Preparing remote projects for debugging

You use a COBOL Application debug configuration to debug projects developed on a remote UNIX machine. Depending on your connection type, you may need to configure an X window implementation before you can debug the remote application, so that the output of a remote application running on a UNIX machine can be viewed on your local machine. If you are using an SSH connection type, you do not need an X window implementation (although you can still use one if you wish); with an SSH connection type, you can direct the remote program output to the Console view in the IDE instead.

Micro Focus Reflection Desktop for X is provided as part of Visual COBOL. Find the Reflection Desktop for X documentation on the Micro Focus Customer Care dropdown menu.

If you require an X window implementation, ensure the local X11 server can receive connections from the remote machine. You can do this using the xhost + command or by enabling SSH port forwarding. Alternatively, enable TCP/IP connections for X11 by setting a value in a configuration file in a manner appropriate to your operating system. For example:
  • Red Hat: run the gdmsetup utility and deselect Deny TCP connections to Xserver in the Security tab (this configures DisallowTCP=false in /etc/gdm/custom.conf)
  • SUSE: set DISPLAYMANAGER_XSERVER_TCP_PORT_6000_OPEN="yes" in /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager

Configuring the X window

Specify the connection and appearance details in the IDE preferences, as follows:

  1. Click Window > Preferences > Micro Focus > Debug.

    The options in the Remote Launching group are the ones directly relating to the X window behavior.

  2. In the Default X Server (DISPLAY) field, enter the display details.

    The default value is ${hostname}:0.0.

  3. To change the font used in the display, modify the value of the X Font field.
    Tip: Select Use X Server font to use the default font settings from the environment where the X Server is installed.
  4. If you are not using the default port number (8000) to debug remote projects, modify the Default cobdebugremote port field.
  5. Modify any of the remaining debug settings, as applicable.
  6. Click Apply and Close.
Parent topic: Preparing projects for debugging