cobol, The list of INVOKEs

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In my search for "INVOKEs" I have annoyed Pete, one of the most knowledgeable people out there. I hope not.

He keeps saying there is no list of INVOKEs. But there must be a list somewhere of the INVOKEs that are inherently supported by Micro Focus Net Express.

I have NE 3.1 on an XP laptop, with Excel 3. I also have another laptop with Vista, NE 5.1 and Excel 7.

I have a program that uses many INVOKEs. Examples from a program that works in both environments:

Invoke TheWorksheet "getRange" using myRange
Returning TheRange
Invoke TheRange "setValue" using eut(eux).
move eu-data-length (eux) to ws-col-width, hdg-len (eux).
Invoke TheRange "getColumnWidth" returning Col-Width.
move ws-col-width to col-width.
Invoke TheRange "setColumnWidth" using by value Col-Width.
invoke TheRange "getfont" returning theFonts
invoke theFonts "getBold" returning Cell-bold.
* set field to bold
move 1 to cell-bold.
Invoke TheFonts "setBold" using by value Cell-Bold.

and

Invoke ExcelClass "new" Returning ExcelServer
* test without visible turned on?
if pp-display = "Y"
invoke excelServer "setVisible" using by value 1
else
invoke excelServer "setVisible" using by value 0.
invoke excelServer "getWorkbooks" returning theWorkbooks
invoke theWorkbooks "Add"
Invoke ExcelServer "getapplication" Returning TheApplication
Invoke Theapplication "getActiveworkbook"
Returning TheWorkbook
Invoke Theapplication "getActivesheet"
Returning TheWorksheet
and

finish-spreadsheet.
move pp-xls-name to ExcelFileName.
inspect ExcelfileName replacing all ".xls" by " ".
inspect ExcelFileName replacing all ' ' by X"00".
invoke theWorkbook "SaveAs" using ExcelFileName
invoke excelServer "quit"
invoke excelServer "finalize" returning excelServer.

This final example creates a ".XLS" with Excel 3, and a ".XLSX" with Excel 7.

I have found this partial list:

invoke MSExcel "new" returning ExcelObject
invoke ExcelObject "setVisible" using by value 1
invoke ExcelObject "getWorkBooks" returning WorkBooksCollection
invoke WorkBooksCollection "Add" returning WorkBook
invoke ExcelObject "getWorkSheets" returning WorkSheetsCollection
invoke WorkSheetsCollection "Add" returning WorkSheet
invoke WorkSheet "setName" using z"Company 01"
invoke WorkSheetsCollection "getItem" using by value 1 returning WorkSheet
invoke WorkSheet "activate"
invoke ExcelObject "getColumns" using z"A:M"
invoke getColumns "Select"
invoke getColumns "setNumberFormat" using by reference "@"
invoke getColumns "setNumberFormat" using by reference "0"
invoke getColumns "setNumberFormat" using by reference "$0.00"
invoke getColumns "finalize" returning getColumns
invoke getColumns "AutoFit"
invoke getColumns "getEntireColumn" returning getEntireColumn
invoke getEntireColumn "setHidden" using by value 1
invoke getColumns "finalize" returning getColumns
invoke ExcelObject "getCells" using by value 1 by value 1 returning Cell
invoke Cell "setValue" using by reference WORK-FIELD
invoke Cell "finalize" returning Cell
invoke ExcelObject "getRange" using z"A1:U2"returning CellRange
invoke CellRange "Select"
invoke CellRange "getFont" returning Font
invoke Font "setName" using z"Comic Sans MS"
invoke Font "setSize" using by value 36 size 4
invoke font "setBold" using by value 1 size 4
invoke font "setColorIndex" using by value 45 *> orange
invoke CellRange "finalize" returning CellRange
invoke ExcelObject "getRows" using WORK-FIELD returning getRows
invoke getEntireRow "setHidden" using by value 1
invoke getRows "finalize" returning getRows
invoke WorkBook "SaveAs" using by reference filename by value FileFormat by reference z"password"
invoke WorkBook "Close" using by value 0
invoke WorkBook "finalize" returning WorkBook
invoke WorkBooksCollection "finalize" returning WorkBooksCollection
invoke ExcelObject "Quit"
invoke ExcelObject "Finalize" returning ExcelObject

These and many more are available without me having to define them in any way - just use them. Therefore there must be a complete list of INVOKEs that Net Express makes available.

Does anyone know where I can find that list, with information about how each one is used?

Thanks,
Paul

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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>In my search for "INVOKEs"
I have annoyed Pete, one of the most knowledgeable people out there.  I
hope not.  </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>He keeps saying there is no
list of INVOKEs.  But there must be a list somewhere of the INVOKEs that
are <U><STRONG>inherently supported</STRONG></U> by Micro Focus Net
Express.  </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>I have NE 3.1 on an XP
laptop, with Excel 3.  I also have another laptop with Vista, NE
5.1 and Excel 7.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>I have a program that
uses many INVOKEs.  </FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#000080>Examples from a program that works in both
environments:</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Terminal
size=2>          Invoke
TheWorksheet  "getRange"  using
myRange<BR>                                 
Returning TheRange<BR>         
Invoke TheRange  "setValue" using
eut(eux).<BR>          move
eu-data-length (eux) to ws-col-width, hdg-len
(eux).<BR>          Invoke TheRange
"getColumnWidth" returning
Col-Width.<BR>          move
ws-col-width to
col-width.<BR>          Invoke
TheRange "setColumnWidth" using by value
Col-Width.<BR>          invoke
TheRange "getfont" returning
theFonts<BR>          invoke
theFonts "getBold" returning Cell-bold.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Terminal size=2>      * set field to
bold<BR>          move 1 to
cell-bold.<BR>          Invoke
TheFonts "setBold" using by value Cell-Bold.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Terminal size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Terminal size=2>and</FONT></DIV><FONT face=Terminal size=2>
<DIV><BR>           Invoke
ExcelClass   "new"  Returning ExcelServer</DIV>
<DIV>      * test without visible turned
on?<BR>            if
pp-display =
"Y"<BR>              
invoke excelServer  "setVisible"    using by value
1<BR>            
else<BR>              
invoke excelServer  "setVisible"    using by value
0.<BR>           invoke
excelServer  "getWorkbooks"  returning theWorkbooks</DIV>
<DIV>           invoke
theWorkbooks
"Add"<BR>           Invoke
ExcelServer  "getapplication" Returning
TheApplication<BR>          
Invoke Theapplication
"getActiveworkbook"<BR>                                              
Returning
TheWorkbook<BR>          
Invoke Theapplication
"getActivesheet"<BR>                                               
Returning TheWorksheet</DIV>
<DIV>and</DIV>
<DIV><BR>      
finish-spreadsheet.<BR>          
move pp-xls-name to
ExcelFileName.<BR>          
inspect ExcelfileName replacing all ".xls" by "   
".<BR>           inspect
ExcelFileName replacing all ' ' by
X"00".<BR>           invoke
theWorkbook "SaveAs" using
ExcelFileName<BR>          
invoke excelServer
"quit"<BR>           invoke
excelServer "finalize" returning excelServer.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>This final example
creates a ".XLS" with Excel 3, and a ".XLSX" with Excel 7.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>I have found
this partial list:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Terminal>invoke MSExcel "new" returning ExcelObject<BR>invoke
ExcelObject "setVisible" using by value 1<BR>invoke ExcelObject "getWorkBooks"
returning WorkBooksCollection <BR>invoke WorkBooksCollection "Add" returning
WorkBook <BR>invoke ExcelObject "getWorkSheets" returning WorkSheetsCollection
<BR>invoke WorkSheetsCollection "Add" returning WorkSheet <BR>invoke WorkSheet
"setName" using z"Company 01" <BR>invoke WorkSheetsCollection "getItem" using by
value 1 returning WorkSheet <BR>invoke WorkSheet "activate" <BR>invoke
ExcelObject "getColumns" using z"A:M"<BR>invoke getColumns "Select"<BR>invoke
getColumns "setNumberFormat" using by reference "@" <BR>invoke getColumns
"setNumberFormat" using by reference "0"<BR>invoke getColumns "setNumberFormat"
using by reference "$0.00"<BR>invoke getColumns "finalize" returning
getColumns<BR>invoke getColumns "AutoFit"<BR>invoke getColumns "getEntireColumn"
returning getEntireColumn<BR>invoke getEntireColumn "setHidden" using by value
1<BR>invoke getColumns "finalize" returning getColumns<BR>invoke ExcelObject
"getCells" using by value 1 by value 1 returning Cell <BR>invoke Cell "setValue"
using by reference WORK-FIELD<BR>invoke Cell "finalize" returning Cell<BR>invoke
ExcelObject "getRange" using z"A1:U2"returning CellRange <BR>invoke CellRange
"Select"<BR>invoke CellRange "getFont" returning Font<BR>invoke Font "setName"
using z"Comic Sans MS"<BR>invoke Font "setSize" using by value 36 size
4<BR>invoke font "setBold" using by value 1 size 4<BR>invoke font
"setColorIndex" using by value 45 *> orange<BR>invoke CellRange "finalize"
returning CellRange<BR>invoke ExcelObject "getRows" using WORK-FIELD returning
getRows <BR>invoke getEntireRow "setHidden" using by value 1<BR>invoke getRows
"finalize" returning getRows<BR>invoke WorkBook "SaveAs" using by reference
filename by value FileFormat by reference z"password"<BR>invoke WorkBook "Close"
using by value 0<BR>invoke WorkBook "finalize" returning WorkBook<BR>invoke
WorkBooksCollection "finalize" returning WorkBooksCollection <BR>invoke
ExcelObject "Quit"<BR>invoke ExcelObject "Finalize" returning
ExcelObject</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>These and many more are
available <U><STRONG>without me having to define them</STRONG></U> in any way -
just use them.  <U><STRONG>Therefore there must be a complete list of
INVOKEs</STRONG></U> that Net Express makes available.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Does anyone know where I
can find that list, with information about how each one is used?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Thanks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Paul</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML></FONT></FONT>

On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:59:43 -0500, "Paul H"



Paul - as Pete said THERE IS NO LIST OF INVOKES FOR COBOL.

a INVOKE is basically calling a OBJECT and doing something with it -
being it getting a new instance of a object, or executing a METHOD or
setting/getting a PROPERTY.

those METHODs or PROPERTIES vary according to the object - e.g. Excel
will have its own list of methods and properties, Word will have
another list, and for example Farpoint Spread will have a completely
diff set also.


so the so called list of invokes you are looking for is NOT on COBOL,
but rather on the object(s) you are using.
This link will give you SOME of the Excel object model overview - all
info you need is there or around it - but as mentioned before by Pete,
you can also do that if you look at the object browser within Excel
itself.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa272268 (office.11).aspx

How you adapt the object to be usable by COBOL is another story - in
COBOL you need to do a bit more work than on VB or other languages -
but only because of the way objects are defined in both languages.

But all objects and their methods/collections/events/properties can be
worked in COBOL - you just have to learn how to do them - and once and
for all get into your head that there is NO LIST OF INVOKES suported
by MF. - what you have is a list of things that the Object you are
dealing with has - and for that you look on the documentation of THAT
Object.






Frederico Fonseca
ema il: frederico_fonseca at syssoft-int.com

Thank you Frederico. Good explanation.

Perhaps he'll understand it if it comes from someone else... :-)

I tried to make it clear earlier that I am not annoyed, just disappointed.
When you try to help somebody and they won't follow your advice, it is often
disapppointing, but, at the end of the day, all I you can do is cut your
losses and stop wasting your time...

Having been a consultant for many decades, I learned long ago that people
have a right not to take your advice, and there is no point getting upset
about it. They pay their money; you do the best you can. In this case it was
free advice and probably worth more than the price. :-)

It was never personal or acrimonious, and I have helped Paul on other
occasions with other problems.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."

In article <4a2f4c02$0$23763$ XXXX@XXXXX.COM >,


The grammar here is ambiguous. Is it your hope that Mr Dashwood was not
annoyed by you... or that he is not 'one of the most knowledgeable people
out there'?

('There's still much hope... after all, he only asked Mr Dashwood.')

DD

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I do understand what you are saying. You are telling me that Excel performs what it is told to do. And how to find these abilities.

You are ignoring my statement that MF NE has some number of "INVOKE" actions that it recognizes without my having to define them or write them in VB or whatever!

I showed them to you in my example.

I have my program working, with speed problems and needing other abilities.

Therefore I would like a more complete list than I already have.

This is definitely a MF NE question, not a question of what Excel can do!

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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>I do understand what you are
saying.  You are telling me that Excel performs what it is told to
do.  And how to find these abilities.<BR><BR>You are ignoring my statement
that <U><STRONG>MF NE has some number of "INVOKE" actions</STRONG></U> that it
recognizes <U><STRONG>without my having to define them</STRONG></U> or write
them in VB or whatever!<BR><BR>I showed them to you in my example.<BR><BR>I have
my program working, with speed problems and needing other
abilities.<BR><BR>Therefore I would like a more complete list than I already
have.<BR><BR><FONT size=5>This is definitely a <U><STRONG>MF NE
question</STRONG></U>, not a question of what Excel can do!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:15:58 -0500, "Paul H"





All the examples you showed on this thread are NOT a list of things MF
has done - they are just samples that MF supplies and that basically
helps the users by showing them how it can be done - by no means is
supposed to be a final thing that you can not improve on your own.


As you obviously do not know what you are talking about my advise to
you now it to hire someone that knows to teach you or to do the work
for your company.

With that type of attitude you are showing us here you will not get
far on your work s you will be unable to perform any task that forces
you to think a bit about it - or indeed to investigate it further.

as you are so fixated on a list of actions I will just add another one
to this - many new actions that I could give to you would only work if
you were on a machine with Excel 2007 - they would not work if you
only had excel 2000 or 2003 - and this would be a VALID INVOKE within
MicroFocus - and, I repeat, it would work fine - provided you had the
correct version of Excel on your machine.


If you decide to do your work as it should be done, and decide to go
to the links provided by the software you are trying to use (Excel on
this case) and come back here with some valid questions regarding the
usage of particular things Excel can do and that you are unable to get
to work, then I will try and help you - but as long as you insist that
this is a MF problem and keep asking for something that does NOT
exist, then you are on your own.


Frederico Fonseca
ema il: frederico_fonseca at syssoft-int.com

Begging your pardon, but -- no, you *don't* understand.

Nonsense. He didn't ignore that statement -- he explained why it's incorrect.

It most definitely is *not* a MF question, and most definitely *is* an Excel
question. I'll try -- ONCE -- to explain the situation to you in slightly
different terms:

"INVOKE" is a generic built-in that's part of many programming languages, used
to incorporate many different data structures or methods into a program, for
use in interfacing with databases or other software. *Which* *specific*
*things* can be INVOKEd depends on what you're trying to interface *to*
(Excel, in this case), not on what you're trying to interface *with* (MF).

I just found "c:\Program Files\MERANT\Net
Express\Base\DEMO\OLEDEMOS\EXCEL\MSEXCEL.CPY". I need to look thru it in
detail, but it looks like the documentation I need. And it is MF NE
documentation! A list of the INVOKES that are built into MF NE. So tell me
there is no list of INVOKEs built into MF NE!

===========================



On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:15:58 -0500, "Paul H"





All the examples you showed on this thread are NOT a list of things MF
has done - they are just samples that MF supplies and that basically
helps the users by showing them how it can be done - by no means is
supposed to be a final thing that you can not improve on your own.


As you obviously do not know what you are talking about my advise to
you now it to hire someone that knows to teach you or to do the work
for your company.

With that type of attitude you are showing us here you will not get
far on your work s you will be unable to perform any task that forces
you to think a bit about it - or indeed to investigate it further.

as you are so fixated on a list of actions I will just add another one
to this - many new actions that I could give to you would only work if
you were on a machine with Excel 2007 - they would not work if you
only had excel 2000 or 2003 - and this would be a VALID INVOKE within
MicroFocus - and, I repeat, it would work fine - provided you had the
correct version of Excel on your machine.


If you decide to do your work as it should be done, and decide to go
to the links provided by the software you are trying to use (Excel on
this case) and come back here with some valid questions regarding the
usage of particular things Excel can do and that you are unable to get
to work, then I will try and help you - but as long as you insist that
this is a MF problem and keep asking for something that does NOT
exist, then you are on your own.


Frederico Fonseca
ema il: frederico_fonseca at syssoft-int.com

On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:03:59 -0500, "Paul H"


by reading the location it is quite clear to every dumb around here
that it is a DEMO sample - as I said. so go ahead and assume it is the
definiteve list - when you start working with Excel 2007 most of them
will not work - your call


Frederico Fonseca
ema il: frederico_fonseca at syssoft-int.com

No, it's not. It's a list of EXCEL methods, objects, etc. Hint: Look at the
last 17 characters of the pathname: "EXCEL\MSEXCEL.CPY". Do you think for even
one moment that you could use the methods and objects described there to
interface to, say, CorelDraw?


There is no list of INVOKEs built into MF NE. What you can invoke depends on
what you're interfacing *to* -- Excel, in this case.

mr. h.

most of the 'gentlemen' that post to this newsgroup on a regular basis
are proven professionals in the field of computer programming. if you
take anything away from reading the postings here take away the fact
that there 'is' more than one way to cross the road. and these guys
know all the ways.

what they can't do is make you understand what they are communicating to
you in their 'professional' vocabularies. maybe i can somewhat because
i wouldn't know what an 'invoke' was if it bit me in the ass.

first; my background. i began working with computers in a military
environment... computers that killed. i then went into state and
federal government work... computers that lied and stole. i finished my
programming career in manufacturing and wholesaling... computers
supporting fraud and greed. i've programmed in more languages and
utilities than i can remember, with considerable experience with cobol,
bal, and rpg.

after reading all these posts i still wouldn't know an 'invoke' from a
'nod'. but i have learned a thing or two; one being that the authors of
a thing that has something in it that can be 'invoked' are the ones that
have created that thing, and are the ones responsible for documenting
what they have created.

from your line quoted above... '...T\Net Express\B...S\EXCEL\M...' tells
me that you are looking at 'excel' documentation withing 'net express'.
if this is in deed what you are looking for then thank net express for
including excel documentation with the net express product, but rest
assured that the documentation there is still the work of excel.

you may have found a 'complete' list of invokes, but it is in all
likelihood a 'complete' list of invokes for a 'specific' version of excel.

so. relax. take a chill pill. you aren't paying these guys a penny
for what they are normally paid well for. they don't work for you so
you can't fire them. and you began this thing with a call for 'help'.
they HAVE (sorry; no way to underline) given you useful information in
their replies as you will discover in the future.

enjoy the experience.

sss

In article <e952c$4a2fefc4$621635ab$ XXXX@XXXXX.COM >,


[snip]


... and then... there's me!

DD

yes!!! cause DD isn't a gentlemen - he is a KING!!! or so he tries to
convince us from time to time


Frederico Fonseca
ema il: frederico_fonseca at syssoft-int.com

Sorry Frederico. I don't care what PECD wrote THERE IS A COBOL LIST OF
INVOKES for EXCEL if you are using Net Express. (More accurately, there
ARE specific METHODS in Net Express that can be used to INVOKE Excel). I
will be replying to Paul's private message on the same topic.

Whoops ! Saves me replying to him - I see he has found the demo on Excel
for himself. MsExcel.cpy is a COMPLETE list of COBOL methods plus
data-types required to INVOKE Excel. It is an extract taken from M/F
source using the Type Library Assistant in the IDE. In this case M/F did
the extract for developers. It is of course only up-to-date as at the
date of the version of N/E. Paul can probably get all that he wants from
this copyfile.

Should he wish to be more updated, he has a copy of UE of N/E V 5.1 (or
is it 5.0 ?), where he can generate a new MsExcel copyfie - but very
likely doesn't need to.

Now for Paul - Having seen your example of what your Excel worksheet
looks like - why did you pick Excel ?

Some 10 - 15 years back MS were flogging their Office Suite as a 'You
can do it all Mr. End-User'. Yeah if they wanted to sweat it out. It is
not programming but packaged programming - therefore they probably have
set limitations, e.g., Richard commented on perhaps 1,024 rows was where
Excel hiccups - and for real volume stuff Excel may not be the answer.

See, somebody here once suggested you could use MS Word to print
invoices. I subsequently wrote here that was what I thought I would do
(actually, print paged reports). Thank God Donald Tees was around at the
time. "Whoa Jimmy, MS Word may not be able to handle the volume !". I
suspect he was right.

Paul, take a deep breath before you go any further - and look at the
following :-

\Merant\Net Express\Dialog System\Demo\CommonContainers\Listview

and load project LVIEW. The whole thing is written in COBOL and Dialog
System. It gives you an elegant grid table, and you don't have to piss
around with MS 1234 actually means 12.34 !!! I don't use Dialog System
and I do have a couple of qualifiers about using the Listview demo
sample - let me know your reaction to the demo and then we can pursue it
privately from there if you like, plus I can ask the M/F Forum about any
limitations.

Jeepers Paul, just read you are an old fart at 70; join the club, I'm 78
:-)

Jimmy

you did notice the 'most' qualification?

sss