Micro Focus Studio Enterprise Edition for Windows > Developing COBOL Applications > Creating COBOL Solutions and Projects > Project and File Properties and Options > Options for Setting Directives when Scanning Files

Options for Setting Directives when Scanning Files

The IDE is configured to automatically perform a directives scan and set Compiler directives on any COBOL files you add to your projects. You can also start a directives scan manually using the Reset source directives context menu command in Solution Explorer. Each file is examined to determine the directives required and the directives are set on the file accordingly. However, if the directive is already set on the project, it is not set on the file.

For more on what a directives scan is see Overview of COBOL Project Properties.

Restriction: It is possible to scan and determine the directives only for COBOL files that are part of native COBOL or Mainframe Subsystem Applications projects (native or managed). It is not possible to set Compiler directives on individual COBOL files for managed non-Mainframe Subsystem COBOL projects.

You can configure the options that are set when performing a directives scan in Tools > Options > Projects and Solutions > COBOL Project Settings. The following directives are available:

DIALECT directive
When a file is examined to determine the dialect, a list of possible dialects is produced. The possible dialects are then compared with:
- The project dialect. If one of the possible dialects matches the project dialect, the DIALECT directive is not set on the file.
- A list of dialects in priority order. The most likely dialect is chosen and the directive set on the file.
CICSECM or NOCICS 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. The directives are then not applied at compile time, regardless of any CICS directives set on the project.
SQL directives
Files that contain EXEC SQL statements require specific SQL directives.

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.
If you do not select any directives, but only check the box, no directives are set.

If any of the required directives are not set on the project, they are set on the file. If a required directive is already set on the project, it is not set on the file.

You can also choose to unset SQL directives for this file. The directives are then not applied at compile time, regardless of any SQL directives set on the project.