What's new in Rational Programming Patterns

Migration and import enhancements

• If a list of Programs, Screens, or Servers whose COBOL files must not be migrated was specified for a multi-session migration (MIBR procedure) or a progressive migration (MIBJ procedure), it can be recognized upon each new import of a session or journal version. The COBOL files of the new instances that are integrated in the updated list are then automatically removed from the workspace if they had been previously imported. The -noMigratedFile option can now be entered in the automatic migration command, import command, or journal import command to manage this enhancement.
• A filter (librariesFilter.txt) can be applied on the extracted Libraries to migrate Libraries subnetworks before the automatic migration command is run.

Usability enhancements

• Instance labels are displayed by default in the selection wizards that are opened with the Add buttons in the design editors.
• The display of Data Elements in Reports is enhanced. The Data Element output format is displayed in the -CE Lines and -D Lines. A tooltip is available in the Structure and Labels columns in the -D Lines.
• The length that corresponds to each of the Data Element three formats is automatically computed and displayed in the Data Element Definition tab.
• The DSQC1 option can be selected in Copybooks to generate the description of Segments in an SQL format.
• A new Generation tab is available in the Library editor. It is used to specify a project and folder for all the generation products of the Library (COBOL files, but also maps, proxies, or descriptions of Database Blocks for example).
• Macros are sorted alphabetically in the -CP Lines tab.
• The width of the Description column in the -G Lines is limited to 60 characters. To see the whole of an Input Aid call that exceeds 60 characters, you can hover over the column content. The whole call is then displayed in a tooltip.
• The display in the User Entity design editor is enhanced. The Overview tab displays the description number and label. The Show Field Name check box is selected by default in the Description tab.
• The Address of Elements view is available on a Screen. It flags the overlapping fields of the -CE Lines.
• Communication Monitors and Folders can be duplicated from the Design Explorer view.
• Client/server entities can be renamed from the Design Explorer view. The renaming also applies to the free references.
• The Package field is removed from the creation wizards of the Pacbase facet.

Impact analysis enhancements

• A free reference is set when the name of a target instance is entered in the columns of the Folder Composition tab. Content assist is available and a subreference link is created, even if the target instance is not defined. The target instance is displayed in the subreference results of the Folder instance. Its super references can be searched.
• The Macro cross-references view is enhanced: context field to filter the results, tooltip that displays the entity type of the calling instances, Comment column, menu to sort, filter, and change the displayed information, contextual menu of the calling instances, specification of a linked instance (with content assist).

Macro enhancements

• A contextual menu is available in the Macro Code Structure view. It contains choices to create a function or subfunction, and to update or delete a selected function or subfunction.
• In the Macro Code Structure view, skeletons are available for Communication Monitors, Folders, and Initialization and Termination Business Components.
• The RPP / No specific lines for specified Macros quality rule verifies that the COBOL code of a Program, Screen, or Server does not contain deletions, overwritings, or insertions of specific lines inside the specified Macros.

Enhanced COBOL management

• In the Generated Code Structure view, the Condition column displays the COBOL conditions (contents of IF lines) of functions and subfunctions. The associated tooltip displays each condition as it was entered in the COBOL code and reflects the input on several lines when applicable.
• In the Generated Code Structure view, the action CASE OF Refactoring to EVALUATE is available on the specific dependent subfunctions of a subfunction with a CASE OF condition for COBOL II, 85, LE only.
• The MCI micropattern generates the transfer of the elementary Data Elements that have an identical name in two group fields. It corresponds to a MOVE CORRESPONDING COBOL statement.
• A new snippet Insertion of the EVALUATE statement inserts the EVALUATE COBOL statement to test various conditions of a Data Element and specify an action for each of them.
• A new general preference can be used to select a default color for the generated lines in the PDP COBOL editor and for the nodes that come from the design and Macro calls in the Generated Code Structure view. Another general preference can be used to select a font, size, and style in the PDP COBOL editor.

Enhanced generation manager

• A filter text input field is available. The filter applies to the whole content of all the columns but its scope can be explicitly narrowed.
• The content of the generation manager lines can be exported in a CSV format.

Web client

The Rational Programming Patterns web client is available as a chargeable component. It is integrated into the Rational Team Concert™ web interface. It provides data dictionary, processing patterns, and generated code basic read-only views. It also provides simplified search and impact analysis features.

Other enhancements

• A service manager is generated from a Business Component that is not included in a Folder. Specific generation options must be indicated.
• This new precondition RPP - Prevent Data Element creation controls, upon server deliveries, that no Data Element is created out of the selected scope of components.