Product Overview
Programmer’s Workbench enables you to create and edit an MCP file as easily as you would a Windows file. Instead of complex commands, you can use familiar drop-down menus, tool buttons, shortcut keys, and point-and-click capabilities.
The client side of Programmer’s Workbench is installed and runs on a PC in the Windows environment, while the server side is installed and runs in the MCP Environment of a ClearPath system. The client and the server communicate through a TCP/IP connection.
General Features
Programmer’s Workbench Client Features
Programmer’s Workbench enables you to
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Create and edit patch and symbol files either on your PC or on any accessible ClearPath host.
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Compile your files, and, if errors occur, you can use the automatic linking of errors-to-source lines to quickly solve program errors.
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Use Mark IDs to identify the author or the release version of a code segment. You can edit individual Mark IDs, apply dynamic Mark IDs that include a time or date stamp, disable Mark ID application, and perform searches in the Mark ID field.
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Quickly perform such tasks as finding and replacing text, sequencing and resequencing line numbers, and printing files.
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Connect to an unlimited number of MCP hosts.
Enhanced Screen Editing
Editing features include
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Insert/overwrite mode, which enables you to insert text as well as overwrite it
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Drag-and-drop capability, which enables you to copy or move text from one location in your program to another, from one program to another program, or from another application into Programmer’s Workbench.
Import File Wizard
You can use this utility to import existing PC or MCP files into a format that is compatible with Programmer’s Workbench. For example, you can import structured PC text files, and you can convert a DATA type file into an ALGOL file, or vice versa.
Kerberos Authentication
If Programmer’s Workbench is running on a Windows workstation, you can perform a single-point log-on. That is, you can use your Kerberos principal ID and password and your Kerberos domain to log on to the Windows workstation. You no longer have to log on to your workstation and then log on again every time you connect to a different MCP host.
Macro Recording
Using Programmer’s Workbench, you can record a series of keyboard actions in a file. Macro scripts can save you time; for example, you might want to record keyboard actions that you perform repeatedly, such as setting IF, BEGIN, and END statements or comment lines.
Two methods are available for recording a macro script:
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Quick macro
A quick macro enables you to quickly replay recorded keyboard actions without having to name and save a file. However, the recorded keyboard actions are available only until you record another quick macro.
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Named macro
A named macro enables you to save the recorded actions into a file that you can use repeatedly even after you record another macro.
Memo Scripting
You can develop scripts that are executed by choosing a menu selection, pressing a keyboard shortcut, or clicking a toolbar button. To simplify your script development, several predefined script objects are available, which you can use to manipulate the Programmer’s Workbench environment.
The following table provides a brief summary of some of the objects available for developing macro scripts.
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Object |
Description |
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Control |
Performs such functions as opening a file, creating a new file, listing recently opened files, and so on. |
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HostManager |
Performs MCP host functions, such as connecting, disconnecting, directory searching, and disk pack listing. |
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Document |
Manipulates an open file. |
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Line |
Manipulates lines of text and represents one line of text in a file. |
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Selection |
References the location of the current cursor and the bounds of the selected text, if any. |
Multiple Parameters
When running a program, you can supply multiple parameters. A Multiple Parameters check box controls how the parameters are passed. If this box is selected, the parameters are passed as multiple parameters; if this box is not selected, the parameters are passed as one string parameters.
Project Files
Using a project file, you can store, organize, and use information that is related to a specific MCP symbol file.
Project files save you time and effort when performing a variety of tasks, such as compiling and debugging programs and working with xref files. For example, once you specify a compiler name in the project file, you are not prompted to provide a compiler name every time you compile your program.
Information that you can store in a project file includes
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Name and location of files, including symbol, patch, object, and xref
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Name of WFL compile job
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Compiler name and compiler control options: XREF, TADS, LineInfo, and Merge
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Build method to compile a program—directly or with a WFL job
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Automatic saving of bookmarks
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Automatic saving of breakpoints
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Mark ID values
Renew
You can use this feature to restore changed text to its original state. You can remove changes without starting over.
Run-Time Debugging
You can interactively debug program source code through the Test and Debug System (TADS) utility supported for certain compilers including ALGOL, COBOL74, COBOL85, and Pascal. Using the run-time debugging feature, you can enter breakpoints, view call stacks, step through code a line or procedure at a time, and view variable values while the code is executing.
System Command Support
System administrators can control the operation of the Programmer’s Workbench server component by entering system commands at a system terminal (ODT) or through the MARC menu. Some of these operations include
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Inquiring about currently logged-on Programmer’s Workbench clients
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Logging clients off
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Setting configuration options
TADS Watch List Window
The TADS Watch List window offers you a powerful debugging tool. The expressions you add to this window are evaluated each time the program stops at specified breakpoints or when stepping through the source code to trace program execution. If a value changes, the value in the TADS Watch List window appears in red.
WFL Compile
You can associate a Work Flow Language (WFL) job with the Compile option in the Tools menu.
Xref Files Support
Cross-reference (xref) files, which consist of a declaration file and reference file for a compiled source file, are a fast and efficient way to find, display, and track identifier declarations and references. Xref indexes are compiler-generated and use the programming language scoping rules to find declarations and references. This feature is critical within programs that include more than one variable with the same name.
New Features/Enhancements
TADS sessions between Programmer’s Workbench and the MCP Environment are now encrypted.
Configuration Requirements
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Client Software |
Microsoft Windows with TCP/IP network adapters. |
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For information on Windows operating system compatibility, see the compatibility matrices at https://www.support.unisys.com/common/matrices/matrixTOC.aspx?pla=MCP&nav=MCP |
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Ordering Information
Programmer’s Workbench is included as part of the operating environment packages. Source code is not available for this product.
Product Information
Refer to the following documents for more information:
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Programmer’s Workbench for ClearPath MCP Help (8999 5732)
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Programmer’s Workbench for ClearPath MCP Installation and Operations Guide (8808 0049)
