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.

Client folder

After generation, Visual COBOL adds a client application folder to the project that 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 is started
Your service interface is deployed to the enterprise server instance
You have defined a COBOL Enterprise Server Debug Configuration that specifies the following:
- The project that contains your service interface (.svi) file
- The enterprise server instance configured to run the service
- That the debugging type that corresponds to the type of service is configured properly
The COBOL application is started in the Debugger

Once these things are in place, return to the Team Developer View. Right-click the service interface entry in the project's client folder; then select Debug As > COBOL Application from the context menu.