Registering Source Files

Before you can analyze application source files in COBOL Analyzer, you need to load, or register, the source files in a workspace.

Note: In a multiuser environment, only a master user can register source files.

The CA creates copies of the registered files on the server machine (or locally in a single-user environment) in the Sources folder for the workspace. These are the files you view and edit in the CA tools. You can restore a file to its original state, update it to its current state, or export it as necessary.

Source files must have recognized DOS file extensions before they can be registered. You can view and add to the recognized extensions in the Workspace Registration options window. Files without extensions are checked for content, and if the content is recognized, the files are registered with appropriate extensions appended.

CA assumes that input source files are ASCII files in DOS format. Occasionally, files may be converted incorrectly from other formats to DOS-based ASCII with an extra special character (like “M”) at the end of each line. While COBOL Analyzer accepts these files as input, some CA tools may not work correctly with them. Make sure all source files are in valid ASCII format.

You can register source files in compressed formats (ZIP or RAR), as well as uncompressed formats. COBOL Analyzer automatically unpacks the compressed file and registers its contents.

Note: CA extracts compressed source files using the command line syntax for archiver versions most widely in use. If you use newer archiver versions, specify the command line syntax in the Archivers tab of the User Preferences window.

Workspace Registration options determine registration behavior. The default values for these options are preset based on your configuration and should be appropriate for most installations.

  1. In the Repository Browser, create a project for the source files you want to register, or use the default project. To create a project, choose Project > New Project. The Create Project dialog opens. Enter the name of the new project and click OK. The new project is displayed in the Repository Browser.
  2. Select the project in the Repository Browser, then copy-and-paste ( Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V) or drag-and-drop (if UAC is disabled) the file or folder for the source files you want to register onto the Repository Browser. You are notified that you have registered the files successfully and are prompted to verify the files. Click Close. The Repository Browser displays the contents of the new workspace either by folder, or by type, depending on the tab you have selected - Folders or Types. The former displays the contents of the repository in the same folder structure as the one they have on the host environment, the latter displays them by object type.
    Note: When updating or adding new sources through the CA main window, the files or folders being registered will be included into the selected folder in the Folders view. Registration into the Types view will copy the selected files and folders directly to the root Sources folder, i.e. they will not be copied into any other existing folders. If you are registering files or folders in Folders view, make sure you've selected in the tree the exact folder in which you want them to be registered. If you haven't selected any folder, they will be copied into the root Sources folder.
    Important: Before registering your source files, you must create a folder structure that replicates the original. This helps to avoid errors when you work with homonyms. Micro Focus recommends putting each application in a separate folder, putting system files that are common for more than one application in one directory. After you do that, register your sources by selecting the folders and including them in the project as described in step 2.
    Note: In the notification dialog, select Never ask again if you do not want to be prompted to verify files. On the Environment tab of the User Preferences window, select Ask user about verification if you want to be prompted again.