Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 for Visual Studio 2012 > Welcome > New Features > New Features in Visual COBOL 2.3 > Data File Tools (Technology Preview)

Data File Tools (Technology Preview)

Note: This is a technology preview feature only. It is being made available to allow you to test and provide feedback on this new capability; however, this feature is not intended for production use and it is not supported as such. Furthermore, Micro Focus does not guarantee that this feature will be delivered at a GA level and if it is, then the functionality provided might differ considerably from this technology preview.

The Data File Tools (Technology Preview) is a new standalone text editor in which you can create and edit data files. By nature of it being a 'technology preview' product, it does not currently include all the functionality that was available in the previous version of Data File Tools - now referred to as Classic Data File Tools. If you require any of the functionality not provided in this version, you can still use the classic version by accessing it in the usual way.

To run Data File Tools (Technology Preview), type mfdatatools2 from Visual COBOL's command prompt or a terminal.

To use the new editor directly from the Visual Studio IDE, clear the Use classic data file tools check box, available from Tools > Options > Micro Focus > Data File Tools. When cleared, the Data File Tools (Technology Preview) version is used, when possible. When this editor does not support the action you are attempting to complete, Classic Data File Tools is used instead. This check box is selected by default.