Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 Update 2 for Visual Studio 2012 > Welcome > Product Information > Known Issues and Restrictions > Visual Studio IDE > Single COBOL Files Support

Single COBOL Files Support

Most editing, compiling and debugging features within the IDE require that your files are part of a project. When working with single files, some of the features are not available or are not fully supported.

Support for single files, such that are opened in the IDE without a project, is only available for native COBOL programs.

The COBOL editor provides limited support for the following features, provided that you have compiled the file - Call Hierarchy, colorization, debugging, Expanded copybook view, Go To Definition, IntelliSense assistance, and Quick Browse.

The following lists some of the features and technologies that are not available or are not fully supported:

If you have made changes the file, you need to recompile it in order for the IDE to verify the code and show any errors in the Error List window.
Compiling managed code.
Drop-down types and members.
Error markers in the code.
The IDE reports any errors in the Error List window after you compile the file.
The Find All References command.
The Go To Procedure Division command.
Linking of programs to .exe or .dll files.
Navigation from the Error List window to the correct line of code that contains the error.
Pre- or post-build events.