Introducing AcuXUI:
A Java-based GUI for Any Platform

AcuXUI allows graphical ACUCOBOL-GT® programs to exhibit the same user interface on multiple platforms.  This is because AcuXUI takes advantage of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which can run on virtually any operating system. 

Although your UI works anywhere, there are some difference in the way it appears on varying platforms.  For example, here is a color chooser that you get when you call W$PALETTE using WPALETTE-CHOOSE-COLOR with the standard Windows® runtime.

Here is the same color chooser run with AcuXUI on Windows (through the Java desktop, rather than the Windows desktop):

And here is the same chooser on Linux:

As you can see, there are differences between platforms, but the good news is, the same graphical program works on all three. 

Graphical controls like push-buttons, check boxes and labels have only subtle differences between platforms. 

If you already have a graphical ACUCOBOL-GT program that is designed for Windows, you may have to remove a few features—like ActiveX, .NET, tab-control, or date-entry controls—to enable it to run on Java using AcuXUI.  (Only a subset of graphical controls are supported for Version 8.) 

In addition, AcuXUI does not support character-based programs.  If your program is still character-based, you can take advantage of ACUCOBOL-GT’s many graphical extensions and drag-and-drop development environment, AcuBench®, to develop a GUI in COBOL.  Or you can use our Character-to-GUI Wizard.

Once you have a basic graphical program, here is how you use AcuXUI:

1. Install ACUCOBOL-GT Version 8 on the server.
2. Install a Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) JRE Version 1.5.0 or later on each client.
3. Run your program from the Java command line on the server with a command that specifies your COBOL resources, like this: 
   java com.acucorp.acuxui.AcuXUI - - acucobolgt/runtime-path/ runcbl/ objectfile-path/program.acu

You can invoke AcuXUI from the command line, combine it with AcuConnect to run on a remote server, or run AcuXUI in a browser as an applet.

If you are using AcuConnect to run a program on a remote server with an alias, you can launch the program with AcuXUI.  Simply add the server name, port number and alias to the Java command line.

To display a COBOL program inside a Web browser as a Java applet, you need AcuConnect® on the server, a Web server and permission to edit a security file on each client.  Create an HTML file with special applet code, post it on your Web site and users can access your program.

AcuBench makes it easier to use AcuXUI.  You specify the name and location of the AcuXUI JAR file in your project environment settings.  When you click on the new coffee cup icon, your COBOL program runs with AcuXUI and displays Java graphical controls. 

Many graphical controls are portable across platforms (with some minor differences):  Bars, Bitmaps, Checkboxes, Combo boxes, Entry fields, Frames, Labels, List boxes, Menus, Push buttons, Radio buttons, Scroll bars, Status bars, Toolbars, and Treeviews.  AcuXUI also supports the W$ library routines (i.e., W$FONT and W$PALETTE) as well as the C$SYSTEM library routines.

Some graphical features are not supported on Java desktops:  Relative positioning, Temporary controls, ActiveX controls, .NET controls, Tab controls, Grid controls, and Date time controls.  Additionally, AcuXUI does not support @DISPLAY syntax, the C$COPY library routine with @DISPLAY syntax, WIN$PRINTER and some other WIN$LIBRARY routines or the Layout manager for resizing screens.

Furthermore, AcuXUI does support the “-e” option, used to specify the name and location of a runtime error created when errors are detected.  This is the same error file use by the standard Windows runtime and can be used to aid in troubleshooting endeavors.  However, it does support the “-d” option used to invoke the debugger.

For more information about AcuXUI, please contact your Sales Professional today.

Contact | Site Map | | Legal | Trademarks | Privacy | Print this page