2Mb RAM recommended, in addition to operating- system requirements. (depending on the application)
• 26 Mb hard disk space, in addition to operating-system requirements, for full Object COBOL installation.
• 2 Mb hard disk space (depending on the application), for application execution.
COMPATIBILITY
Compatibility with previous versions :
• Source code developed with previous versions of Micro Focus COBOL is 100% compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3.
• Source code for developed with the Micro Focus Object COBOL Option for Micro Focus COBOL Workbench is 100% compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3.
• Intermediate (.INT) code files generated by previous versions of Micro Focus COBOL are compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3.
• Intermediate and Object files (.INT, .GNT or .OBJ) generated by the Micro Focus Object COBOL Option for Micro Focus COBOL Workbench are not compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3. The programs should be recompiled using this version.
• Object files (.OBJ or .GNT) created with previous releases of Micro Focus COBOL (16-Bit releases) are not compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3. The programs should be recompiled using this version.
• Object files (.OBJ or .GNT) created with the Micro Focus 32-bit COBOL SDK, or .GNT files created with Micro Focus COBOL v3.2 for SCO UNIX®are compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3.
MEDIA
Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 is available on CD-ROM only, and includes:
Either:
• Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 for 32-bit OS/2
• Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 on-line documentation or:
• Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 for Windows NT
• Micro Focus Object COBOL v3.3 on-line documentation
ORDERING INFORMATION
To order Micro Focus Object COBOL, phone or fax Micro Focus at one of the numbers listed at the end of this Product Announcement.
Micro Focus enables enterprises that use information systems to benefit from adopting new hardware and software technologies while leveraging available skills and system resources. We do this by providing state-of-the-art programming tools to empower application developers;
coupled with software technology to enable them to create new industrial strength applications; and bridging software to access and enhance the value of existing skills.
Micro Focus Inc. All rights reserved. Produced by Micro Focus Marketing.
Printed in January 1995. Micro Focus Inc.
© Copyright Micro Focus 1995. Micro Focus, and Animator are registered trademarks of Micro Focus Ltd. Micro Focus COBOL, Object COBOL, COBOL Source Information, CSI and Embedded SQL Toolkit are trademarks of Micro Focus. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Micro Focus Inc.
2465 East Bayshore Road Palo Alto , CA 94303 USA Tel: (+1) 415 856 4161 Fax: (+1) 415 856 6134 GSA Contract Number:
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Micro Focus Limited 26 West Street Newbury
Berkshire RG13 1JT United Kingdom Tel: (+44) 1635 32646 Fax: (+44) 1635 33966 Micro Focus GmbH Am Moosfeld 11
D-81829 München Germany Tel: (+49) 89 42094-0 Fax: (+49) 89 42094-211 Micro Focus SARL (Paris) Tour Franklin Defense 8 92042 Paris-La-Defense Cedex France
Tel: (+33) 1 47 75 75 75 Fax: (+33) 1 47 75 75 80 Micro Focus S.A.
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08025 Barcelona Spain Tel: (+34) 3 435 7001 Fax: (+34) 3 435 6733
