The Integrated Preprocessor Interface in
Enterprise Developer enables you to write your own preprocessors that read the original source files and pass modified code to the COBOL Compiler. When you configure a project or a file to use additional preprocessors, the preprocessing is done before invoking the COBOL Compiler.
The
Enterprise Developer documentation contains information on how to create your own preprocessors for use with
Enterprise Developer. Choose
General Reference > Integrated Preprocessor Interface from the Table-of-Contents for more information.
- The existing
Micro Focus preprocessor architecture is fully supported in
Enterprise Developer.
- You can stack preprocessors – this means you can use multiple preprocessors to handle the source code before passing it to the COBOL Compiler.
- The Integrated Preprocessor Interface enables preprocessors to pass error messages to the COBOL Compiler. The Compiler automatically formats the messages and presents the text in the IDE in the same way as it does for a regular COBOL error message.
Preprocessor Requirements
When writing an additional preprocessor you must ensure that it:
- Caters for setting any environment configurations required by the preprocessor itself or by any sub-modules. To achieve this, the preprocessor needs to read the configurations information in the registry for the ADDONS registry keys – see the information further in this document.
- Does not assume that any environment variables have being set prior to invoking it.
- Is responsible for ensuring that the code inserted in the user application is self-contained.
- Does not assume that
Enterprise Developer sets any environment variables before the preprocessor is called.