Identifying COBOL copybooks and programs

When you import existing COBOL sources into Visual COBOL, the IDE scans each imported file to determine whether it is a COBOL program or a copybook. Based on the settings specified in Window > Preferences > Micro Focus > COBOL > Directives Determination, the IDE sets Compiler directives only on the files identified as COBOL programs.

In certain situations, the IDE may identify a COBOL program as a copybook (or vice versa); this could mean that the appropriate Compiler directives are not set on a file incorrectly identified as a copybook, which could cause a project compilation failure. In such cases, you can use the Transform Copybook to Program and Transform Program to Copybook context menu commands to manually indicate the correct file type.

Note: It is not possible to transform files with a .cpy extension, as they are always copybooks, or files with a .cob extension as they are always COBOL programs. Files with a .cbl extension may be either COBOL programs or copybooks.

To indicate that a file is a COBOL program:

In COBOL Explorer, right-click the file that you want to convert in the Copybooks category, and click Transform Copybook to Program.
This updates the information in the project about this file and moves it to the COBOL Programs category of the project.

Alternatively, you can do one of the following:

Use drag and drop in COBOL Explorer to move the file from the Copybooks category to the COBOL Programs category of the project.
Copy the file from the Copybooks category and paste it into the COBOL Programs category of the project.
Copying moves the file.

To indicate that a file is a copybook:

In COBOL Explorer, right-click the file that you want to convert in the COBOL Programs category, and click Transform Program to Copybook.
This updates the information in the project about this file and moves it to the Copybooks category of the project.

Alternatively, you can do one of the following:

Use drag and drop in COBOL Explorer to move the file from the COBOL Programs category to the Copybooks category of the project.
Copy the file from the COBOL Programs category and paste it into the Copybooks category of the project.