Legacy Modernization

Capture screenshots in COBOL

Add screenshot and scrolling GIF capabilities to your COBOL applications via REST API integration. Modernize legacy systems, no browser infrastructure needed.

Get API Key View Docs

Installation

1Configure HTTP client support (CICS Web Services, Enterprise COBOL, or middleware)
2Get your API key from the dashboard
3Set the X-KEY header in your HTTP requests

Authentication

Include your API key in the X-KEY header with every request:

* Using EXEC CICS WEB or middleware
MOVE "your-api-key" TO WS-API-KEY
MOVE "X-KEY" TO WS-HEADER-NAME
EXEC CICS WEB WRITE HTTPHEADER(WS-HEADER-NAME)
    VALUE(WS-API-KEY) END-EXEC

COBOL Screenshot Example

Capture a screenshot or create a scrolling GIF animation with a simple GET request:

Screenshot

       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. SCREENSHOT-API.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01 WS-URL PIC X(200) VALUE
          "https://api.scrnpix.com/screenshot?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&width=1280&height=720&format=png".
       01 WS-API-KEY PIC X(50) VALUE "your-api-key".

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS WEB OPEN HOST(WS-URL) END-EXEC
           EXEC CICS WEB WRITE HTTPHEADER("X-KEY")
               VALUE(WS-API-KEY) END-EXEC
           EXEC CICS WEB READ INTO(WS-RESPONSE) END-EXEC.

Animation

       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. ANIMATE-API.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01 WS-URL PIC X(200) VALUE
          "https://api.scrnpix.com/animate?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&scroll_duration=3000&scroll_easing=ease-in-out".
       01 WS-API-KEY PIC X(50) VALUE "your-api-key".

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
           EXEC CICS WEB OPEN HOST(WS-URL) END-EXEC
           EXEC CICS WEB WRITE HTTPHEADER("X-KEY")
               VALUE(WS-API-KEY) END-EXEC
           EXEC CICS WEB READ INTO(WS-RESPONSE) END-EXEC.

Response Format

On success, the API returns the image binary data directly in the response body.

Status Code	200 OK
Content-Type	image/png, image/jpeg, or image/gif
Body	Binary image data
Error Response	Error message with 4xx/5xx status

Key Features

Zero Setup

No browser installation on mainframe required. Just make HTTP calls through CICS Web Services or middleware.

Production Ready

Built on Cloudflare Workers with global edge network. Handles concurrency and browser lifecycle automatically.

COBOL Integration

Works with CICS, IMS, Micro Focus, or any COBOL environment with HTTP/REST support.

Rich Features

Custom viewport sizes, full page capture, PNG/JPEG formats, scrolling GIFs with 15 easing functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I call REST APIs from COBOL?

Use CICS Web Services, IBM z/OS Connect, Micro Focus Enterprise Server, or middleware like MuleSoft to make HTTP calls.

Can I use this with mainframe COBOL?

Yes. Scrnpix is a REST API accessible from any environment with HTTP capabilities, including mainframes via CICS or middleware.

How do I handle the binary response?

Store the binary response in a BLOB field or write to a file using your platform's I/O facilities.

What COBOL version is required?

Any COBOL version with HTTP client support through CICS, middleware, or external program calls.

Ready to capture screenshots in COBOL?

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