Compile for Debugging

To debug a program, you need to configure the build process to create all the files needed for debugging.

Compile a project for debugging

You do this by using a build configuration for your project with the Compile for debugging option selected. To see your current build configurations, and create new ones:

  1. Right-click on your project in COBOL Explorer
  2. Click Properties > Micro Focus > Build Configurations.
  3. Select a build configuration and click the COBOL tab.
  4. Check Enable configuration specific settings and ensure Compile for debugging is checked.
  5. Build your project.

Compile a standalone file for debugging

When working with standalone COBOL programs (such that are opened in the IDE without a project), the IDE first searches for the program symbols files to provide debug information.

If no .idy files are found in any of the locations specified on the Program Symbols (.IDY) page in Window > Preferences > Micro Focus > COBOL > Standalone Files, you need to manually recompile the file to produce the debug information. You can recompile from the command line or from within the IDE. To compile for debugging in the IDE:

  1. Check the Compiler directives for compiling standalone files - click Window > Preferences > Micro Focus > COBOL > Standalone Files > Compile.
  2. Ensure that the anim Compiler directive is included then click OK.
  3. Right-click your standalone file in the editor and click Compile.