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COBSQL is an integrated preprocessor designed to work with COBOL precompilers supplied by relational database vendors. It is intended for use with:
You should use COBSQL if you are already using either of these precompilers with an earlier version of a Micro Focus COBOL product and want to migrate your application(s) to NetExpress, or if you are creating applications that will be deployed on UNIX platforms and need to access either Oracle or Sybase relational databases.
For any other type of embedded SQL application development, we recommend that you use OpenESQL.
Note: The Oracle precompiler does not support nested programs. COBSQL does not support Object Oriented COBOL syntax (OO COBOL). If you want to use OO COBOL, therefore, you must use OpenESQL.
You can access the SQL functions offered by the Oracle or Sybase Database Management System (DBMS) by embedding SQL statements within your COBOL program in the form:
EXEC SQL SQL statement END-EXEC
and then using the Oracle or Sybase precompiler to process the embedded SQL before passing the program to the COBOL Compiler. The database precompiler replaces embedded SQL statements with the appropriate calls to database services. Other additions are made to the source code to bind COBOL host variables to the SQL variable names known to the database system.
The advantage of embedding SQL in this way is that you do not need to know the format of individual database routine calls. The disadvantage is that the source code that you see when you animate your program is that output by the precompiler and not the original embedded SQL. You can overcome this disadvantage by using COBSQL.
COBSQL provides an integrated interface between Micro Focus COBOL and the third-party standalone precompiler, enabling you to animate a program containing EXEC SQL statements and display your original source code rather than the code produced by the precompiler.
This chapter shows you how you can use COBSQL in conjunction with either the Oracle or Sybase precompiler to compile and animate your programs.
To use COBSQL, specify the PREPROCESS"COBSQL" Compiler directive when you compile your program. All directives following it are passed from the Compiler to COBSQL. You can specify Compiler directives by using $SET statements in your program or via the NetExpress Build Settings screen.
To terminate the directives to be passed to COBSQL, you must use the ENDP COBOL directive. You can do this by adding the following line to either the project settings or the NetExpress Build settings:
Preprocess(Cobsql) csqltype=oracle end-c comp5=yes endp;
Since the system sets extra default Cobol directives, the above line is required when putting directives into the Build Settings dialog from within NetExpress.
For both project settings and NetExpress Build settings, END-C and ENDP have the following effect:
You specify directives to COBSQL as if they were Compiler directives, but you must put them after the directive PREPROCESS"COBSQL".
It is also possible to add the Cobsql directives to the standard NetExpress directives file cobol.dir.
Notes:
Alternatively, you can put COBSQL and precompiler directives in a file, cobsql.dir. This file should reside either in the current directory or in a directory specified in $COBDIR. COBSQL searches the current directory and then along the COBDIR path for a cobsql.dir file. Once COBSQL finds a cobsql.dir file, it stops searching. So, if you have a cobsql.dir file in the current directory, the COBDIR path is not searched.
Notes:
COBSQL processes cobsql.dir first and then any directives specified via the Build Settings screen.
A number of the directives can be reversed by placing NO in front of them, for example, DISPLAY can be reversed using NODISPLAY. All the directives in the lists below that can have NO placed in front of them are marked with an asterisk. By default, the NO version of a directive is set.
You can specify shortened versions of some of the directives. If applicable, the shortened version of a directive is shown in the lists below, immediately after the full length version.
Some directives can be passed to COBSQL by the COBOL Compiler (see the section COBOL Directives below), removing the need to specify common directives more than once. Directives that can be retrieved from the COBOL Compiler are processed before COBSQL directives.
For example, in the following command line:
cobol testprog p(cobsql) csqlt=ora makesyn end-c comp5=yes mode=ansi endp omf(gnt) list();
end-c, are csqlt=ora
and makesyn.
endp, are comp5=yes and mode=ansi.
omf(gnt) and list().
| COBSQLTYPE CSQLT |
Specifies which precompiler to use (ORACLE or SYBASE), for example, COBSQLTYPE=ORACLE |
| CSTART* CST |
Forces COBSQL to load the database support modules at execution time. |
| CSTOP* CSP |
Forces COBSQL to load the stop run module that performs a rollback if the application terminates abnormally. |
| DEBUGFILE* DEB |
Creates a debug (.deb) file. |
| DISPLAY* DIS |
Displays precompiler statistics. Should only be used when initially verifying that COBSQL is correctly calling the standalone precompiler. |
| END-COBSQL END-C END |
Signals the end of COBSQL directives; remaining directives, if any, are passed to the precompiler. |
| KEEPCBL | Saves precompiled source file (.cbl). |
| MAKESYN | Converts all COMP host variables to COMP-5 host variables. The default situation, if MAKESYN is not set, is that all variables (not just host variables) are converted from COMP to COMP-5. |
| NOMAKESYN | No conversion of COMP-5 variables or host variables is carried out. |
| SQLDEBUG | Creates a number of files that can be used by Micro Focus to debug COBSQL. These files include the output file from the precompiler (normally this has a .cbl extension), the listing file produced by the precompiler (this has a .lis extension), plus a COBSQL debug file which has a .sdb extension. SQLDEBUG will also turn on KEEPCBL and TRACE. |
| TRACE* | Creates a trace file (.trc). |
| VERBOSE | Displays all precompiler messages and gives status updates as the program is processed. You should only use this when initially verifying that COBSQL is calling the standalone precompiler correctly. |
| BELL* | Controls whether COBSQL sounds the bell when an error occurs. |
| BRIEF* | Controls whether COBSQL shows SQL error text as well as the error number. |
| CONFIRM* | Displays accepted/rejected COBSQL directives. |
| LIST* | Saves the precompiler listing file (.lis). |
| WARNING* | Determines the lowest severity of SQL errors to report. |
It is beyond the scope of this document to list the database support modules that are required when shipping on a COBSQL application. It is assumed that the end-user machine already has all the required support modules installed and that it is correctly configured to communicate with the database server.
When linking COBSQL applications, use the import library csqlsupp.lib. This resolves the calls inserted by COBSQL to the COBSQL init and stop run modules. The calls are actually handled by the module csqlsupp.dll which needs to be shipped with the application. This general support module is required for both Oracle and Sybase applications.
Specify the library csqlsupp.lib as one of the libraries to use when linking the application. The library csqlsupp.lib resides in the directory NetExpress\base\lib. The module csqlsupp.dll resides in the directory NetExpress\base\bin.
If you split the application into a main exe and a number of sub DLL's, then you only need to link csqlsupp.lib into the modules that you have compiled with the COBSQL directives CSTART or CSTOP.
If you compile all programs with CSTART or CSTOP, then you must link csqlsupp.lib into all the modules. Linking csqlsupp.lib to each module causes each module to be slightly larger than required. Only one version of csqlsupp.dll is loaded when the application runs.
If you compile the main program only with CSTART and CSTOP, then you need to link in the library csqlsupp.lib with the main program only. Any program that you compile with either the CSTART or the CSTOP COBSQL directive, you then need to link csqlsupp.lib with the module for that program.
The complete set of methods used within COBOL to manipulate copyfiles is not available with database precompilers and COBSQL itself cannot handle included copyfiles. These problems can be overcome, however, by using the Micro Focus Copyfile Preprocessor (CP).
CP is a preprocessor that has been written to provide other preprocessors, such as COBSQL, with a mechanism for handling copyfiles. CP follows the same rules as the COBOL Compiler for handling copyfiles so any copyfile-related Compiler directives are automatically picked up and copyfiles are searched for using the COBCPY environment variable. CP will also expand:
EXEC SQL INCLUDE ... END-EXEC
statements. For more information on CP, refer to the Netexpress online help (look under "CP" in the help file index).
Oracle uses the .pco and .cob file extensions and Sybase uses .pco and .cbl. For CP to resolve copyfiles and include statements correctly, use the following COBOL Compiler directives:
copyext (pco,cbl,cpy,cob) osext(pco)
COBSQL can call CP to expand copyfiles before the database precompiler is invoked. This means that all the copy-related commands are already resolved so that it appears to the database precompiler that a single source file is being used.
The other advantage of using CP is that it makes copyfiles visible when animating.
When CP sees an INCLUDE SQLCA statement, it does the
following:
You can specify the CP preprocessor's SY directive to prevent CP expanding the SQLCA include file, for example:
preprocess"cobsql" preprocess"cp" sy endp
You should always use CP's SY directive when processing Sybase code because Sybase expects to expand the SQLCA itself.
As Oracle can produce code with either COMP or COMP-5 variables, it has two sets of copyfiles. The standard sqlca.cob, oraca.cob and sqlda.cob all have COMP data items. The sqlca5.cob, oraca5.cob and sqlda5.cob files have COMP-5 data items. If you are using the comp5=yes Oracle directive, you must set the COBSQL directive MAKESYN to convert the COMP items in the SQLCA to COMP-5.
If CP produces errors when attempting to locate copyfiles, check to make sure that the OSEXT and COPYEXT Compiler directives are set up correctly. COPYEXT should be set first and should include as its first entry the extension used for source files (.pco or .eco, for example).
If these are set correctly, ensure that the copyfile is either in the current directory or in a directory on the COBCPY path.
When using CP in conjunction with COBSQL, SQL errors inside included copyfiles will be reported correctly. Without CP, the line counts will be wrong, and the error will either go unreported or will appear on the wrong line.
COBSQL error messages can be displayed in different languages depending on the setting of the LANG environment variable. For full details on NLS and how to set the LANG environment variable, look up "NLS" and "LANG" in the help file index.
Most database clients include some NLS capability but their requirements for the setting of the LANG environment variable differ from those of this COBOL system. We recommend, therefore, that you use the alternative environment variable, COBLANG.
The setting of COBLANG only affects this COBOL system, allowing the LANG environment variable to be used by the database client. Note that for COBLANG to work correctly, mflangnn.lbr, where nn is the setting of COBLANG, must be available in the NetExpress \bin directory. So if COBLANG=05 (UK NLS messages), the file mflang05.lbr must be present in NetExpress\Base\Bin.
The setting of COBLANG only affects the COBSQL error messages; error messages produced by the database precompiler are not translated by COBSQL.
The following examples show, for the Oracle and Sybase precompilers, command lines which can be entered at the NetExpress Command Prompt to compile a program using COBSQL.
cobol sample.pco anim nognt preprocess(cobsql)
cstart cstop CSQLT=ORA end-c comp5=yes endp;
For UNIX:
cob -a -v -k sample.pco -C "p(cobsql) cstop cobsqltype==ORACLE"
cobol example1.pco confirm preprocess(cobsql) cstop csp cobsqltype=sybase preprocess(cp) sy endp;
For UNIX:
cob -a -v -P -k example1.pco -C"p(cobsql) csp CSQLT==syb"
cob -a -k demo1.eco -C "p(cobsql) cobsqltype==informix-new"
If you experience problems using COBSQL, please contact Micro Focus Support. To help Technical Support locate the cause of the problem, the COBSQL directive SQLDEBUG should be used. The original source, the expanded source (as produced by the database precompiler), the trace file (which will have the extension .trc), the database list file (which will normally have the extension .lis), the command line debug file (which will have the extension .sdb), the project file (which has the same name as the project but with the extension .app) and the COBSQL directive settings used should be sent in a zip file to Technical Support.
Initially, you should check each of the items outlined below.
Forget SQL, and determine whether the client and server are communicating. For TCP/IP, check whether you can ping the server from the workstation and vice versa. If host names don't work, try raw IP addresses. For PC protocols, try mounting a network drive or sending messages.
Check that the SQL networking software is "talking" correctly to the network software. Many SQL vendors supply a ping utility which will show whether the SQL network is set up correctly.
If the SQL network is okay, try some interactive SQL. Most vendors supply a simple utility that allows you to enter SQL from the keyboard and view the results. Most vendors also supply a sample database that is useful for this purpose.
Verify that the standalone precompiler works. There may be an icon or a command line for the precompiler. Verify that it can produce COBOL code correctly. It is normal for some sample applications to be supplied with the precompiler.
Check that a preprocessed application runs okay. Pass the expanded program through the COBOL Compiler and then try to run it.
Try COBSQL with minimal directives. Set up a project in NetExpress, place the SQLCA copyfile into the directory with the sample program (prior to running the precompiler), and see if this works.
If you cannot locate the source of the problem, then check each of the following:
Ensure that you are using the latest version of all the products involved.
Check the vendor's documentation and example applications.
Check that environment variables, PATH and configuration file settings are set up correctly.
By default, COBSQL does not display the command line it passes to the database precompiler. Setting the SQLDEBUG directive enables the command line to be displayed (you will need to do this if the precompiler gives command line errors). Possible causes of command line errors are that the directives to be passed to the precompiler are incorrect or that the length of the precompiler command line has been exceeded.
COBSQL may display the following error because the database precompiler has terminated unexpectedly:
* CSQL-F-021: Precompiler did not complete -- Terminating
This may be because the Operating System has run out of memory attempting to execute the database precompiler.
COBSQL may display the following errors because it cannot find the precompiler's output file. This may be because the precompiler did not produce an output file. The normal reason for this is that the precompiler hit a fatal error which meant it could not create the output file.
* CSQL-E-024: Encountered an I/O on file filename * CSQL-E-023: File Status 3 / 5
where filename is the name of the file produced by the database precompiler.
If COBSQL reports the error "Premature end of expanded source", and the precompiler runs correctly, this indicates that COBSQL has not been able to match the original source lines with the lines produced by the database precompiler.
Another possible reason for COBSQL reporting this error is that the program does not contain any SQL. Generally, if the database precompiler does not come across any SQL it will abort the creation of its output file part way through, causing this error to be displayed.
DBMS HOLD_CURSOR MAXOPENCURSORS MODE RELEASE_CURSOR
The use of arrays enables an application, for example, to fetch ten rows at a time instead of one at a time. Oracle supply an example program (normally called sample3.pco) that uses an array to fetch multiple rows. Arrays are documented in the Pro*Cobol Supplement to the ORACLE Precompilers Guide.
To get the maximum information from Pro*Cobol, set the Pro*Cobol directive xref=yes. This can be added to the Pro*Cobol configuration file, pcccob.cfg.
If the default setting for the client Operating System has been configured, but Sybase still reports national language support errors, use the LANG environment variable to override the setting in the locales.dat file.
For example if the Windows NT client was causing problems and the locales.dat file contained the following setting for Windows NT:
[NT] locale = default, us_english, iso_1 locale = enu, us_english, iso_1 locale = fra, french, iso_1 locale = deu, german, iso_1
then the LANG setting for English would be:
LANG=enu
SYB-number-type-text
where the parameters are:
| SYB- | A string which indicates to COBSQL that this is a modified Sybase error message. |
| number- | A unique, four digit error number assigned to the Sybase error. |
| type- | Indicates the severity of the errror; some of the Sybase messages are only warnings rather than normal or fatal errors. |
| text | The original Sybase error message. |
For example, a typical entry in the esql.loc file might be:
9 = M_PRECLINE, "Warning(s) during check of query on line %1!."
and this would be changed to read:
9 = M_PRECLINE, "SYB-W-2009 Warning(s) during check of query on line %1!."
It is recommended that you make a copy of esql.loc before altering it. Using the modified version, COBSQL can detect the full range of Sybase error messages.
The location of esql.loc is dependent on the language and code page used. This is defined in the locales.dat file. If the definition of the default language for the AIX platform was as follows:
[aix] locale = C, us_english, iso_1 locale = En_US, us_english, iso_1 locale = en_US, us_english, iso_1 locale = default, us_english, iso_1
The default langauge would be us_english, using the iso_1 code page, so the copy of esql.loc that is to be used is:
/sybase home/locales/messages/us_english/iso_1/esql.loc
where sybase home is the directory that the Sybase client is installed into.
For more information on how Sybase uses and locates the different error message files, refer to your Sybase Client Reference Manual.
copyext(eco,mf2,cob,cpy,cbl) osext(eco)
Copyright © 1998 Micro Focus Limited. All rights reserved.
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used herein are protected by international law.
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