Generally, you also set applicable preprocessor compiler directive options when you specify the preprocessor; however, you can use a combination of methods at your preference. The order in which the COBOL compiler calls the preprocessor depends on where you specify it. We provide several alternatives:
- In the
Visual COBOL IDE
- You can specify an
SQL preprocessor and its applicable compiler directive options on the
SQL Preprocessor page of your project properties. Do this when your primary method of compilation is building a program or application from the IDE.
- On the Command Line
- When compiling from the command line, you can specify your ESQL preprocessor and its directives in the sequence of compiler directives specified as arguments to the
cobol command.
- In a Directives File
- You can specify your
SQL preprocessor and its directives in the
cobol.dir system-wide directives file and/or in a user directives file.
- Embedded in the Program
- You can also specify a preprocessor on the program level by embedding a $SET statement into the program itself. Use this method only when the program requires a preprocessor different from other programs in an application.
For details on setting specific
SQL preprocessors, see
Related concepts below.
