Modernizing COBOL application User interfaces

An important part of a COBOL application modernization strategy often entails the provision of a new contemporary user interface. The transition from an existing user interface built with ACCEPT / DISPLAY System (ADIS) or Dialog System to a new graphical or web based interface will require a clear business imperative and careful planning to succeed.

Micro Focus Professional Services can modernize your application user interface by undertaking a project through assessment, pilot, build, testing and deployment stages based on your specific business objectives. Alternatively we can enable your development team to do the job themselves:

Aims and Approach

Micro Focus consultants will work with your development team to look at the available options:

• .NET based COBOL WinForm or WebForm solution
• Web based front-end built with Java and integrated with the COBOL business processes
• Connectivity options between user interface and COBOL business process code 

The aim is to help you assess the best solution for your user interface based on your application structure, business requirements and timescales, as well as gain an understanding of the processes and effort to make the transformation. Micro Focus may propose that you consider the use of a partner's technology or services.

Key Stages

Micro Focus consultants will work with your application development team as they:

• Review the COBOL application’s structure and user interface
• Determine the most appropriate new user interface environment
• Define, if needed, the COBOL code restructuring required
• Define the processes and tools to move the application to the new user interface
• Create some initial user interfaces in the new environment
• Estimate the effort to move the whole of the application to the new user interface