Specifying the Processing Environment

The COBOL Analyzer parser autodetects the environment in which a file is intended to execute, based on the environment-related code it finds in the file. To ensure correct data flow, it sets up the internal parse tree for the file in a way that emulates the environment on the mainframe.

For Cobol CICS, for example, the parser treats an EXEC CICS statement or DFHCOMMAREA variable as CICS-related and, if necessary:

• Adds the standard CICS copybook DFHEIB to the workspace.
• Declares DFHCOMMAREA in the internal parse tree.
• Adds the phrase Procedure Division using DFHEIBLK, DFHCOMMAREA to the internal parse tree.

Autodetection is not always appropriate. You may want the parser to treat a file as a transaction-processing program even in the absence of CICS- or IMS-related code, for example. For each autodetected environment on the Project Verification options tab, select:

• Auto, if you want the parser to autodetect the environment for the file.
• Yes, if you want to force the parser to treat the file as environment-related even in the absence of environment-related code.
• No, if you want to force the parser to treat the file as unrelated to the environment even in the presence of environment-related code. The parser classifies environment-related code as a syntax error.