Cobol - compiler/ide recommendations

Author

compiler/ide recommendations

wltiii

2007-07-05, 6:55 pm

I would like a reasonably priced COBOL compiler and/or ide that
supports much of the latest standard. I am especially interested in
support for as much of the OO extensions as possible (but little
vendor specific stuff!). I just want to explore/play with it on my PC
(Windows XP Pro). I worked with COBOL for many years, but jumped into
the java world before these features were widely available, thus want
to know how they were implemented and see how well they were
implemented. Curiosity for the most part. Any suggestions, along with
pros and cons would be greatly appreciated!

bill

Frank Swarbrick

2007-07-05, 6:55 pm

>>> On 7/5/2007 at 7:58 AM, in message
<1183643885.568035.69170@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
wltiii<google@changent.com> wrote:
> I would like a reasonably priced COBOL compiler and/or ide that
> supports much of the latest standard. I am especially interested in
> support for as much of the OO extensions as possible (but little
> vendor specific stuff!). I just want to explore/play with it on my PC
> (Windows XP Pro). I worked with COBOL for many years, but jumped into
> the java world before these features were widely available, thus want
> to know how they were implemented and see how well they were
> implemented. Curiosity for the most part. Any suggestions, along with
> pros and cons would be greatly appreciated!

Try this:
http://microfocus.com/Resources/Com.../shop/index.asp

It's a free download, but doesn't include Visual Studio. If you already
have VS, though, you're good to go.
Looks like you can get it with VS for $49.00, which is a great deal since
Microsoft sells VS Standard Edition alone for $299! Not quite sure how MF
swung that deal... :-)

Frank

wltiii

2007-07-05, 6:55 pm

On Jul 5, 2:10 pm, "Frank Swarbrick" <Frank.Swarbr...@efirstbank.com>
wrote:
>
> <1183643885.568035.69...@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
>
> wltiii<goo...@changent.com> wrote:
>
> Try this:http://microfocus.com/Resources/Com.../shop/index.asp
>
> It's a free download, but doesn't include Visual Studio. If you already
> have VS, though, you're good to go.
> Looks like you can get it with VS for $49.00, which is a great deal since
> Microsoft sells VS Standard Edition alone for $299! Not quite sure how MF
> swung that deal... :-)
>
> Frank

Thanks, Frank! I just started the download. It looks like exactly what
I wanted and cannot beat the price. :-)

Now, the next question, any suggested resources for learning about the
OO capabilities of COBOL? I am guessing there will be something
included in this package, but wouldn't mind other resources. To build
my knowledge of OO COBOL, I intend to develop several samples of
various design patterns, maybe even convert some of my existing java
apps into COBOL.

As for the cheap price of VS, I assume it is because this is supposed
to be an educational version. I know MS sells many educational
versions of its products at steep discounts.

bill

Rene_Surop

2007-07-05, 6:55 pm

Since you have choosen MF Cobol as your development platform, you
better check their programs samples (link below). I guess OO codes are
included there as well.

http://supportline.microfocus.com/e...ties/nesamp.asp

James J. Gavan

2007-07-06, 6:55 pm

wltiii wrote:
> On Jul 5, 2:10 pm, "Frank Swarbrick" <Frank.Swarbr...@efirstbank.com>
> wrote:

>
> Thanks, Frank! I just started the download. It looks like exactly what
> I wanted and cannot beat the price. :-)
>
> Now, the next question, any suggested resources for learning about the
> OO capabilities of COBOL? I am guessing there will be something
> included in this package, but wouldn't mind other resources. To build
> my knowledge of OO COBOL, I intend to develop several samples of
> various design patterns, maybe even convert some of my existing java
> apps into COBOL.
>
> As for the cheap price of VS, I assume it is because this is supposed
> to be an educational version. I know MS sells many educational
> versions of its products at steep discounts.
>
Capabilities of OO COBOL - really only two books worth following up on :-

- amazon.com - search on 'Edmund Arranga' for the book by Ed and
co-author Frank Coyle. Should be some second-hand copies available for
about $20. (Has a coded library project at back of book which is
compatible with Net Express).

- murach.com - they used to sell copies of Will's (Wilson Price),
'Elements of OO COBOL'. Can't see it listed.

- Design patterns - in the M/F demos, (i.e. GUI classes using Dialog
Editor with the 'C' type Resource file), about the only significant
design I recall is that a fresh dialog is created for each Record Box.
Check out the OO demos :-

\Program Files\Net Express\Base\Demo :-

Now work your way through the list; some are pure procedural COBOL but
the following are specifically OO demos using GUI classes :-

Bank, Beepwin, Collect0 and 1, GUISamp, Phone and for a Java man - howz
about JavaDemo ?

In addition there is the Dialog System which has its own set of demos
per window control. But for 'pure' OO class structure, you probably want
to look at those I've listed above.

Just one thing : In a purely COBOL environment a Class consists of
FACTORY and OBJECT SECTIONs. When interfacing with other languages
through dotNet - then FACTORY becomes 'STATIC'.

Jimmy

wltiii

2007-07-11, 6:55 pm

On Jul 6, 5:30 pm, "James J. Gavan" <jgavandeletet...@shaw.ca> wrote:
> wltiii wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Capabilities of OO COBOL - really only two books worth following up on :-
>
> - amazon.com - search on 'Edmund Arranga' for the book by Ed and
> co-author Frank Coyle. Should be some second-hand copies available for
> about $20. (Has a coded library project at back of book which is
> compatible with Net Express).
>
> - murach.com - they used to sell copies of Will's (Wilson Price),
> 'Elements of OO COBOL'. Can't see it listed.
>
> - Design patterns - in the M/F demos, (i.e. GUI classes using Dialog
> Editor with the 'C' type Resource file), about the only significant
> design I recall is that a fresh dialog is created for each Record Box.
> Check out the OO demos :-
>
> \Program Files\Net Express\Base\Demo :-
>
> Now work your way through the list; some are pure procedural COBOL but
> the following are specifically OO demos using GUI classes :-
>
> Bank, Beepwin, Collect0 and 1, GUISamp, Phone and for a Java man - howz
> about JavaDemo ?
>
> In addition there is the Dialog System which has its own set of demos
> per window control. But for 'pure' OO class structure, you probably want
> to look at those I've listed above.
>
> Just one thing : In a purely COBOL environment a Class consists of
> FACTORY and OBJECT SECTIONs. When interfacing with other languages
> through dotNet - then FACTORY becomes 'STATIC'.
>
> Jimmy

Thanks a lot for all the great info. The responses have been just what
I've been looking for. :-)

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