Editing Source Files

The 3GL language editor support is fully integrated with the existing Source Editor. For example, Java and C++ files can be open for editing at the same time.

See Also
Syntax Highlighting

Changing Editor Properties

You can open 3GL language source files for editing.

  To open a new file

1.  Select the filesystem from Filesystems.
2.  Click the New button.  

3.  Select the template file you want, and follow the New Wizard.


  To open a file mounted in
Filesystems

Right-click the file and choose Open from the context menu.

You can open several files simultaneously, by selecting them in Filesystems (using the SHIFT key for selecting consecutive files and the CTRL key for selecting nonconsecutive files).

Using Source Editor Tabs
 

Files that you have opened in the Source Editor are indicated by the name and icon that appears on one of the tabs (no tabs are shown if there is only one open file). Click the tab of the file you want to edit. Right-click a tab to customize your view of a file. Click Clone Document to add another document window to the same file. You can also change the docking information to create single frames or split frames. To restore the tabbed view, right-click on a window.

(For more general information about using the Source Editor, see Core IDE Help-Editing Source Files.)

Syntax Highlighting

Distributed NetBeans provides syntax highlighting in the NetBeans Source Editor - meaning language keywords are colored and/or made bold (in a similar fashion to Java code).

        

The rules determining the highlighting are customizable in the Fonts and Colors property editor, where each syntax element has defined properties that you can modify.

  To change the Fonts and Colors Editor settings

1.  From the Tools menu, select Options.
2.  Select Editing > Editor Settings > OpenVMS language Editor.
3.  Double-click
Fonts and Colors.

    

In the OpenVMS COBOL editor settings, the Fonts and Colors property editor is open

Changing Editor Properties

Under the language Editor Settings, in addition to changing syntax highlighting (Fonts and Colors), you can set abbreviations (auto completion of words), the indentation engine, key bindings, and whether or not to use line numbers, as well as many "expert" settings provided by NetBeans.

  To change Editor settings

1.  From the Tools menu, select Options.
2.  Select Editing > Editor Settings > OpenVMS language editor.

Usage Notes

–  The settings you see in a file property sheet are initially those that apply to the currently active IDE project. Changing values in this property sheet will only affect the selected file.
–  You can restore the default property of any value for an individual file by opening its settings dialog and clicking the Default button.
–  To change a property setting, select the appropriate setting by clicking its row and entering data in the right column. Click the browse button  to open a Property Editor dialog box (which usually presents a text box or a directory browser).
 

Usage Description

Abbreviations
Use to save typing by specifying abbreviations for longer strings you use in the Source Editor.

Font Size
Specify a font size for the Source Editor.

Fonts and Colors
Determines syntax coloring, font selection, highlighting. You can change the defaults that the COBOL module supplies.

Indentation Engine

Each 3GL language module supplies its own indentation, space, and tab properties. You can modify these if desired.

 

Expand Tabs to Spaces

True

 

Number of Spaces per Tab

4

Key Bindings

Shortcut key combinations are those that NetBeans provides. (You can use these or specify your own or install the OpenVMS EDT Editor Key Bindings Module.)

Line Numbers

Shows line numbers in the Source Editor.

Macros

Lets you specify macro strings and name them appropriately.

Tab Size
Lets you specify the number of spaces per tab.

For information about properties on the Expert options sheet, see Core IDE Help Topic: Editing Source Files: Configuring the Source Editor: Source Editor Properties.

Selecting printing properties

For printing, you can customize fonts, colors, and line numbering so that they are different than what is viewed in the Source Editor:

  To change print settings

1.  From the Tools menu, select Options.
2.  Select Tools > Options > IDE Configuration > System > Print Settings > OpenVMS language Editor.