Copy and Build the Visual Studio Solution

We provide a pre-configured Visual Studio solution to use with the Classic Data File Tools tutorial.

Phase 1: Copy the pre-configured solution

Here, you copy the pre-configured solution to its own directory where you can build the application and work on its data files:

1. On your local drive, create a \tutorials directory; then create a DataToolsDemo subdirectory. For example, c:\tutorials\DataToolsDemo.
2. Copy all files in the DataToolsDemo samples directory installed with Visual COBOL, which by default is %PUBLIC%\Documents\Micro Focus\Visual COBOL\Samples\DataToolsDemo, to your new local tutorials\DataToolsDemo directory.

Phase 2: Build the application

1. Start Visual COBOL.
2. Click File > Open > Project/Solution.
3. Use the Open Project dialog box to navigate to the local tutorials\DataToolsDemo directory.
4. Double-click DataToolsDemo.sln to open it.
5. From the Solution Explorer, right-click the DataToolsDemo solution; then select Build from the context menu.

   This compiles the COBOL program dfdstaff.cbl and creates the dfdstaff.idy file in the output directory of the solution. dfdstaff.idy is used later in this tutorial.

Phase 3: Start the Classic Data File Tools

• From your desktop, click Start > All Programs > Micro Focus Visual COBOL> Data Tools > Classic Data File Tools.