Pro*COBOL Getting Started for Windows Platforms

**Introducing Pro*COBOL**

What is Pro*COBOL?
32-bit Application Development
PL/SQL Support
Pro*COBOL Support
How to Begin

What is Pro*COBOL?

To access an Oracle database, you use a high-level query language called Structured Query Language, or SQL. You often use SQL through an interactive interface, such as SQL*Plus.

Pro*COBOL is a precompiler that converts SQL statements embedded within COBOL programs to COBOL statements. The output file can then be compiled by a COBOL compiler.

Use the Pro*COBOL precompiler when rapid development and compatibility with other systems are your priorities.

Pro*COBOL supports the MicroFocus Object COBOL 4.0 for 32-bit Windows NT/95 COBOL compiler.

32-bit Application Development

Release 1.8 of Pro*COBOL supports 32-bit application development using the Oracle database under Microsoft Windows NT/95.

PL/SQL Support

This version of Pro*COBOL supports PL/SQL Version 2.2, Oracle's procedural language extensions to the SQL language standard for enhancing performance of the Oracle database. For more information on PL/SQL see the PL/SQL User's Guide and Reference available with your Oracle7 Server documentation.

For information on including PL/SQL in your Pro*COBOL applications, see the Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers and the Supplement to the Oracle Precompilers Guide.

Pro*COBOL Support

Features

This release of Pro*COBOL supports the following:

Oracle7 Servers
Oracle databases Version 7.2 and later
Oracle Version 7.2 SQL
embedded PL/SQL blocks
bundled database calls, which can provide better performance in client/server environments
full ANSI compliance for embedded SQL programming
PL/SQL Version 2.2 and host language arrays in PL/SQL procedures
easy source-level migration to 1.8(this version) for applications developed with Pro*COBOL Version 1.3 .
calls to PL/SQL procedures stored blocks

Restrictions

Pro*COBOL 1.8 for Windows NT/95 does not support

user exits.
access to the Oracle Call Interfaces (OCIs)

How to Begin

Follow these steps to get started quickly with your new Oracle product:

Complete and return the registration and support cards in your Customer Information booklet.
Follow the instructions to install your Oracle database (if you have not already done so).
Follow the instructions in the installation chapter of this Guide to install Pro*COBOL.
Follow the directions in the Building Pro*COBOL Applications for Windows NT/95 chapter of this manual to begin using the precompiler. Build and run the sample programs described in that chapter to ensure that you have successfully installed Pro*COBOL.

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All Rights Reserved.