COBOL Console Client

Restriction: This topic applies only when the Enterprise Server feature is enabled.

With the exception of Java interfaces, all other service types automatically generate a COBOL console application client. As part of client generation, a proxy program is also generated. The proxy provides a standard mechanism for invoking the service, and is intended for use by production clients.

Console client project

After generation, Visual COBOL adds a client application project to the solution. The name of the project is myserviceClientApp, and contains the following components:

myService-app.cbl
A sample client COBOL program.
myService-proxy.cbl
A COBOL program for invoking the service via a production client.
myService-copy.cpy
A copybook used by both the -app and -proxy programs.

Editing a console client program

To enhance its appearance and usability, you can optionally edit the sample console client program using the Visual COBOL COBOL editor, or any text editor.

Running a console client

You can run a console client directly from your project using the Visual COBOL Debugger. Before doing so, ensure that:

  • The enterprise server instance configured to run the service is associated with the project that contains your service interface (.svi) file
  • The enterprise server instance is started
  • Your service interface is deployed to the enterprise server instance
  • The console client project is set as the startup project

When you start the Debugger, Visual COBOL automatically builds the client project and executes it.