Importing from a COBOL Source File or Relativity Symbol Table

  1. With a catalog open in the Relativity Designer, on the File menu, click Import COBOL FDs.

    The COBOL FD Importer tab is displayed.

  2. If the current data source is a Client/Server data source, the Remote tick-box is selected: this allows you to select files on the Data Server machine during file import selection. If you want to select files on your local machine for import, ensure Remote is not selected.
  3. In the Import FDs From field, select the source type:
    • Import from a COBOL source (.cbl) file:
      CAUTION:
      Only use a source file that contains well-formed RM/COBOL syntax that compiles cleanly.
      1. In the Import FDs From field, select RM/COBOL Source File using RST Schema Extractor (.cbl -> .rst).
      2. To the right of the File to Import field, click (Select file to import), then use the Open dialog box to select a .cbl file.
      3. If necessary, enter the appropriate RM/COBOL compile command options in the Compilation Options field.
      4. If the FD includes copy files, click (Select file to import) and select the folder(s) in which the copy files(s) reside.
      5. To retain the temporary files created during the update process, select Keep Temporary Files after Import.
    • Import from an RM/COBOL object (.cob) file:
      Prerequisite: The object file must have been compiled with at least the Y (or Y=1) compiler option.
      1. In the Import FDs From field, select RM/COBOL Object File (*.cob).
      2. To the right of the File to Import field, click (Select file to import), then use the Open dialog box to select a .cob file.
    • Import from an Relativity Symbol Table (.rst) file:
      1. In the Import FDs From field, select RST Schema File (*.rst).
      2. To the right of the File to Import field, click (Select file to import), then use the Open dialog box to select an .rst file.
  4. Click Read File and Record Descriptions.

    A further two tabs are displayed. The Items to Import tab displays the FDs found in the selected file, and the Messages tab contains output from the extractor process.

  5. In the Items to Import tab, select the file definition(s) to import, then click Add to Catalog.
    Note: If you need to import other COBOL items from the source that are not part of the file definition (e.g. working-storage items), click Show Advanced Import Options, then select from the additional items displayed.

    The updated file definition is now displayed in the Catalog Explorer.