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.