Configuring Your Application for Visual Studio

As an RM/COBOL user, you can modernize your applications for Visual COBOL by using the DIALECT"RM" Compiler directive, which enables compilation and run-time behavior highly compatible with RM/COBOL.
Note: If your RM/COBOL source code uses RM/Panels syntax, refer to the RM/Panels Conversion Example for your IDE instead.

This tutorial demonstrates migrating your RM/COBOL source code to Visual COBOL using the Visual Studio IDE. It takes you through creating a new project, setting the appropriate Compiler directives, importing the RM/COBOL source into the project, and then building it.

The modernization process utilizes the Micro Focus enhanced ACCEPT/DISPLAY syntax run-time support module (Adis) to emulate some of the behaviors expected in RM/COBOL.

  1. Create a Native Visual COBOL Project
    Create the solution and project in which your RM/COBOL source code will be imported.
  2. Set the DIALECT"RM" Compiler Directive for the Project
    Set the DIALECT"RM" directive at project level, so that it applies to all programs within the project.
  3. Import your RM/COBOL Source Code
    Import one or more of your source files into the project.
  4. Add Adis Support to the Project
    Add Adis support to your project to alter the default behavior of the enhanced ACCEPT and DISPLAY statements in Micro Focus COBOL.
  5. Build and Run the Project
    Build the project(s) within the solution and then run the application.
  6. Appendices
Parent topic: Converting RM/COBOL Applications
Related reference
Conversion Example: Using Visual Studio