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.