Native Inspect Manual (H06.07+)

Using Native Inspect With COBOL Programs
Native Inspect Manual—528122-006
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Execution Control
Execution Control
You control execution of a program by setting breakpoints at locations in the program
where you want execution to be suspended. As discussed previously, you can identify
locations in a COBOL program using program unit and paragraph names, in addition to
source line numbers. Once program execution is suspended, you resume execution by
entering a continue command.
A program executes until it:
•
Encounters a breakpoint
•
Calls the DEBUG or PROCESS_DEBUG_ procedure
•
Generates a trap
•
Terminates
You can also use the following Native Inspect commands to incrementally advance
program execution:
•
step command. This command advances program execution one verb at a time.
Execution steps into any PERFORM or program unit invocations executed within
the step range.
•
next command. This command advances program execution one verb at a time.
Execution steps over any PERFORM or program unit invocations executed within
the step range.
•
finish command. This command executes the current process until execution either
returns from the current program unit or encounters a debugging event.
Considerations
•
Stepping behavior depends on compiler code generation and can vary slightly with
different compiler versions.
•
You cannot use the finish command to step execution out of a PERFORM. To step
out of a PERFORM, you can set a breakpoint at the return location and then
continue execution until that breakpoint is encountered.