You need the Micro Focus software to compile and run Cobol programs. Micro Focus compiler for Cobol has two versions – Net Express for Windows and Server Express for Unix/Linux. In this article, we will discuss Micro Focus for Windows.

For PeopleTools 8.55, the supported version for Windows is Micro Focus Net Express 5.1 Wrap Pack 11. If you are running a Wrap Pack prior to Wrap Pack 6 or have no Net Express version installed, you’ll need to install Wrap Pack 6 before installing Wrap Pack 11.

The Micro Focus Net Express installation files are available on Oracle Software Delivery Cloud. Search for “Micro Focus Net Express and select the platform as Windows x64 and you should see the results.”

What is needed to Compile and Run Cobols?

Compiling Cobol programs – To compile Cobol programs, you need to install and license the Net Express 5.1 Wrap Pack 11 Compiler.

Running Cobol programs – To run Cobol programs, you have 2 options:

1. Use Net Express 5.1 Wrap Pack 11 Compiler to run compiled programs. Net Express 5.1 WP 11 has in-built runtime to execute compiled Cobol programs. An example of where you’d need this is developer workstations. Developers can develop, compile and execute Cobol programs on their workstations.
2. Install and license the Runtime (Unlimited License Patch – MFLicense.exe). ULP or Unlimited License Patch or MFLicense.exe provides unlimited runtime licenses and you can install it on all your process scheduler machines as well as appservers.

How to Install Net Express 5.1 Wrap Pack 11

Steps to install Net Express 5.1 Wrap Pack 11 are mentioned below:

1. If you are running a Wrap Pack prior to Wrap Pack 6 or have no Net Express version installed, you’ll need to install Wrap Pack 6 before installing Wrap Pack 11. Download both WP6 and WP11 or just WP11.
2. Unzip the downloaded zipped files, V33436-01.zip and V75539-01.zip.
3. Double click nxp3251060079.exe to start installation of WP6.

Provide the User Name, Company Name, Serial Number and Work Order Number. If you don’t have these details, you’ll receive a 30-day trial license after which you’ll have to secure a license from Micro Focus or alternatively, you’ll need to keep requesting a 24-hour license every time you use the compiler.
Note that you need the license only to compile the Cobol programs.

You only need to install the option which says “Traditional Graphical User Interfaces.” The two options under it – Dialog System and Class Library Files also need to be installed. Click on all other options to not install them. If you forget to uncheck those options – you’ll get notifications to install additional Microsoft software, which is not needed for this purpose.

4. Double nxp3251110031.msp to start installation of WP11.

Go to Control Panel – Programs and Features to make sure that the installation is there.

Net Express - We are running wrappacks from 6 - 12. - why the huge gap? When developers upgraded to Wndows 10 and something fails....the first response from Micro Focus is 'You need to be on the latest wrappack' (Which agree with).....so those end up running on the latest wrappack.

I run windows 10 and I'm on wrappack 6. I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and was not a new install.

Our compile server however is sitting at wrappack 6 to match the customers environment.

Probably 90% of our developers run Windows 10 (it might even be 100%), others are probably on Windows 8.

In our production code that shipped to the customer we actually set this 'MFOLECL_NO_THREAD_INIT' in code.

In terms of the Micro Focus Server that our customers run on is based on wrappack 6. - To roll out any changes to the runtime is a massive task and not undertaken lightly. There are a lot of laws, processes, testing etc that would have to be undertaken by our customers to take any 'fix' or changes.

Again there are other considerations that can effect deployment especially now UAC (User Access Control) is regarded as 'ON' on everybody machine. (We only support Windows 7 SP1 and higher, Server 2008 and higher as well as Azure)

I don't deploy under 'Program Files' (Unless they are Windows services - as they run elevated)

All my executables are manifested 'asInvoker'

All my executables are compiled 'Shared dynamic' therefore the runtime location is derived from the registry.

The runtime is deployed under 'Program FilesCompanyName'

To roll out the Visual COBOL runtime will involve a years testing and will only happen on a product release.

To sum it up.....we have more problems or issues with Net Express, we don't have any issues with Micro Focus Server or our application running under it.

Neil