COBOL Automatic Directive Determination

You can configure the IDE to automatically determine and set Compiler directives on the COBOL files you add to your projects. You can also perform this operation manually using the Determine Directives context menu command in Solution Explorer. The IDE examines the files and then determines and sets the appropriate directives on the files if those directives are not already set at the project level.

Restriction: This functionality does not work for projects that compile to a single output file.

You can configure how the IDE determines and sets Compiler directives from Tools > Options > Micro Focus Tools > Directives > COBOL.

The following options are available:

Preview directive determination changes before applying
Determine directives of files - ensure this is enabled in order for the Compiler directives found through a directives scan to be applied.

Tip: If Determine directives on files is enabled but no other options are checked on this page, a directives scan does not set any directives on files.

The following directives are available:

COBOL DIALECT directive
When the IDE performs a directive determination, it finds all possible dialects for the COBOL program and sets the dialect directive on the file if the dialect setting on project level is not one of them. The most likely dialect is chosen and the respective directive is set on the file.
COBOL SQL directives
The IDE determines and sets SQL directives at file level if the files contain EXEC SQL statements and if the directive is not set at the project level.

Note: You must choose the SQL directives that you want to set if they occur in the file. To do this you click the browse button and select the directives you want.

You can also choose to unset SQL directives for this file. The IDE sets NOSQL on the files that do not include EXEC SQL statements and SQL is set at the project level. The directives are then not applied at compile time, regardless of any SQL directives set on the project.
COBOL DLI directives
Files that contain EXEC DLI statements might require the EXECDLI directive. If the directive required together with its options differs from the directive set on the project, the required directive is set on the file. For details of the options see COBOL Properties.

You can also choose to unset the EXECDLI directive on files that don't contain EXEC DLI statements when DLI directives are enabled at the project level. The directives are then not applied at compile time, regardless of any EXEC DLI directives set on the project.
COBOL CICS directives
Files that contain EXEC CICS statements might require the CICSECM directive with potentially additional options, such as "Abend at run time". If the directive required together with its options differs from the directive set on the project, the required directive is set on the file. For details of the options see COBOL Properties.

You can also choose to set the NOCICS directive on files that don't contain CICSECM directives when CICSECM is set at the project level. The directives are then not applied at compile time, regardless of any CICS directives set on the project.
Assembler CICS directives
Sets the Assembler CICS directive on Assembler source files that include EXEC CICS statements.