To debug a live recording

Restriction: Reverse Debug and Live Recording functionality is licensed and installed separately from undo.io. You can enable reverse debug functionality by downloading the extension from the Micro Focus Marketplace.

This functionality is only supported on the following platforms:

  • Red Hat Linux (x86 and x64)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 12 SP2 (x64 only)
  • CentOS 8.2 (x64 only)
  • Ubuntu Linux 20.04.x (LTS) (x64 only)

Additional restrictions apply. For details, see the Reverse Debug and Live Recording topic in the Known Issues and Restrictions section of this documentation.

Windows Platforms: To use this option, you must connect to Visual COBOL Development Hub running on one of the supported UNIX platforms listed above.
  1. Create a live recording. See To create a live recording for details.
    Note: You can only debug a live recording on a machine using the same operating system as the one that it was created on.
  2. In the Eclipse IDE, click Run > Debug Configurations.
  3. Double-click COBOL Live Recording.
  4. In the Name field at the top of the right pane on the Debug Configurations dialog box, type a name for your debug configuration.
  5. On the General tab, supply the following:
    COBOL Project
    The project to use while debugging.
    Live Recording File
    Click Browse for file to locate and select a live recording output file, or click Browse for folder to locate the folder in which you store your recordings (if you select this option, you will be prompted for an output file when the configuration is launched).
    Executables Location
    Do one of the following:
    • If your application executable files are in the same directory as your live recording file, click Live recording file location.
    • If your application executable files are in a different location than your live recording file, click Other location; then either click Browse to select a directory or type the full path into the field.
      Tip: The Visual COBOL compiler writes the application executable files to the Output Path specified in your project properties.
    Debug Options
    If your application is 64-bit, check Application is 64-bit.
  6. On the Source tab, ensure that the location of the application's source files (COBOL program files and copybooks) is defined; if it is not already listed:
    1. Click Add.
    2. Select File System Directory, and click OK.
    3. Click Browse, navigate to the location of the files, and then click OK.
      Note: The source files must be in the same state that they were in when used to create the application executable you are about to debug.
  7. On the Debug Symbols tab, ensure that the location of your debug symbol (.idy) files is defined; if it is not already listed:
    1. Click Add.
    2. Select Project, and click OK.
    3. Check the box next to the appropriate project name, and click OK.
  8. Click Debug.
  9. If you only selected a folder in the Live Recording File field, select a .mfr file from the folder, and click OK.

    After the live recording file has been loaded, the Debug perspective is displayed with the application at its starting point. Use the forwards and reverse step options to move through the execution of the application. To indicate that you are stepping through a recording (and not a live application), the debug thread that is displayed in the Debug pane, appends in replay mode to the thread title