Product Features

NetCOBOL for .NET supports all the usual things you'd expect in a COBOL compiler today. The following sections briefly present the key .NET- related features.

MSIL Generation

The fundamental feature is that the compiler generates MSIL. This means that the output from NetCOBOL for .NET is in the same form as the output from Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET), C#, or any other true .NET language. This provides the base for other features such as inheriting from classes written in other languages and easy debugging of mixed-language applications.

.NET Data Types

Where it's appropriate, the compiler maps COBOL data types to .NET data types, and when it's not appropriate to do so, the compiler provides support for the .NET data types through OBJECT REFERENCE items. SET statements can be used to move data between COBOL and .NET-specific data types.

COBOL Syntax for .NET

NetCOBOL for .NET has taken the approach of starting with the standard object- oriented COBOL syntax and enhancing it where necessary to embrace the .NET object-oriented model. This shortens the learning curve for those already familiar with the standard object-oriented COBOL syntax.

.NET Class Inheritance

Because NetCOBOL for .NET can inherit from the classes provided with the .NET Framework, COBOL programs now have access to all the functionality available to other leading-edge languages such as C# and VB .NET. For the first time, using object orientation in COBOL has very clear, tangible benefits.

COBOL in ASP.NET Pages

When you learn how to program COBOL with .NET, NetCOBOL for .NET also pro vides you with the ability to apply that knowledge to programming Active Server Pages (ASP) using COBOL.

VS .NET Integration

A big boost to developers is that NetCOBOL for .NET provides the underlying support to enable COBOL application development using VS .NET. You can do things such as select COBOL templates for your projects, edit COBOL within Visual Studio as you would with other Visual Studio languages, debug with the Visual Studio debugger, and use the RAD designer features described in the next section.

Great Designers

The NetCOBOL for .NET product provides support for several types of designers. As you know, designers are intended to save you a huge amount of development time and effort. The following sections briefly introduce this impressive product offering.

Windows Forms Designer

With NetCOBOL for .NET, you can design your GUIs using the same Forms Designer that is available with VB .NET, except that you use COBOL to execute the forms and to support the events.

Web Forms Designer

You can create your ASP.NET Web pages using the Web Forms Designer, which has an interface very similar to that of the Windows Forms Designer, again with COBOL as the supporting programming language.

Web Services and Component Designer

The third designer takes care of the complexities of Web services and assembling service components , leaving you free to focus on the business functions of your COBOL applications.