Problem:

When running an ASP.NET application the following error occurs:

BC30009: Reference required to assembly 'MicroFocus.COBOL.Runtime, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0412c5e0b2aaa8f0' containing the implemented interface 'MicroFocus.COBOL.Program.IObjectControl'. Add one to your project.

This occurs whenever a COBOL data item is added to the global.asax.cbl file. A .NET type such as string can be added successfully but a data item using the COBOL PIC clause cannot.

This error occurs even when a project reference to the MicroFocus.COBOL.Runtime assembly is added.

Resolution:

To allow COBOL data items to be used in the global.asax.cbl file you must add a reference to the assembly directly in the web.config file under the compilation section.

It should look something like the following: