Configuring Smart Edit Mode

Smart edit mode controls the behavior of word wrapping and indentation in the different COBOL areas. With it enabled, you can change the following configuration options in the Typing preferences dialog box: select Window > Preferences > Micro Focus > COBOL > Editor > Typing.

Wrapping
  • Wrap code when area B end is reached - lines wrap when you reach the end of area A/B.
  • Wrapping moves the text in the right hand area to the new line - any comments in the right-hand area stay in the right-hand area but move to the next line when wrapping in the A/B area occurs.
  • Wrap lines when deleting forwards and backwards - when you press Delete after the last non-white space in the area, the line beneath moves up (and where possible wraps in the A/B area), and comments in the right-hand area stay with the associated line of code. Similarly, when you press Backspace in column 1, the current line moves up (and where possible wraps in the A/B area), and comments in the right-hand area stay with the associated line of code.
Indentation
  • Enter key and smart wrapping adjust the indentation on the new line - automatic indentation options.
  • Pressing home/end moves caret to the beginning/end of the area - changes the way the Home and End keys move the cursor in the COBOL editor. Pressing Home repeatedly first moves the cursor immediately before the first non-white space in the current area, then at the beginning of the area, or to the first non-white space in the preceding area. Pressing End repeatedly first moves the cursor immediately after the last non-white space in the current area, and then at the start of the following area.