Executable File Types - Summary

The following table summarizes the main advantages of the different executable file formats available in Visual COBOL.

Advantages File type
Operating system format Callable shared object System executable Shared library
Executes quickly Callable shared object Generated code System executable Shared library
Shareable Callable shared object System executable Shared library
Used for mixed-language applications Callable shared object System executable Shared library
Dynamically loaded and only run when called from a COBOL program Callable shared object Generated code Intermediate code
Portable to other processors and operating systems Intermediate code
Submodules can easily be replaced without relinking the entire application Callable shared object Generated code Intermediate code Shared library

All of the file formats can be used when debugging a program.