With ACUCOBOL-GT, Windows developers can use any ActiveX control or Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) object on the market in their ACUCOBOL-GT program. When they add an ActiveX control or OLE object to their program, whether it is graphical or non-graphical, the control or object becomes part of the development and run-time environment and instantly provides the application with new functionality.
OLE objects are application components that perform well-defined functions, often involving a graphical user interface. ActiveX controls are OLE objects that subscribe to the ActiveX component model originally developed by Microsoft. As such, they behave in a manner that developers can predict, they are reusable, and they are toolable. Pre-programmed controls (such as calendars, clocks, and gauges) are sold by third-party vendors along with the licensing rights to use them in your Windows application. Non-graphical controls and objects such as spell checkers and Automation servers are also available, widening the opportunities for your COBOL application even further.
By supporting ActiveX controls and OLE objects, ACUCOBOL-GT allows you to take advantage of existing software functionality, as well as create applications that conform to the Windows standard.
The following sections provide a general overview of ActiveX and OLE programming, including information on how to add ActiveX and OLE objects to your program, avoid name clashes, distribute a program that contains an ActiveX or OLE object, respond to events, handle errors, and more. Related information can be found throughout the ACUCOBOL-GT Manual Set as indicated in the "Index to ActiveX and OLE Topics" below.
Index to ActiveX and OLE Topics
Following is an index of ActiveX and OLE-related topics that you can find in the ACUCOBOL-GT Manual Set outside of this section on "ActiveX and OLE Programming." The entries below are given with their manual name and section number. Note that User's Guide is abbreviated UG, User Interface Programming is abbreviated UI, Reference Manual is abbreviated RF, and Appendices is abbreviated AP.
| Related Topics
| Reference
|
| ACCEPT statement
| RF 6.6
|
| ActiveX color settings
| UI 9.9
|
| ACTIVE-X control type
| UI 5.19
|
| ActiveX events
| UI 6.2
|
| ActiveX library routines
| AP Appendix I
|
| ActiveX methods
| UI 4.5
|
| ActiveX terms
| UI Chapter 12
|
| AXDEFGEN utility
| UG 3.7
|
| Common screen options
| RF 6.4.9
|
| CREATE statement
| RF 6.6
|
| INQUIRE statement
| RF 6.6
|
| MODIFY statement, general discussion
| UI 3.4
|
| MODIFY statement, syntax and general rules
| RF 6.6
|
| MSG-AX-EVENT description
| UI 6.2
|
| Trace Screen option
| UG 1.7.2
|
| USE statement
| RF 6.6 |
6.10.1 Adding ActiveX Controls or OLE Objects to Your COBOL Program
6.10.2 Properties, Styles and Methods
6.10.7 Multiple Object Interfaces
6.10.8 ActiveX Library Routines
6.10.9 Distributing Applications Containing ActiveX Controls
6.10.10 ActiveX-related Error Handling
6.10.11 ActiveX-related Debugging
6.10.12 Creating OLE Objects That are Not Controls
6.10.13 Qualified ActiveX Control and Object Names