HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
COBOL System Interface Access to the major components of the Micro Focus COBOL compilation system - the Compiler, the native code generator and the system linker - is via a single command: cob. Files specified to this command can be any mixture of COBOL source, intermediate code, native code, linkable object code, C source files or assembler source files. By default, the cob command converts the specified COBOL source files into intermediate code files which are suitable for animation; that is, files which can be executed under the control of Animator. However, depending on the option you specify to it, the cob command can output native code, intermediate code, dynamically linked or statically linked executable modules. Compiling The Micro Focus COBOL Compiler compiles COBOL source code into intermediate (.int) code. This intermediate code is a sequence of instructions to an abstract Micro Focus COBOL machine. Information files for use by Animator (.idy) are also created. Animating Animator is an interactive program debugging tool for use with Micro Focus COBOL programs. Generating The native code generator translates and optimizes the intermediate code (.int) produced by the Compiler into native code (.gnt or .o) for your processor. Linking If you wish to link your program, for example if you are mixing C programs with your COBOL programs, then you use the cob command. This automatically invokes the system linker provided with your UNIX system to link the required run-time support libraries to your native code object files and create one executable file. Since you would not normally create linkable object code, linking is not discussed in this chapter. Running The run-time system (RTS) loads files of intermediate or native code. If both .int and .gnt code is available, then by default, the RTS passes native code to your processor for direct execution. It can execute intermediate code interpretively if you select this option. The RTS also acts as the interface between your Micro Focus COBOL program and such operating system functions as file and device handling and memory management. Your COBOL system provides everything you need to develop modern COBOL applications to run under UNIX. It also provides for problem-free migration of COBOL applications from a large number of other systems and dialects, including IBM mainframe COBOL, to UNIX. Before reading this guide you should have read your Getting Started book, which guides you through installing the COBOL system and gives a brief overview of using it. This chapter guides you through the normal basic process for creating executable files from COBOL source code; from compiling your programs to shipping completed applications to your end-users. Refer to your COBOL System Reference for full details of operating the Compiler and Animator, and of Running your programs. Refer to your Getting Started for details of the development cycle using the menu system and differences in the files created and used when Toolset components are installed.