This webpage contains installation instructions and a download file for installing WebBOL. Please read thru this entire set of instructions before beginning the installation. You must have certain software items installed and active before WebBOL can be installed.

Installing WebBOL is easy. It is a self-extracting zipfile. WebBOL allows COBOL programmers to work within an existing website/domain. If you do not have a website/domain operational, you will need one.

WebBOL  runs on Microsoft's Internet Information Server commonly know as IIS. Also known as MS Server 2008 R2, 2010 and so on. IIs is a internet web server. As of this writing no LINUX version is offered. A small PERL program is provided that handles the interface to your COBOL or C programs. PERL is a free product and one of the most common, server side, programming languages of the internet. You DO NOT need to learn PERL to use WebBOL. Microsoft IIS with PERL installed is a prerequisite to installing WebBOL.Listed below are detailed prerequisite steps to aide you in your WebBOL installation.

1. Enlist the help of your webmaster to secure a IIs server and domain location
2. Assure that PERL is installed and operational. PERL runtime is free and can be found at this website: http://www.activestate.com/activeperl/downloads Download the Windows PERL x86 version NOT the x64, 64-bit version. There have been various issues with Windows PERL x64 version and we feel it is not ready for prime time. Performance will not be compromised by using the x86 version of PERL. You can test the PERL install by keying PERL -V at a command prompt. This should return the perl version.

The following steps will guide you thru the WebBOL install.

1. Download and Save the WebBOL zipfile by clicking HERE.
2. Move the zipfile to your domain's folder.
3. Install WebBOL by executing this zipfile. It is self-extracting and will setup the entire system. Complete with a demo system and source code.
4. You should further test the PERL installation by entering http://your website address/hello.cgi into your browser's address line. If you don't get a browser screen that reads "Hello WebBOL World !" then the PERL installation was not satisfactory. Do not continue until PERL is successfully installed. On some windows installations you might be presented with a "permissions violation" or such. If this happens it means the webmaster needs to set the permission levels.
5. Next start the WebBOL Demonstration system up by entering http://your website address/WebBOL-Samples.htm You might see a message "System Initiating" for a moment, then the WebBOL demonstration system appear. If you get a blank screen, it is probably because the IIs permissions need to be set for the domain directory. You should set the permissions to full read write privilages. It should allow .exe and .com programs to execute.
6. You should be able to enter http://your website address/webbol-edit.cgi or http://your website address/webbol-editor.htm to start the WebBOL Forms Editor.