1
Introducing Pro*COBOL

This chapter describes the Oracle programmatic interface for the COBOL language running under the Windows NT and Windows 95 operating systems.

Specific topics discussed are:

• What is Pro*COBOL?
• Installing Pro*COBOL
• PL/SQL Support
• Features
• Restrictions

What is Pro*COBOL?

To access an Oracle8 database, you use a high-level query language called Structured Query Language (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 into standard Oracle run-time library calls. 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 following compilers:

• Fujitsu COBOL version 3.0 for 32-bit Windows NT/95
• Micro Focus Object COBOL version 4.0 for 32-bit Windows NT/95

Installing Pro*COBOL

For instructions on how to install Pro*COBOL, refer to the CD-ROM insert.

PL/SQL Support

This version of Pro*COBOL supports PL/SQL version 8.0, Oracle's procedural language extension 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.

For more information on embedding PL/SQL in your Pro*COBOL applications, see Chapter 6 of the Pro*COBOL Precompiler Programmer's Guide.

Features

Pro*COBOL supports the following:

• Oracle databases version 8.0 and later
• embedded PL/SQL blocks
• bundled database calls, which can provide better performance in client/server environments
• full ANSI compliance for embedded SQL programming
• calls to PL/SQL stored procedures

Restrictions

Pro*COBOL does not support the following:

• user exits
• access to the Oracle Call Interface
• Oracle8 object types
• graphical user interface
• 16-bit code generation

---