Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 for Eclipse (Windows) > Developing Applications in the IDE > Using Eclipse for COBOL Development > Searching for Files using COBOL File Search

Searching for Files using COBOL File Search

There are two ways to use the COBOL File Search feature to make it easier to find certain files within your projects.

Select Search > COBOL File, and type the filename search string.
You can filter results based on
- file type: choose from COBOL programs, copybooks.
- only those files that cause build errors
- only those files that cause build warnings
Select Search > Run Stored COBOL Search Query and choose to find either:
- only those files that cause build errors
- only those files whose properties override the project's properties (for example Language dialect or Compile for debugging settings).

The results are shown in the Search view.

You can edit the properties of multiple files in the search results simultaneously if they come from the same project. Highlight the files you want to change, right-click and select Properties, and make sure Enable file specific settings is selected.

Tip: You can save your search criteria and give it a label, which adds it to the list of stored queries available when you select Search > Run Stored COBOL Search Query. When saving a search you can also assign it a keyboard shortcut by entering the required keystrokes in the Binding text box.

Save and edit your search either in the Search view, or the Windows > Preferences > Micro Focus > Search dialog box.

Make sure you don't open the Keys preferences page (Windows > Preferences > General > Keys) before or after you edit the binding in the Search preferences page, and before clicking OK to save any changes. Opening the Keys preferences page will prevent any changes you make to the search bindings being saved.