Setting options for real-time syntax checking

You can set preferences that control whether the editor checks syntax while you edit a file, and how certain problems are flagged: as errors, as warnings, or ignored. Real-time syntax checking annotations assist with making corrections to identified problems.

Procedure

  1. In the Preferences window, choose one of these preference categories:
    Option Description
    COBOL > Real-Time-Syntax Checking Sets preferences for the COBOL Editor and the z Systems® LPEX Editor open on COBOL files
    JCL > Real-Time-Syntax Checking Sets preferences for the JCL Editor
    PL/I > Real-Time-Syntax Checking Sets preferences for the PL/I Editor and the z Systems LPEX Editor open on PL/I files
    Limitation: On Linux® platforms, the real-time syntax checking annotations might not appear correctly in the z Systems LPEX Editor. This is a known limitation.
  2. To enable real-time syntax warnings to identify programming errors while you edit, select the Enable real-time syntax warnings check box.
  3. To enable real-time syntax warnings in copybooks or include files, select one of these check boxes:
    • For COBOL: Enable real-time syntax warnings for copybooks
    • For PL/I: Enable real-time syntax warnings for include files
    If the Enable real-time syntax warnings check box is cleared, this option is disabled.
    When you select this option, copybooks and include files are parsed for basic syntax legality when they are opened in the z Systems LPEX Editor, COBOL Editor, or PL/I Editor. Illegal syntax is flagged with a warning. References to data items are not checked for validity, because they might refer to items defined in other source files.
  4. If real-time syntax warnings are enabled, you can specify the maximum number of errors that are reported during an edit session. Specify an integer 1 - 200 for the Maximum number of problems reported per compilation unit field.
    The maximum includes the file content and referenced copybook or include members.
  5. COBOL files: To receive notification when an EXEC statement or END-EXEC statement begins to the left of area B, set EXEC must begin in Area B or END-EXEC must begin in Area B to Warning.

  6. COBOL files: To receive notification when a source code file contains unreachable code, set Unreachable Code to Warning.

  7. To disable the syntax parser, select the Disable syntax parser check box.
  8. Click Apply to save your changes.