Opening, browsing, or viewing a file reference

You can open a called file reference in your program in edit, browse, or view mode. The selected reference must be a valid reference to a structure.

Supported Editors:
  • COBOL Editor
  • PL/I Editor
  • z Systems LPEX Editor

Before you begin

The product uses the Editor Configurations page of the associated property group to find local or remote call libraries for file references. To configure a call library:
  1. To open the local or remote property group that is associated with the source file that you are editing, right-click the file name and select Property Group > Edit Associated Property Group.
  2. Click the tab that matches the source file type: COBOL or PL/I.
  3. Click Editor Configurations.
  4. Add the local folder or remote data set that contains the called program to the property group:
    • Local property group: Drag a local folder or remote data set into the Local libraries or Remote libraries field.
    • Remote property group: Drag a remote data set into the Called program search libraries field.
  5. Save the property group.

About this task

The editor pop-up menus provide three commands that open called program files in edit, browse, or view mode:
  • Open File filename opens a called program file in edit mode and locks the file if it is a remote file.
  • Browse File filename opens a called program file in read-only mode.
  • View File filename opens a called program file in edit mode, but does not lock the file. This command is available only when a remote file is open in the editor.
The following are examples of call statements on which these pop-up menu commands are available:
  • CALL 'filename' USING PROGRAM-PASS-FIELDS
  • EXEC CICS LINK PROGRAM('filename')
  • EXEC CICS XCTL PROGRAM('filename')
  • EXEC SQL CALL storproc(:V1,:V2 INDICATOR :IV);

When you are editing a remote file and there is no z/OS file system mapping associated with the called data set, the product uses the discover file type function to understand the contents of the called file, assign a file extension to it, and open it in the appropriate editor.

Limitation: In local projects, call statements for REXX and Assembler programs are not opened from the pop-up menu if the local REXX or Assembler file names include a file extension.

Opening and browsing a file reference

Procedure

  1. In the editor, highlight the reference to the file that you want to open and right-click.
  2. Click Open File file_reference or Browse File file_reference. The file_reference displays the name of the file that is requested to be opened.
    The file opens in the editor.

Viewing a file reference

About this task

The View File file_reference action opens a remote file in edit mode without obtaining a lock. You cannot save the changes into the original file. You must save the file with a different name.
Note: Because local files are not locked for editing, this action is not available for local called files.

Procedure

  1. Select the reference to the file that you want to open.
  2. Right-click and select View File file_reference from the menu.
    The file opens in the editor.
  3. If you modify the file, you are prompted to save the file with another name.