Microsoft KB Archive/33234

Novell Network Compatibility with COBOL 3.00, 2.10 and 2.20

PSS ID Number: Q33234 Article last modified on 07-18-1990

3.00 3.00a | 3.00 3.00a MS-DOS | OS/2

Summary: Microsoft claims compatibility only with IBM PC-NET for Microsoft COBOL 2.x, 3.00, and 3.00a. But the Microsoft COBOL Compiler Versions 3.00 and 3.00a may work successfully on networks that claim to be IBM PC-NET compatible and NetBIOS compatible such as the Entry Level Solution NetWare Level 2 (ELS 2), Advanced NetWare, and System Fault Tolerance (SFT NetWare) implementation of the Novell networking software. However, there may be problems with earlier versions of the Novell ELS NetWare implementation. Please note that the manufacturer of the network must support the claim of PC-NET and NetBIOS compatibility. Microsoft does not claim compatibility with and has not tested COBOL 3.00 or 3.00a on any implementation of Novell NetWare. Microsoft does not support development with COBOL 2.x, 3.00, or 3.00a under any implementation of Novell NetWare. For more information on network compatibility with Microsoft COBOL 3.00 query on the following words: COBOL and Novell and compatibility

More Information: Problems are expected with earlier versions of Novell ELS NetWare for the following reasons. Microsoft COBOL Versions 3.00 and 3.00a don’t trap the Novell-specific errors generated by the ELS release. Also, according to customer reports, record locking in COBOL 3.00 and 3.00a doesn’t work on ELS. For example, when user 1 locks a record and user 2 accesses that record, user 1 doesn’t get a locked record status. These reports are not confirmed. By design, the networking capabilities in Microsoft COBOL Versions 2.10 and 2.20 are limited to IBM PC-NET. The ISAM file handler provided with Versions 2.10 and 2.20 executes a series of interrupts that “tie” the COBOL application directly to the IBM PC NETwork card. For this reason, Microsoft COBOL Versions 2.10 and 2.20 are not compatible with any Novell network implementations. In contrast, ISAM file handling support provided in Microsoft COBOL Compiler Versions 3.00 and 3.00a is not “tied” to the network card. This means that it may be possible to use other networks, including the ELS Level 2, Advanced, and SFT implementations of Novell NetWare. However, problems may be encountered with Novell ELS NetWare implementation. Novell’s ELS provides a customized, user-friendly operating environment that includes Novell-specific error messages and controlled user interaction. The ELS network system intercepts the interrupts that the COBOL application normally sends to the operating system and to the NetBIOS. However, the ELS system does not always provide to the application return codes that mirror those generated when interacting directly with the operating system or the NetBIOS. Microsoft COBOL relies heavily on direct interaction with MS-DOS and the NetBIOS and relies on return codes that depict the success or failure of command requests to the operating system and the NetBIOS. As a result, execution of the ELS networking system with Microsoft COBOL Version 3.00 or 3.00a programs may result in unpredictable behavior and software failure. To be compatible with the ELS implementation of Novell NetWare, Microsoft would be required to introduce completely new, implementation-specific logic to the COBOL product, logic that could become defunct each time the ELS system is upgraded by Novell.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1990.