This document discusses strategies for modernizing COBOL user interfaces, including developing thick and thin client applications with .NET and Java frameworks. It describes using web services and deploying COBOL applications to the cloud. Best practices are outlined, such as separating application layers and reusing existing COBOL. The document demonstrates how Visual COBOL allows deploying COBOL applications on multiple platforms while keeping existing code portable.

1. 1
Transforming Your COBOL UI
Scot Nielsen
Mike Bleistein

2. Key Concepts
User Interface Modernization for Net Express & Server Express
applications
• User Interface modernization using .NET or Java/JVM
• Thick Client/desktop applications
• Thin Client/browser applications
• Modernizing using web services
• BYOD
• Best Practices and considerations for COBOL UI
modernization

3. Universal Deployment with COBOL Server
rapid, cost-effective, flexible service delivery with Visual COBOL
Cloud .NET JVM
INNOVATECHOOSEDEPLOY
Application Virtualisation: Mobile, SaaS and cloud-based solutions
Unix Linux Windows

4. Native Code
Generator
Visual COBOL Deployment Agility
Native
code
MSIL
code
Byte
code
COBOL
source
INT
code
Micro Focus
compiler
COBOL is the unique solution
The fastest & lowest risk route to Java or
.NET

5. • .NET based UI
– Window Forms (WinForms)
– Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
Take advantage of Visual Studio’s built-in UI design tools…but generate COBOL
• Java based UI
– AWT, SWT
– Swing
Take advantage of Java UI design tools…and call COBOL compiled as a Java
Class
5
Desktop UI modernization with
Managed Code

6. 6
Design Tools with Visual COBOL and .NET

7. 7
Design Tools with Visual COBOL and Java

8. • Replace a screen with a
Windows Form
• Wrap a .NET user control
as an ActiveX and use
that in Dialog System
Modernizing Dialog System apps

9. • .NET Web Service
– WCF - Windows Communication Foundation
• COBOL JVM and Java App Servers
– Deploy Java and COBOL together under Tomcat
– Use Java to provide web service and call COBOL on the back end
• Web Services – Enterprise Server
– Native code support for web services and J2EE app server
deployment
9
Service based modernization with Visual
COBOL

10. 10
Best Practices

11. • Existing Micro Focus COBOL in many cases can be compiled as-is or with very
little changes.
• One set of existing COBOL source can be reused on multiple platforms (Native,
.NET, or even JVM)
• Provides for a clean and easier to maintain architecture
• COBOL.NET class interfaces with “other” .NET languages in an object oriented
way – Class Definition, Methods, Properties
• Methods in COBOL.NET class can call legacy COBOL with standard COBOL
syntax:
– CALL “program” USING… or CALL WS-PROGRAM USING…
Keep Existing COBOL portable where possible

12. • Gives you more options as new technologies come along
• I/O Layer, UI Layer, Services, Layer, Business Rules layer
• Gives flexibility within the application as well makes it more
open to other applications and re-use
Begin separating layers of the application

13. • Without changing one line of COBOL, allows existing procedural COBOL to run in
multi-user applications
• Classes provided a runtime service classes that can be used by any .NET language
that needs to use legacy COBOL in multi-user applications
• Only needed at the top level class that is calling the procedural COBOL. Any called
modules below are also protected.
• Absolutely necessary in server or multi-user .NET applications – Code at executed
ON the server by many users
• Allows you to bring valuable existing business logic forward into .NET server
applications
• Provided in MicroFocus.COBOL.RuntimeServices assembly
• RunUnit class
Procedural COBOL re-use in Multi-User applications

14. Demonstration

15. Demo Architecture
15
Client
COBOL JVM
Server
WCF COBOL .NET
Server

16. Things to remember…
• Where and how you want to deploy your applications will help
determine your modernization strategy
• Visual COBOL provide a number of choices for modernizing your
existing COBOL
• Choices are enabled by support for and integration into modern
development IDEs and associated technologies
• Test Drive a Visual COBOL app in the cloud:
http://vcdemo.microfocus.com/airportdemo
16
You don’t have to take the B out of COBOL for it to be COOL!