Microsoft KB Archive/31819

COBOL Compiler Version 2.20 Includes COBOL Tools

PSS ID Number: Q31819 Article last modified on 11-16-1992

2.20 MS-DOS

Summary: Microsoft COBOL Version 2.20 includes a symbolic debugger, a cross-reference generator, and other utilities.

More Information: The Microsoft COBOL Compiler Version 2.20 includes COBOL Tools, formerly available as a separate package. This powerful set of productivity aids minimizes coding time and reduces the cost of program development and maintenance. Both the MS-DOS and the XENIX 286 versions of the compiler packages are updated. Microsoft COBOL includes the following features: 1. ViewCob - An intuitive, interactive symbolic debugger for COBOL. ViewCob has an easy-to-learn, menu-driven interface similar to that of Microsoft Multiplan. It supports multiple windows for viewing source code, program-execution history, breakpoints, and memory locations while a program is executing. Powerful execution control, breakpoints, and tracing provide the programmer with a tool for analyzing all aspects of a Microsoft COBOL program. You can modify any data item at any breakpoint to test different conditions in a program without cumbersome data input or recompilation. Run-time errors can be trapped. In some cases (e.g. non-numeric data), you can correct the situation and continue execution. On-line help messages are available for descriptions of command functions and general operational procedures. 2. CobRef - An advanced cross-reference generator. CobRef allows the COBOL programmer to cross-reference source-code listings to data items, files, and procedure calls in a program. In addition to name and type, listings include details on where an item is defined and referenced. 3. Menu Handler - An innovative utility to enhance Microsoft COBOL applications with a menu-oriented user interface. Menu Handler provides a program skeleton for creating applications with a menu-oriented user interface that is similar to the interface for Microsoft Multiplan. Entries in the command area are mapped to procedure calls in the COBOL application. 4. CbMouse (available only in the MS-DOS version) - An object module to interface the Microsoft Mouse to applications. The CbMouse object module is linked to the program at run time. It translates the COMP-0 data items defined by the programmer into the format that the mouse system calls are expecting. It converts the pixel values needed by the mouse to row/column values used by COBOL without the application having to go through the conversions.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1992.