Rational Developer for System z

Choosing an editor

The System z® LPEX Editor is the default editor for COBOL, PL/I, and Assembler files. You can choose an alternative editor, such as the COBOL Editor or PL/I Editor, by using the Open with menu item. You can also change the default editor associated with any particular file extension.

About this task

It is best practice to use the System z LPEX Editor, COBOL Editor, PL/I Editor, or Remote C/C++ Editor with source files written in Assembler, COBOL, PL/I, C, or C++ and with JCL files. These editors are designed to offer the fullest functionality with these file types. If you choose to use another editor, you might find that the following functions are not supported:
  • Round-trip error detection
  • Browse and View modes
  • Record truncation warnings
  • DBCS pseudo SO/SI support
  • Bidirectional support
All of these functions are available in the System z LPEX Editor. All of these functions except DBCS pseudo SO/SI support and bidirectional support are available in the COBOL Editor and PL/I Editor.
Attention: Using a different editor might result in lost or corrupted data if you attempt an operation that is not supported.

For an experience similar to ISPF, you might prefer the System z LPEX Editor. For an experience consistent with traditional Eclipse editors, such as the Java™ and C++ editors, you might prefer the COBOL Editor and PL/I Editor.

Restriction: The COBOL Editor, PL/I Editor, and compare editor (when comparing COBOL and PL/I files) have several limitations:
  • Double-byte character set (DBCS) limitations: Remote DBCS characters are not supported using a MVS server prior to version 8.0.3. Files containing remote DBCS characters can be opened in read-only mode only. Use the System z LPEX Editor to edit these files.
  • Bidirectional Text Limitations: Remote bidirectional characters are not supported. Remote files containing bidirectional characters can be opened in read-only mode only. Use the System z LPEX Editor to edit these files.
  • Other Limitations: Several features present in the System z LPEX Editor are not available in the COBOL Editor, PL/I Editor, or compare editor when comparing COBOL or PL/I files, including autosave, automatic maintenance of sequence numbers, and preventing text modifications left of the information margin from shifting sequence numbers out of position.

Procedure


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