Environment variables in alphabetical order

Restriction: This topic applies only when the Enterprise Server feature is enabled.

C

CASSPOOL_LOCK_RETRY_COUNT
Category: JES
If errors are experienced by the spool module, the number of times it retries to obtain a record lock can be adjusted using this environment variable.

Syntax

Windows:
SET CASSPOOL_LOCK_RETRY_COUNT=count
UNIX:
CASSPOOL_LOCK_RETRY_COUNT=count
export CASSPOOL_LOCK_RETRY_COUNT

Values

count The number of retries made to obtain a record lock.

Default

If not specified, this variable defaults to 20.

CCITIMEOUT

Allows the specification, in tenths of seconds, of the maximum time out period that will be used with any LSC style application, such as Drag and Drop, SourceConnect, or the Monitor. The maximum value that can be used is 2,147,483,647.

Syntax

Windows:
SET CCITIMEOUT=value
UNIX:
CCITIMEOUT=value}
export CCITIMEOUT

Default

The default is 1200 (2 minutes).

Example
This example sets the value to 4 minutes:
SET CCITIMEOUT=2400 
CCIERRLOG
Specifies the output location and filename of ccierr.log content which tracks first-instance errors reported from the operating systems. CCIERRLOG overrides any entries found in CCI.INI, where the syntax and content is explained in detail.
CCITCP2
Instead of using the CCI Configuration Utility to set the TCP address of the machine running the CCITCP2 registration daemon the environment variable "CCITCP2" can be used instead. This may be useful if you need different processes on the same machine to contact different registration daemons.

Syntax

Windows:
set CCITCP2=hostname
UNIX:
CCITCP2=hostname
export CCITCP2

Parameters

hostname is the TCP hostname or dotted decimal IP address of the machine running the CCITCP2 daemon you wish to contact from that session.

Comments

The environment variable value will always take precedence over any value set using the Configuration Utility. To restore a process to using the value set by the Configuration Utility simply set the environment variable to an empty string, such as

set CCITCP2=

Alternatively, if this environment variable is set system-wide (by creating a system variable in the system environment settings, or by using a CONFIG.SYS file) then this value will always take precedence over any value set using the Configuration Utility.

CCITCP2_PORT
The port that is being used for the registration process.

Syntax

Windows:
set CCITCP2_PORT=port
UNIX:
CCITCP2_PORT=port
export CCITCP2_PORT
Parameters
  • port The port on which the CCITCP2 registration program operates.
CCITCPS
To start a CCI server on a fixed port, you can associate the Server Name with the port value by using the CCITCPS_ environment variable instead of appending the information on the Server Name itself.

Syntax

Windows:
set CCITCPS_server_name=port
UNIX:
CCITCPS_server_name=port
export CCITCPS

Parameters

  • server_name is the name of the CCI server
  • port is the fixed TCP post to use

Note that this will only work if the server application process is started in the same session or process that has this environment variable set.

Example

Windows:
set CCITCPS_server_name=MFPORT:3000
UNIX:
set CCITCPS_server_name=MFPORT:3000
export CCITCPS
CCITCPT

If a client is known to be trying to connect to a server with Server Name server_name, and the TCP address and port (e.g. 3000) that the server is using is known, then the client can be made to connect directly to it by setting this environment variable.

Syntax

CCITCPT_server_name=MFNODE:server_hostname,MFPORT:port_number

Note that this can be used instead of setting the client Machine Name value. This is useful if the Machine Name value the client specifies cannot be altered by an application defined method.

Parameters

  • server_name The server to which the client is trying to connect.
  • server_hostname The TCP address.
  • port_number The TCP post number.

Example

CCITCPT_server1=MFNODE:server2,MFPORT:3000
CCITRACE
Part of the process to enable CCI tracing is to specify the degree of information that will be traced, which can be done by setting the CCITRACE environment variable as follows:

Syntax

CCITRACE=filename [options]
Parameters
  • filename The name of the log file you want the trace output to go to. If you do not specify this parameter, the log file ccitrace.log is created in the current directory with all options set to their default states.
  • options Any, or all, of the following:
/F or -F logs the details of CCI API calls to the trace file. The default is OFF, unless a filename any other trace option is specified, in which case it is always ON.
/P or -P logs the details of protocol-level calls to the trace file. The default is OFF. If this flag is OFF, then only the details of the CCI user-level API will be traced. If this flag is ON, the level of function tracing may be greatly increased.
/D or -D logs the contents of all buffers passed to and from the CCI functions. The default is OFF. Data tracing may not be allowed if the application has been coded to prohibit data tracing for security reasons.

So to create a CCI trace file with the default name of ccitrc1.trc (with matching ccitrc1.idx file) which traces CCI API function flow, along with the underlying protocol function flow, but with no tracing of the user data passed to these calls, the value of the CCITRACE environment variable would be /P.

The CCI.INI file can also be used to control trace options, but any values specified by the CCITRACE environment variable will take precedence.

COBAIF
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory path that Animator is to search for the session (.aif) file for the program being animated, if it is not found in the same directory as the information (.idy) file. Animator can update the session file to record information held between sessions. The .aif file contains details of breakpoints and monitors.

Syntax

COBAIF=pathname
export COBAIF

Parameters

  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a colon. The path where the .aif files are located.

Comments

If the .aif file is not found in the directory specified, a search is made of the directories specified by the COBIDY environment variable. If the file is still not found, the current directory is searched.

If an .aif file does not exist, Animator creates it as follows:

  • If COBAIF is set, the .aif file is created in the first directory specified by COBAIF
  • If COBAIF is not set, the .aif file is created in the directory specified in the environment variable COBIDY from which the program .idy file was loaded
  • If COBAIF and COBIDY are not set, or if the first directory specified by COBIDY is not found, the .aif file is created in the current directory
COBAIFNAME
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the basename of the Animator session file (.aif ) for the program being animated. The .aif file contains details of breakpoints and monitors.

Syntax

COBAIFNAME=basename
export COBAIFNAME

Parameters

  • Basename The basename of the .aif files.

Comments

You need to specify this environment variable if you are starting Animator using COBSW=+A and you want to save breakpoints for subsequent animation sessions. You can also specify it if you are starting Animator using the command anim; in this case the basename you specify overrides the application name as the basename of the .aif file.

COBANIMOPT
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies additional directives to be used by Character Animator.

Syntax

COBANIMOPT=directive-list
export COBANIMOPT

Parameters

  • directive-list A directive, or list of directives. Must not be a filename.

Comments

When you invoke Character Animator, it first reads the directives you have specified in COBANIMOPT and then uses any directives you specify in the command line (which might override some of the directives you set in COBANIMOPT).

Example

COBANIMOPT="MIXEDLANGDEBUG MULTITHREAD"
export COBANIMOPT
COBANIMSRV
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Identifies which COBOL program a waiting Character Animator process should attach to.

Syntax

COBANIMSRV=progid
export COBANIMSRV

Parameters

  • progid An identifier that is used to identify the program to which Character Animator will attach.

Comments

This environment variable is particularly useful for starting cross-session debugging.

Example

In one console session:

export COBANIMSRV=myid

myid is now a unique identifier that you can use to match Character Animator to a program. Type the command to start Character Animator:

cobanimsrv

The Character Animator waits for a COBOL program to start that has a matching identifier. In another console session:

export COBANIMSRV=myid
cobrun prog1.int

When prog1.int starts, the unique identifier myid matches that of Character Animator; therefore, Character Animator attaches to this process. In console session 1, the Character Animator main screen is displayed and the cursor placed on the first line of prog1.int.

COBATTR
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies non-standard behavior for HIGHLIGHT and LOWLIGHT clauses used with ACCEPT and DISPLAY statements. It provides compatibility with earlier COBOL products. You should avoid using it wherever possible as support might be discontinued at some future date.

Syntax

COBATTR=n
export COBATTR

Parameters

n A value in the range 0 through 7. It can be one of the following values, or a cumulative value; for example, specifying a value of 6 would result in the behavior described for values 4 and 2.

  • 0

    Provides standard, default behavior.

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT or LOWLIGHT clause, the run-time system uses respectively the bold or dim mode specified in the terminfo entry for the terminal. If the bold or dim mode is not specified, then the HIGHLIGHT or LOWLIGHT clause respectively has no effect.

  • 1

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT clause, the run-time system uses the bold mode. The run-time system uses the default mode for normal text. Specifying dim mode in the terminfo entry for the terminal has no affect. The LOWLIGHT clause has no effect.

  • 2

    High and low intensity space characters are not assumed to be the same as normal mode space characters.

  • 3

    As for 1 and 2 above

  • 4

    Provides compatibility with default behavior of products before COBOL version 3.2.

    When a COBOL program displays text subject to a HIGHLIGHT clause, the effect depends on whether the dim mode is specified in the terminfo entry for the terminal. If dim mode is specified, then the run-time system uses the default mode for highlighted text and the dim mode for normal text. If the dim mode is not specified, then the run-time system uses the bold mode for highlighted text and default mode for normal text. The LOWLIGHT clause has no effect, giving the same appearance as normal text.

Example

COBATTR=1
export COBATTR
COBCONFIG

Specifies a run-time configuration file that tailors the run-time configurable options in some way.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBCONFIG=pathname
UNIX:
COBCONFIG=pathname
export COBCONFIG

Parameters

  • pathname The name of the COBOL configuration file that tailors the runtime

Comments

If $COBCONFIG is not set then the file $COBDIR/etc/cobconfig is searched for instead.

Example

UNIX:
COBCONFIG=/home/mydir/cobconfig
export COBCONFIG
Windows:
SET COBCONFIG=/home/mydir/cobconfig
COBCONFIGJVM
Specifies a Java properties file that tailors the run-time configurable options for Java Virtual Machine applications. Use this instead of COBCONFIG in COBOL applications intended for use on a Java Virtual Machine.

Values

  • The location of a properties file.
COBCONFIG.BLOCK
The location of the application configuration file.
COBCPY

Specifies the directory or directories that the Compiler and Animator should search for copyfiles.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBCPY=pathname[:pathname]...
UNIX:
COBCPY=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBCPY

Parameters

  • pathname

    A directory that the Compiler and Animator are to search when looking for copyfiles. When more than one pathname is present, a null pathname represents the current working directory.

Example

Windows:
SET COBCPY=/home/group/sharedcopy::mydir/mycpy
UNIX:
COBCPY=/home/group/sharedcopy::mydir/mycpy
export COBCPY

causes the Compiler to search for a copyfile in /home/group/sharedcopy, then in the current directory and finally in ./mydir/mycpy until either the copyfile is found or it can be considered not found.

COBDATA
Specifies one or more locations, separated by ; (Windows) or : (UNIX), in which to search for data files at run time. As long as the file assignment does not contain a sub-path (that is, a string containing \ or /) then the file assignment is appended to each location specified by COBDATA in order to locate the file.
Note: Users modernizing RM/COBOL or ACUCOBOL-GT legacy code can use a sub-path in the file assignment, but only by compiling with the relevant DIALECT or IDXFORMAT values for the respective File Handling systems; setting these values in the File Handling configuration file is not sufficient to achieve this.

Specifies the directory or directories that the run-time system is to search for data files. Provides you with the facility to map data files globally, thus enabling you to put working data files in a directory whose name is not known until run time.

Syntax

UNIX:
COBDATA=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBDATA
Windows:
COBDATA=pathname[:pathname]...
Parameters
  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX). The runtime system is to search these when looking for application data files. When more than one pathname is present, a null pathname represents the current working directory.

Comments

COBDATA affects the compiler and other utilities. During compilation, for example, program source is regarded as a data file by the compiler. If you intend to use any COBOL development system utilities, we recommend that the COBDATA value starts with a colon (:).

COBDATA is considered set if there is an environment variable of this name in your environment space, and its value is non-empty.

The full mapping order for files is:

  1. Any dd_ environment mappings
  2. Any ASSIGN TO EXTERNAL mappings
  3. Any COBDATA environment variable mappings

For multiple directory paths specified either in the COBDATA environment variable or a dd_ environment variable, the system searches the first directory specified followed by a slash (/) as a prefix to the user name.

If the filename is not found, or is not readable, the search continues with the next directory until the final directory has been searched. If no file is found, the first directory is used if a file is to be created.

Any dd_ and COBDATA mappings are ignored for any filename that starts with a hyphen () or a slash (/). In addition, it is illegal to have a hyphen in an environment variable name.

When using this facility, you should not use a filename that starts with "COB... "(these are reserved for the COBOL system).

You can use the COBDATA environment variable for files open in any mode (including OUTPUT) and for fixed or variable length files. If you are using indexed files, both the data and index files must be in the same directory.

The COBDATA environment variable affects file deletes, using the rules given here, as well as file opens.

If you intend to use COBOL development system programs, we recommend that you first unset COBDATA, as many of these programs open data files and are thus affected by the value of COBDATA. If you have to set COBDATA, you should include the paths :$COBDIR/dynload/helptbox.lbr and :$COBDIR/dynload/check.lbr at the beginning of the COBDATA value. If you want to see the Animator Help pages, also include COBDIR/dynload/advanim.lbr.

Note: Users modernizing RM/COBOL or ACUCOBOL-GT legacy code can use a sub-path in the file assignment, but only by compiling with the relevant DIALECT or IDXFORMAT values for the respective File Handling systems; setting these values in the File Handling configuration file is not sufficient to achieve this.

Example

UNIX:
COBDATA=:demo:/home/data:progs
export COBDATA
Windows:
SET COBDATA=:demo:/home/data:progs

causes COBDATA to be set to instruct the runtime system to search for data files in the current directory, then in the directory ./demo, then in the directory /home/data and finally in ./progs.

COBDIR

Specifies the directory where the required Micro Focus COBOL system is installed. Many of the COBOL system components and utilities require and use this information. If the COBDIR environment variable is not set then the COBOL system acts as if it had been set to the default COBOL system directory. This default directory is /opt/microfocus/VisualCOBOL on UNIX systems.

Syntax
Windows:
SET COBDIR=pathname
UNIX:
COBDIR=pathname
export COBDIR

Parameters

  • pathname The directory that contains the required Micro Focus COBOL system software.

Comments

The Micro Focus COBOL system is normally installed in the default COBOL system directory and so does not require COBDIR to be set. COBDIR only needs to be set when your COBOL system has been installed in a different directory such as when more than one version of the COBOL system is available at the same time.

Example

Windows:
SET COBDIR=/home/products/cobse20
UNIX:
COBDIR=/home/products/cobse20
export COBDIR

This causes the Cob utility to search the directory /home/products/cobse20 for the Micro Focus COBOL system software.

COBIDY
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory that Animator is to search for the information (.idy) file for the program being animated if it is not found in the same directory as the intermediate code (.int) file. Animator can update the information file to record information held between sessions.

Syntax

COBIDY=pathname
export COBIDY
Parameters
  • pathname A list of search directories, each item separated by a colon.
COBJIT_ECLIPSE
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Values

  • true

    Enables just-in-time debugging.

  • workspace

    The Eclipse workspace to open when just-in-time debugging starts.

COBJVM

Specifies which Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to load.

Syntax
Windows:
SET COBJVM=platform_nnn
UNIX:
COBJVM=platform_nnn
export COBJVM

Parameters

platform_nnn where

platform is a threecharacter code that indicates the platform on which you are running Server Express, for example:
  • ibm IBM AIX
  • unx SCO UnixWare
  • sun Oracle SPARC
nnn indicates the version of the JVM, for example:
  • 122 Version 1.2.2
  • 130 Version 1.3.0

Comments

You might need to set COBJVM if you are developing distributed applications with both COBOL and Java components.

Example

Windows:
SET COBJVM=ibm_122
UNIX:
COBJVM=ibm_122
export COBJVM
COBKEYTIMEOUT

Specifies the maximum elapsed time, in tenths of a second, for the connected terminal to transmit any valid escape sequence to the runtime system.

When a terminal key is depressed, the terminal might send in response a single character or a group of characters to the runtime system. Typically, such a group of characters starts with an escape character and the group of characters is known as an escape sequence. A terminal might send an escape sequence for one depression of a function key. It might also send the same sequence of characters for a depression of the Escape key followed by the depression of one or more alphabetic or numeric data keys. The only difference apparent to the runtime system is the interval between the arrival of each character; the user cannot type as fast as the escape sequence is generated by the terminal.

If a terminal is connected over a network that sends the characters to the runtime system in discrete packets, then the network can alter the intervals between each character arriving at the runtime system. COBKEYTIMEOUT is available to help compensate for typical network delays so the runtime system identifies escape sequences correctly.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBKEYTIMEOUT=n
UNIX:
COBKEYTIMEOUT=n
export COBKEYTIMEOUT

Parameters

n A number in the range 1 through 126 that represents the maximum elapsed time required for a terminal to transmit any valid escape sequence to the runtime system over the line or network connection. On encountering a lone Escape character, the runtime system waits n tenths of a second before assuming that the character does not introduce an escape sequence. The runtime system calculates an appropriate default value for n from the baud rate of the terminal.

COBLANG
The language environment in which your COBOL program runs.
Values
  • A COBOL language environment (LE) value.
COBLPFORM
This configuration variable is used to define and print to printer channels C01-C12. Specify the line numbers for each channel with the COBLPFORM configuration variable. Null entries are ignored. Those channels that have line number zero, function-names S01-S052, CSP, or are undefined, are set to line 1.

Example 1:

COBLPFORM 1:3:5:7:9:11:13:15:17:19:21:23

In this example C01 equals 1, C02 equals 3, and so on.

Example 2:

COBLPFORM :3::5: :9

In this example, C01 equals 3, C02 equals 5, C03 equals 1, and C04 equals 9. You can specify only a single line number for each channel.

In example 2 above, channels C05 - C12 are undefined. If a print statement specifies channel C05 - C12, the line is printed at line 1. In addition, in the example shown, C03 equals 1 because its value is a space and therefore undefined.

Any WRITE BEFORE/AFTER PAGE statements cause positioning to be at line 1. Each line advance increases the line number by one. A request to skip to a line number less than or equal to the current line causes a new page to begin. The appropriate number of line feeds are then generated.

COBMAINSTACK

Specifies the size of the main stack.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBMAINSTACK=n
UNIX:
COBMAINSTACK=n
export COBMAINSTACK

Parameters

n A number in the range 1 through nnn that represents the size of the main stack.

Comments

You might need to set COBMAINSTACK in any of the following circumstances:

  • If you are deploying OO COBOL Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) to WebSphere on the AIX platform
  • If you are using the multi-threaded run-time system

    If you have IF STATEMENTS with a very large number of ELSE clauses

COBMODE
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Whether to start the server in 32-bit or 64-bit mode.
Values
  • 32

    The system starts in 32-bit mode

  • 64

    The system starts in 64-bit mode

COBOPT
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies user default options to the Cob utility.

Syntax

COBOPT="[set environment-variable=value]
[options] ...
[cobextn: .ext [.ext] ... ]"
export COBOPT

or

COBOPT=[pathname/]filename
export COBOPT
Parameters
  • environment-variable Any one of the environment variables supported by the COBOL system and listed in this appendix.
  • value The value to which you want to set the specified environment variable.
  • options One or more cob command line options. See the chapter COBOL System Interface (cob) for details on the format of cob options.
  • .ext A filename extension that, in addition to the standard ones of .cob, .CBL, or .cbl, denotes a file that Cob should treat as a COBOL source file. The extension must begin with a period, and if more than one is specified on one line then they must be separated by a space or tab character. You can use more than one cobextn line.
  • pathname The directory that the COBOL system is to search for an options file.
  • filename The name of a file containing cob options.

If a line does not begin with one of the identifiers set or cobextn: then it is taken as an options line.

Comments

COBOPT can either contain options that supplement or override the system default options defined in $COBDIR/etc/cobopt, or it can specify the path of a file that contains such options. The options can extend over more than one line and each line must have the same format as described for the file $COBDIR/etc/cobopt in the chapter COBOL System Interface (cob).

Examples

COBOPT="CANS85
set COBCPY=$COBDIR/srclib/:$HOME/mylib:"
export COBOPT

This enables ANSI 85 standard COBOL syntax and sets COBCPY to the specified list of paths.

COBOPT=temp/options

Specifies that cob options are contained in the file options in the directory temp.

COBPATH

Specifies the directory or directories that the runtime system is to search for dynamically loadable .int and .gnt files, or callable shared objects.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
UNIX:
COBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBPATH

Parameters

pathname A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX), that the runtime system is to search for a dynamically loadable program (.int, .gnt or callable shared object) file. When more than one pathname is specified, a null pathname represents the current working directory.

Example

Windows:
SET COBPATH=u:/home/mydir/srclib:otherlib
UNIX:
COBPATH=u:/home/mydir/srclib:otherlib
export COBPATH
COBPRFDIR
Location of .ipf files created by programs compiled with the PROFILE compiler directive.
Values
  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX).
COBPRINTER

Specifies the name of a print spooler that is to receive, via its standard input stream (stdin), output from any DISPLAY UPON PRINTER statement.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBPRINTER=command-line
UNIX:
COBPRINTER=command-line
export COBPRINTER

Parameters

  • command-line A command line supported by your system and that can be executed by the system shell. Typically, it is simply the name of a print spooler or other executable, but if the shell is escaped when setting the value then any command-line arguments can be used.

Comments

Each DISPLAY UPON PRINTER statement executed by your COBOL program causes a new invocation of command-line. Each invocation receives the data referenced in the DISPLAY statement, and is followed by a system end-of-file condition.

Example

Windows:
SET COBPRINTER="myspooler -a $TMPDIR\spoolfile"
UNIX:
COBPRINTER="myspooler -a $TMPDIR/spoolfile"
export COBPRINTER
COBSES

Specifies the UNIX Session Recorder functions to perform.

Syntax

COBSES={option[filename]}...
export COBSES
Parameters

option can be one or more of the following:

  • -a Include keystrokes made to and screen output from the Animator
  • -f filename Play back recording in fast forward mode
  • -p filename Play back recording in filename at normal speed
  • -r filename Record keystrokes
  • -s filename Record screen output
  • -t terminal number Indicate terminal number for multi-user screen recordings

These flags are all case sensitive. Also, you cannot combine the -r flag with either -f or -p.

Note: You must unset COBSES when you have finished using the UNIX Session Recorder, or it will interfere with the running of your COBOL programs. To do this, set COBSES to spaces, then export this setting to the shell.
COBSSL
If using SSL connections specifies the location of the DemoCA directory. If not found, SSLDIR is inspected instead.
COBSW
Specifies the run-time system switch settings for the run-time system to observe when running an application.

Syntax

Windows:
SET COBSW=[+/-}s...
UNIX:
COBSW=[+/-}s...
export COBSW
Parameters

A list of the runtime switches to set or unset.

  • + sets a switch.
  • - un-sets a switch.

Example

Windows:
SET COBSW=+0+D
UNIX:
COBSW=+0+D
export COBSW

This enables runtime switch 0 and the ANSI COBOL debug switch.

COBTERMINFO
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the directory or directories to be searched by the runtime system for a terminfo database of terminal information tailored to the needs of COBOL applications. This enables COBOL applications to use different terminfo settings to those used by non-COBOL applications, such as vi, when using the same terminal.
Syntax
COBTERMINFO=pathname[:pathname]...
export COBTERMINFO

Parameters

pathname A list of search directories, each item separated by a colon, that identify a terminfo database containing terminal settings tailored for COBOL applications. A null pathname represents the current working directory.

Comments

The COBOL system takes the value of the standard UNIX environment variable TERM as the name of the terminal in use. It uses this to search for the appropriate terminal information in a terminfo database. The runtime system first searches the databases identified in COBTERMINFO and then, if the terminal information is not found it searches the database identified in the standard UNIX environment variable TERMINFO.

If COBTERMINFO is not set, the runtime system acts as if it had been set to $COBDIR/terminfo.

Micro Focus recommend that the first directory listed in COBTERMINFO is $COBDIR/terminfo so that the terminfo database supplied with this COBOL system is found first. For commonly used terminals this terminfo contains settings that are fuller and more appropriate to COBOL than those normally available in the UNIX system terminfo database. When debugging using Animator, COBTERMINFO must be set to $COBDIR/terminfo.

COBTERMINFO can also be used to identify a terminfo database that is portable between UNIX systems. Such a database conforms to the standard UNIX database format but does not include any supplementary, UNIX implementation-dependent terminal information. Many UNIX system terminfo databases are not portable because they include such supplementary information. The COBOL system ignores any such nonportable details.

Example

COBTERMINFO=$COBDIR/terminfo:/home/mydir/terms
export COBTERMINFO
CODEWATCH_SRCPATH
The location of source files for the debugger to use if none are found in directories specified when invoking CodeWatch
Values
  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX).
CODEWATCH_STBPATH
The location of STB files for the debugger to use if none are found in directories specified when invoking CodeWatch.
Values
  • A list of search directories, each item separated by a semicolon (Windows) or colon (UNIX).
COLUMNS
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the column width of the terminal screen or window, overriding the specified terminal default.

Syntax

COLUMNS=n
export COLUMNS

Parameters

n The width of the terminal screen or window, in column positions.

Comments

The default, when COLUMNS is unset or null, is to use the cols value defined in the specified terminal's terminfo entry, or the current width of the terminal window if you are using an X terminal. The terminal type is specified using the standard UNIX environment variable, TERM.

On non-windowing environments, where the terminal screen area cannot be resized, the COLUMNS values does not need to be set. Terminals that can switch into a wide mode (usually from 80 through 132 columns) have a terminal name ending in "w" and these are automatically supported, without the need to set COLUMNS.

In windowing environments, where the size of windows can be changed, the initial size of the window is used in preference to the cols value in terminfo. When the window is resized, the new size is reread. If the new size is greater than the initial size then the extra columns might not be used.

If you want to use the full width of the window you might need to set COLUMNS to the current column width of the window on some platforms.

Using COLUMNS values that do not correspond to the actual width of the window produces unexpected results.

Example

COLUMNS=100
export COLUMNS

D

DB2DBDFT
The default database for the DB2 SQL precompiler to process SQL statements against.

Values

  • The location and name of the default database.

E

ENTRYNAMEMAP
Specifies the locations of entry name map files to be used.

Syntax

Windows:
SET ENTRYNAMEMAP={filename|directory}; ...
UNIX:
ENTRYNAMEMAP={filename|directory}; ...
export ENTRYNAMEMAP

Parameters

filename An entry map file.

directory A directory containing an entry name map file. The name of the entry name map file must be mfentmap.dat.

Comments

You must set the entry_name_mapper tunable to enable entry point mapper support.

If ENTRYNAMEMAP is not set, the runtime system searches for an entry name map file called mfentmap.dat in each folder specified by the COBDIR environment variable.

If the runtime system finds more than one entry name map file and same entry point is defined differently in different files, precedence is given to the definition in the entry name map file that was found first. To change the order in which the runtime system finds entry name map files you need to change the order in which the files appear in the COBDIR or ENTRYNAMEMAP environment variable paths.

ES_ALLOC_EXPAND
The default value is Y, which expands an environment variable when used to specify an allocation path. Set to N to override this behavior, which is to not expand the variable used in the path.

Syntax

Windows:
SET ES_ALLOC_EXPAND=value
UNIX:
ES_ALLOC_EXPAND=value
export ES_ALLOC_EXPAND

Values

Y Expands an environment variable used to specify an allocation path.

N Do not expand the variable used in the path.

Default

The default value is Y.

ES_ALLOC_OVERRIDE
The default value is Y, which expands an environment variable when used to specify an allocation path. Set to N to override this behavior, which is to not expand the variable used in the path.

Syntax

Windows:
SET ES_ALLOC_OVERRIDE=rules-file
UNIX:
ES_ALLOC_OVERRIDE=rules-file
export ES_ALLOC_OVERRIDE

Values

rules-file The file path and name of the dataset rules file.

ES_CAS_API
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Indicates whether casout or cassub has been executed by a call and not from the command line.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_CAS_API=value
export ES_CAS_API
Windows:
SET ES_CAS_API=value
Values
  • ON The utility has been invoked by a call, and messages will not be sent to the console or command line.
Default

The utility will attempt to log messages.

ES_CERT_REG
Specifies the directory in which the cascertreg user certificate utility should store its registrations.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_CERT_REG=pathname
export ES_CERT_REG
Windows:
SET ES_CERT_REG=pathname
Values

pathname Pathname of the directory where registrations are stored.

Default

By default no directory is specified. In this case it must be specified on the cascertreg command.

ES_CESN_NO_OS390
Overrides the default behaviour CESN transaction response for invalid user credentials. Default behaviour reports "Your userid is invalid" or "Your password is invalid".
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_CESN_NO_OS390=value
export CESN_NO_OS390
Windows:
SET CESN_NO_OS390=value
Values
  • Setting this variable to any value causes CESN to produce an invalid credential message instead of a specific invalid user or invalid password message.
Default

Specific invalid user/password messages will be produced.

ES_CONSOLE_LOG (deprecated)
Restriction: This environment variable applies to Windows environments only.
Sends console messages to the Windows Event Log.
Note: ES_CONSOLE_LOG is deprecated, and provided for backward compatibility only. We recommend that you use MFDS configuration options instead.
Syntax
ES_CONSOLE_LOG=port
export ES_CONSOLE_LOG
Values

Can be any combination of the following:

  • I - Send informational messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • W - Send warning messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • E - Send error messages to the Windows Event Log.
  • S - Send severe messages to the Windows Event Log.
Default
If this is not set, console messages are not sent to the Windows Event Log.
ES_CSKL_NO_MSG_CONSOLE
Stops CSKL writing messages to console.log
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_CSKL_NO_MSG_CONSOLE=value
export ES_CSKL_NO_MSG_CONSOLE
Windows:
ES_CSKL_NO_MSG_CONSOLE=value
Values
  • Any. CSKL messages are not written to the console log.
Default
If this is not set, CSKL messages are written to the console log.
ES_DDBG_PORT_RANGE
A range of ports to use for dynamic debugging.
You specify a range of port numbers separated by a hyphen or a comma; the second port number must be greater than the first.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_DDBG_PORT_RANGE=value
export ES_DDBG_PORT_RANGE
Windows:
ES_DDBG_PORT_RANGE=value
Values
  • low_port-high_port
Default
If this is not set, dynamic debugging will use random ports.

Example

ES_DDBG_PORT_RANGE=8001-8040 
			 
ES_DISABLE_DFLTUSR_SIGNON
Disables the default user ("mfuser") signon when invoking ES Monitor & Control (ESMAC).
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_DISABLE_DFLTUSR_SIGNON=value
export ES_DISABLE_DFLTUSR_SIGNON
Windows:
ES_DISABLE_DFLTUSR_SIGNON=value
Values
  • Y or y Having logged on to ES administration via your MFDS internal security account, you no longer receive the auto logon as "mfuser" when accessing ESMAC.
Default
If this is not set, mfuser will be used as the default user to sign in to ESMAC.
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE
Limits the number of lines shown when viewing an individual catalog entry in the ESMAC catalog view or when viewing a SYSOUT file from the job list view.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE=value
export ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE
Windows:
ES_ESMAC_DISP_MAX_OVERRIDE=value
Value
  • An integer number denoting how many lines to display. The maximum number is 99999.
Default
10000
ES_HSF_CFG
Enables you to configure a number of additional fields to appear in the HSF record displayed in the .csv file (cashsf-a.csv or cashsf-b.csv).

Syntax

Windows:
SET ES_HSF_CFG=cfg-options
UNIX:
ES_HSF_CFG=cfg-options
export ES_HSF_CFG

Parameters

Define cfg-options using the following syntax:
field_name=value;[field_name=value;]...
using the following values:
Field name Range Default
CUSTOM 0-5 0
CICSF 0-20 5
TSQ 0-20 5
TDQ 0-20 5
Note: If a field is not explicitly set, or the value specified is out of range, the default value for the field is used.

For example: ES_HSF_CFG=CUSTOM=2;CICSF=10;TSQ=32 generates 2 custom fields, 10 CICS file fields, 5 TSQ fields and 5 TDQ fields.

Custom fields are written to using the ES_WRITE_CUSTOM_HSF library routine.

ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES
Restricts the number of entries displayed in ESMAC catalog view.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES=number
export ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES
Windows:
ES_MAX_CATALOG_LINES=number
Values
  • number The number of lines to display. The maximum is 99999.
Default
The default is 5000.
ES_MEM_STRATEGY
Selects the types of memory processes supported.
Note: Note that memory strategy can also be set via the memory_strategy runtime tunable.
ES_OLD_DYN_PDS
Determines the resulting behavior of dynamic PDS members when specified in a JCL DD statement.

Values

Y Enables previous default behavior of cataloging and creating the physical files for dynamic PDS when referenced in a JCL DD statement.

N Physical files for dynamic PDS members are only created and cataloged when created using the JCL utility or by a user program.

Default

The default value is N.

ES_OLD_SEC_TSTD
Prevents security being enforced for TS or TD queues that are not declared in the security repository.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_OLD_SEC_TSTD=value
export ES_OLD_SEC_TSTD
Windows:
SET ES_OLD_SEC_TSTD=value
Values
  • Any value.
Default
By default security is enforced for TS or TD queues that are not declared in the security repository.
ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT
The time in seconds that an OTMA client should wait for an answer. The default value is 120.
Syntax
UNIX:
ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT=seconds
export ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT
Windows:
SET ES_OTMA_TIMEOUT=seconds
Values
  • seconds - The number of seconds to wait. The maximum is 43199.
Default
120 seconds.
ES_PROG_PATH
Set ES_PROG_PATH=Y to display the program's load path in the JESYSMSG and SYSLOG datasets.
Note: This is only applicable for native enterprise server regions.
ES_RLS_FILE_SUPPORT
If a record is locked because a program is doing a read for update, and the application needs to ensure that no other program can access that record, you can set this environment variable to avoid returning a dirty record until the program holding the lock has completed. The timeout in fileshare also needs to be set to 0 using /t 0 in the fileshare configuration file.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_RLS_FILE_SUPPORT=value
export ES_RLS_FILE_SUPPORT
Windows:
SET ES_RLS_FILE_SUPPORT=value

Values

  • Y|y - Stops dirty records being returned when a record is locked by another process.

Default

RLS file support is off.

ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME
Allows override of Transient SEP dormant time. Rather than automatically terminating transient SEPs on completion of a stateful request, the server manager allows a period of inactivity before scheduling their termination. This allows new requests to re-use the SEP rather than starting a new instance. This environment variable allows the period of inactivity to be controlled.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME=seconds
export ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME
Windows:
ES_SEP_DORMANT_TIME=seconds

Values

  • seconds Number of seconds' inactivity.

Default

Transient SEPs are terminated after 2 seconds of inactivity.

ES_SERVER
The default server name (used if no -r switch is specified on casstart or casstop).

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_SERVER=name
export ES_SERVER
Windows:
ES_SERVER=name

Values

  • name The server name.

Default

ESDEMO/ESDEMO64

ES_SNATRC_DIR
Specifies the location of the SNA traces written by IMB's communication manager. You must set this environment variable before you start the region to ensure that the SNA trace files are written to a valid directory:
ES_SNATRC_DIR=path

This directory is then used to set up the SNA environment variables SNAMSG and SNATRC to appropriate values.

ES_SYSOUT_HOLD
The status of the SYSOUT files are set to Out Hold.
ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC
Allows you to override the default user when no user is logged on for ESMAC authentication.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC=user
export ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC
Windows:
SET ES_USR_DFLT_ESMAC=user

Values

  • user - the default user name.

Default

mfuser

ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC
Allows you to disable the default ESMAC user in order to increase the security of your server. Disables the DEFAULT button on the logon screen and forces users to always enter a valid userid and password.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC=value
export ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC
Windows:
ES_ESM_DISABLE_DFLTUSER_ESMAC=value

Values

  • Y|y - Default ESMAC user is disabled.

Default

Default ESMAC user is not disabled.

ES_XA_????_NB_RETRIES
Operates in conjunction with ES_XA_CONNECT. Sets the number of connection re-tries when attempting to connect to a resource.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_XA_????_NB_RETRIES=nnnn
export ES_XA_????_NB_RETRIES
Windows:
ES_XA_????_NB_RETRIES=nnnn

Values

  • ???? is the XA ID defined in MFDS.
  • nnnn is the number of subsequent XA call failures allowed before the SEP is recycled and the switch disabled.

Default

5 retries (ES_XA_RECONNECT must have been set).

ES_XA_LOG_SUPPRESS
Suppresses XA logging and the recovery of in-doubt XA transactions.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_XA_LOG_SUPPRESS=value
export ES_XA_LOG_SUPPRESS
Windows:
ES_XA_LOG_SUPPRESS=value

Values

  • Y|y - XA logging is suppressed.

Default

By default no value is specified and XA logging is not suppressed.

ES_XA_RECONNECT

This variable is used by the CRCN transaction to determine the frequency in which the enabled resource managers are checked for an available connection. Set the variable to a value that represents the delay, in seconds, between two monitoring sessions.

Syntax

UNIX:
ES_XA_RECONNECT=<interval>
export ES_XA_RECONNECT
Windows:
SET ES_XA_RECONNECT=<interval>

Values

  • <interval> - the duration, in seconds, between checks for an available connection by the CRCN transaction.

Default

No value is set and the XA reconnect feature is not enabled.

EXTFH
Specifies a configuration file for the Callable File Handler.

Syntax

Windows:
SET EXTFH=filename.cfg
UNIX:
EXTFH=filename.cfg
export EXTFH

Parameters

filename.cfg The name of the configuration file.

Example

Windows:
SET EXTFH=/home/mydir/myconfig.cfg
UNIX:
EXTFH=/home/mydir/myconfig.cfg
export EXTFH

F

FHREDIR
Specifies a configuration file to be used by the Fileshare Client.

Syntax

Windows:
SET FHREDIR=filename.cfg
UNIX:
FHREDIR=filename.cfg
export FHREDIR

Parameters

filename.cfg The name of the configuration file.

Example

Windows:
SET FHREDIR=/home/mydir/myconfig.cfg
UNIX:
FHREDIR=/home/mydir/myconfig.cfg
export FHREDIR
FS

Specifies a configuration file to be used by the Fileshare Server.

Syntax

Windows:
SET FS=filename.cfg
UNIX:
FS=filename.cfg
export FS

Parameters

filename.cfg The name of the configuration file.

Example

Windows:
SET FS=myconfig.cfg
UNIX:
FS=myconfig.cfg
export FS
FSCOMMS
Specifies that the Fileshare system is to run in single user mode.

Syntax

Windows:
SET FSCOMMS="\$local"
UNIX:
FSCOMMS="\$local"
export FSCOMMS

Parameters

"\$local" Run the Fileshare System in single user mode.

H

HCOBND (deprecated)
Specifies a directory to be used for bind files generated by the DB2 External Compiler Module (ECM).
Note: HCOBND is deprecated, and provided for backward compatibility only. We recommend that you use either the BIND or the BINDDIR compiler directive option instead.

Syntax

Windows:
SET HCOBND=pathname
Windows:
HCOBND=pathname
export HCOBND

Parameters

pathname The directory that the DB2 ECM is to use to store bind files.

Example

Windows:
SET HCOBND=d:\mydir\binds
UNIX:
SET HCOBND=/mydir/binds
export HCOBND

Comments

The DB2 ECM uses the specified directory until the variable is unset or reset to a different directory. The DB2 Compiler directive option BIND overrides this environment variable.

I

ISPPROF
The location of ISPF dialog profiles.

J

JAVA_HOME
Specifies the location of the JDK.

L

LANG
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the locale.

Syntax

LANG=language[_territory[.codepage]]
export LANG
Parameters
  • language The language in which your program is to run.
  • _ (underscore) The delimiter for language and territory, if territory is specified.
  • territory The country in which your program is to run.
  • . (period) The delimiter for territory and codepage, if codepage is specified.
  • codepage The character set to use for your program.

Example

LANG=fr_FR
export LANG
LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory or directories for the UNIX system, cob command, and the run-time system to search for shared libraries and callable shared objects. If you have installed the product to a directory other than the default one, you must set this variable to include $COBDIR/lib on all platforms except AIX (which uses LIBPATH). It should also include any directories that contain callable shared objects used by your application. If you have installed the product in the default directory (/opt/microfocus/VisualCOBOL), you do not need to set this variable.

Syntax

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Parameters

pathname A path or a list of paths, each separated by a colon (:).

Comments

The list of directories must include $COBDIR/lib. The COBDIR environment variable is described earlier.

This environment variable is a system environment variable; see your UNIX documentation for more information.

Example

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$COBDIR/lib:/home/mydir/myapp:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
LIB
The location of the DB2 LIB directory
LIBLIST
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Reserved for use by Micro Focus. Use only if directed by Micro Focus Technical Support.
LIBPATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the directory or directories for the UNIX system, Cob and the runtime system to search for shared libraries and callable shared objects. It is only available on AIX-based systems. If you have installed the product to a directory other than the default one, you must set this variable to include $COBDIR/lib. It should also include any directories that contain callable shared objects used by your application. If you have installed the product in the default directory (/opt/microfocus/VisualCOBOL), you do not need to set this variable.

Syntax

LIBPATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export LIBPATH

Parameters

pathname A directory to search for shared libraries.

Example

LIBPATH=$COBDIR/lib:/lib:/usr/lib
LINES
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies the depth of the terminal screen or window, overriding the specified terminal default.

Syntax

LINES=n
export LINES

Parameters

n The depth of the terminal screen or window, in lines.

Comments

The default, when LINES is unset or null, is to use the lines value as defined in the specified terminal's terminfo entry, or the current depth of the terminal window if you are using X windows. The terminal type is specified via the standard UNIX environment variable, TERM.

On non-windowing environments, where the terminal screen area cannot be resized, the LINES values does not need to be set.

In windowing environments, where the size of windows can be changed, the initial size of the window is used in preference to the lines value in terminfo. When the window is resized, the new size is reread. If the new size is greater than the initial size then the extra lines might not be used.

If you want to use the full depth of the window you might need to set LINES to the current depth of the window on some platforms.

Using LINES values that do not correspond to the actual depth of the window produces unexpected results.

Example

LINES=50
export LINES

M

MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT
Specifies the format to use for floating point data items. Possible formats are IBM hexadecimal and IEEE.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT=fpstatus
UNIX:
MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT=fpstatus
export MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT

Parameters

fpstatus Which format to use for floating point data items. This must be one of:

  • true Specifies that IBM hexadecimal format floating point data items are to be used.
  • false Specifies that IEEE format floating point data items are to be used.

Setting MAINFRAME_FLOATING_POINT to anything other than true has the same effect as setting it to false.

The setting of this environment variable can be overridden by the NATIVE-FLOATING-POINT directive.

MF_ALIAS
Specifies program aliases. Each set (pair) is 16 characters long - 8 characters for the program-name, and 8 characters for the alias. You can specify up to 10 pairs. This list is searched first and thus can potentially override the built-in list. If not found, the built-in alias table is searched.
MF_AMODE31ONLY
Indicates that all programs are AMODE(31).
MF_CBLQDA
Determines if QSAM files are dynamically allocated when processing an OPEN I-O or OPEN EXTEND statement for an optional file (that is, a file opened using the SELECT OPTIONAL syntax in the FILE-CONTROL paragraph) or a file opened for OUTPUT (regardless of whether it is optional or not). Permissible values are OFF and ON; the default is OFF, which specifies that dynamic allocation is not permitted.
This is an emulation of the CBLQDA Language Environment (LE) run-time option.
When set to ON, and your JCL contains a misspelled or no DD statement for the file being opened, a temporary file is created as a result of the OPEN statement, and then deleted after the program has run. For optional files opened for I-O or for EXTEND, you receive a return code of 05; for files opened for OUTPUT, you receive a return code of 00.
This variable has no effect on VSAM applications or the JCL utility programs.
Note: For programs that use ESDS files and have this variable set ON, ensure that FILETYPE is set to 15 or 16; otherwise these files will be affected by the variable, and treated as QSAM files.
MF_CHARSET
Specifies the system character set (ASCII or EBCDIC).
MF_DUPJOBS
Enables jobs with identical names to run.
Values:
  • Y (Default)
  • N
MF_ROOT_CERT
Enables the MF Directory Server process and any client applications to pick up the value of the root certificate file.
MF_SMS
Enables SMS support
MF_SPOOL_HK_LEX_SCAN

Determines if the MFELX* files associated with a job are also deleted when spool housekeeping is run.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MF_SPOOL_HK_LEX_SCAN=Y|N
UNIX:
MF_SPOOL_HK_LEX_SCAN=Y|N
export MF_SPOOL_HK_LEX_SCAN

Values

Y The files are deleted.

N The files are not deleted.

Default

The default is Y.

MF_SPOOL_HK_OUTPRT
Determines if files from the Complete queue with a status of Output or Printed are also deleted when spool housekeeping is run.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MF_SPOOL_HK_OUTPRTC=value
UNIX:
MF_SPOOL_HK_OUTPRT=value
export MF_SPOOL_HK_OUTPRTC

Values

Y Files from the Complete queue are deleted.

NFiles from the Complete queue are not deleted.

Default

The default is Y.

MF_SPOOL_HK_TESTDATE
Overrides the normal date for the spool housekeeping.

Syntax

Windows:
MF_SPOOL_HK_TESTDATE=YYYYMMDD
UNIX:
MF_SPOOL_HK_TESTDATEC=YYYYMMDD
export MF_SPOOL_HK_TESTDATEC

Values

YYYYMMDD The date which is to override the normal date.

Default

If this variable is not set, the normal date for the spool housekeeping is used.

MF_SPOOL_HK_WRITE_PROFILES
Determines the creation of profile files (.PRO files) when a data set is archived.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MF_SPOOL_HK_WRITE_PROFILES=Y|N
UNIX:
MF_SPOOL_HK_WRITE_PROFILES=Y|N
export MF_SPOOL_HK_WRITE_PROFILES

Values

Y Profile files are created.

N Profile files are not created.

Default

The default is Y.

MF_SYSLOGDSN
The Syslog Dataset name.
MF_USESCA5
Specifies that the server should use version 5 of the Open Service Component Architecture.
Values:
  • ON (Default)
  • OFF
MFALLOC_LOC
The location of the default allocated dataset.
MFALLOC_PROP
Rules for generated PC dataset names on allocation (that is, the default catalog PC DSN format).
MFAUDIT_LOGS
The location of audit files.
MFCSCFG
Specifies a configuration file to be used by the Client/Server Binding client program.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFCSCFG=filename
UNIX:
MFCSCFG=filename
export MFCSCFG

Parameters

filename The name of the configuration file.

Example

Windows:
SET MFCSCFG=/home/mydir/mfclisrv.cfg
UNIX:
MFCSCFG=/home/mydir/mfclisrv.cfg
export MFCSCFG

Comments

The value of MFCSCFG is overridden by any value defined in the command line. If neither of the above yields a filename, the default filename mfclisrv.cfg is assumed, and is searched for in the current directory. If that in turn is not found, the default settings for the configuration entries are used.

MFE.SMS
Enables SMS support.
MFEXTMAP
Location of a mapper file.
MFLECONFIG

Specifies a configuration file for Language Environment (LE) runtime options.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFLECONFIG=filename
UNIX:
MFLECONFIG=filename
export MFLECONFIG

Parameters

filename The file containing the LE runtime options you want to use.

MFLOCKING
Enables Locking Support
MFLOGDIR
Specifies a directory to be used by Client/Server Binding for log files.

Syntax

Windows:
SET MFLOGDIR=dirname
UNIX:
MFLOGDIR=dirname
export MFLOGDIR

Parameters

dirname The name of the directory for log files.

Example

Windows:
SET MFLOGDIR=/home/mydir/logs
UNIX:
MFLOGDIR=/home/mydir/logs
export MFLOGDIR
MFPRELOAD_USE
Calls MFPRELOAD to improve performance.
MFREXX_LSEQ_RECSIZE_MAX

Specifies the record length for the REXX EXECIO command when reading or writing a line sequential file that has been cataloged with a record length of zero.

Values:
  • Record length to use (Default = 255)
MFREXX_NOT
Specifies one or more characters to be used for the NOT operator in addition to REXX's default, which is "¬".
Values
  • One or more characters for each operator; each character you specify is used in addition to the default operator. Each additional character must be defined within single or double quotes, or in hexadecimal. Separate multiple characters with a space or a comma.
MFREXX_OR
One or more characters to be used for the OR operator in addition to REXX's default, which is "|".
Values
  • One or more characters for each operator; each character you specify is used in addition to the default operator. Each additional character must be defined within single or double quotes, or in hexadecimal. Separate multiple characters with a space or a comma.
MFSUB
Specifies whether to use SUBI or ASUBI.
Values
  • SUBI
  • ASUBI
MFSYSCATDIR
The location of the system catalog directory.
MFTRACE_ANNOTATIONS
The location of the trace files.
MFTRACE_CONFIG
The location of the CTF configuration file.
MFTRACE_LOGS
The location of the CTF log files.
MFTSO_DEBUG
Controls the display of debug messages.
MFUSER
The default User ID.
MFUSERCAT_LOC
User catalog location
MULTMFENTMAP
Specifies whether special characters such as < and & are replaced with the equivalent HTML entities (for example &lt; and &amp;).

O

OOSW
OO run-time switches.

P

PATH
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directories to be searched by all UNIX programs, including the runtime system, when finding executables to be run.

Syntax

PATH=pathname[:pathname]...
export PATH

Parameters

pathname A directory to search for executables.

Example

PATH=$COBDIR/bin:$PATH
export PATH

R

RANDOM
If using SSL connections, externally generated random data that is stored as a numeric value in the RANDOM variable will be inserted into the initial salt value used to generate temporary key pairs used in SSL hand-shaking. The RANDOM value will only form part of the initial salt value and is an aid to generating more randomness and not an essential requirement.

S

SORTCOMPRESS
Tells the system whether or not to execute a compression routine on each record to be sorted.

Syntax

Windows:
SET SORTCOMPRESS=5
UNIX:
SORTCOMPRESS=5
export SORTCOMPRESS

Parameters

5 This is the only value that you can supply. It allows for run-length encoding of sort records, resulting in much better performance when records contain multiple repeated characters.

Comments

This variable is recommended if the sort records contain many single repeated characters, for example, multiple spaces, as it can be very effective in improving memory usage and therefore sort performance.

Example

Windows:
SET SORTCOMPRESS=5
UNIX:
SORTCOMPRESS=5
export SORTCOMPRESS
SORTSCHEME
Activates a sortscheme. Use in conjunction with SORTSPACE for improved performance.

Syntax

Windows:
SET SORTSCHEME=1
UNIX:
SORTSCHEME=1
export SORTSCHEME
Values
  • SORTSCHEME=1 - this is the only valid value for the environment variable. See SORTSPACE for more information.
SORTSPACE
The amount of memory to be allocated to internal workspace for SORT operations. This can be specified in different formats: for example, you could specify 64M, 2G, and 1000000 to give sort memory areas of 64 Megabytes, 2 Gigabytes and 1000000 bytes respectively.

Syntax

Windows:
SET SORTSPACE=n[K|k|M|m|G|g]
UNIX:
SORTSPACE=n[K|k|M|m|G|g]
export SORTSPACE

Parameters

n[K|k|M|m|G|g The amount of memory to be allocated to internal workspace for SORT operations. K or k indicates kilobytes, M or m indicates megabytes and G or g indicates gigabytes. No letter indicates bytes. Defaults to 1 megabyte.

Comments

A larger value for SORTSPACE will generally result in a faster sort. However, if you specify a value that exceeds the capacity of main memory in your computer, such that the operating system has to page memory in and out, performance will be degraded.

Example

Windows:
SET SORTSPACE=1024K
UNIX:
SORTSPACE=1024K
export SORTSPACE

SORTTEMPSPACE
Specifies the amount of memory to be allocated to temporary workspace for SORT operations.

Syntax

Windows:
SET SORTTEMPSPACE=n[K|k|M|m|G|g]
UNIX:
SORTTEMPSPACE=n[K|k|M|m|G|g]
export SORTTEMPSPACE

Parameters

n[K|k|M|m|G|g] The amount of memory to be allocated to temporary workspace for SORT operations. K or k indicates kilobytes, M or m indicates megabytes and G or g indicates gigabytes. No letter indicates bytes. 32 megabytes is the lowest amount of memory that can be allocated.

Comments

The memory allocation strategy used by SORT can be adjusted through use of SORTTEMPSPACE, which generally improves performance in systems suffering from memory fragmentation.

Example

Windows:
SET SORTTEMPSPACE=250MB
UNIX:
SORTTEMPSPACE=250MB
export SORTTEMPSPACE
SORTTYPE
Defines the sort type.

Syntax

Windows:
SET SORTTYPE=2
UNIX:
SORTTYPE=2
export SORTTYPE
Values
  • SORTTYPE=2 Forces SORT to use the file handler, so that format modifications are picked up from the extfh.cfg file.
  • Not setting this variable means that SORT will try to use CBL_ routines to read and write files to improve performance.
Note: 2 is the only valid value for this environment variable.
SSLDIR
If using SSL connections, this value specifies the generic location of the system's OpenSSL directory.

T

TERM
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Defines the type of terminal being used.

Syntax

TERM=name
export TERM

Parameters

name The name of the terminal in the terminfo database.

Example

TERM=at386
export TERM
TERMINFO
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.

Specifies the directory to be searched by all UNIX programs, including the runtime system, for the UNIX system terminfo database.

Syntax

TERMINFO=pathname
export TERMINFO

Parameters

pathname The name of a directory that contains the UNIX system terminfo database.

Comments

The UNIX system terminfo database is used by all UNIX applications that need to use a terminal. However, COBOL applications tend to make much fuller and sophisticated use of the terminal and require a fuller terminfo description than is required by typical UNIX applications such as vi. Some terminal capabilities, such as those set during the initialization of the terminal to control the use of function keys, commonly conflict with the needs of typical COBOL applications. In such cases, the terminal information required by COBOL can be stored in a separate terminfo database and referenced using COBTERMINFO.

TMPDIR
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Specifies a directory in which to store temporary files in place of the UNIX system default.

Syntax

TMPDIR=pathname
export TMPDIR

Parameters

pathname The directory used by UNIX applications for any temporary work files. Temporary work files can be created by COBOL utilities such as Cob or by the runtime system when it executes statements such as SORT. If you do not specify a directory, the system default directory is used.

Comments

You might need to use this environment variable if the runtime system needs to page data to disk when creating heaps or sorting.

TXFILEP
The location of Micro Focus VSAM files.

U

USER
Restriction: This environment variable applies to UNIX environments only.
Default user name.

X

XFHLOG
Note: This variable is applicable to Windows platforms only.
Determines the location of the log file when the LOG option is active.

Syntax:

SET XFHLOG=DEFAULT

Parameters:

DEFAULT - generates the log file in the current directory.

Comments:

If the XFHLOG variable is not set, the log file is created in C:\ProgramData\Micro Focus\Visual COBOL\[version-number].

The effect of this variable can be overridden by the LOGFILENAME configuration option.