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.
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. 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.
- To choose the COBOL or PL/I Editor when you open a COBOL
or PL/I file, select the file and then click Open with
> COBOL Editor or Open with > PL/I Editor.
- To associate another editor or specify the default editor
for any file type, click Window > Preferences and
then expand General > Editors and select File
Associations. On the File Associations preference
page, you can do any of the following tasks:
- To add an editor for a file type, select the file type and
click the Add button next to the Associated
editors list. Choose from the list of Internal
editors or click External programs and
then click Browse to search for and select
the external editor you want to use.
- To set the default editor for a file type, select the file
type, select an editor from the Associated editors list,
and click Default.