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In IBM Developer for z/OS when changing the 'File System mapping' and 'File Associations,' update the 'Content Type'

Question & Answer


Question

Why is a Null pointer exception generated when the PL/I Editor opens up in IBM Developer for z/OS?

Cause

It is possible that the 'File System Mapping' has changed for **PLI to *.pl1 instead of *.pli and the 'File Associations' for PL/I programs to *.pl1 files.
Go to Window>Preferences>General>Editors>File associations and set the PL/I Editor to *.pl1.

Answer

When a user uses File Associations, it tells the editors that it can open a particular file mapping; however, it does not tell the editor what kind of file it is or what type of content that file mapping might have.

When using Content Types it tells the editors that each one of these file mapping are all part of a particular type of file which allows the tooling with those editors to be enabled.

Instead of using File Associations, use Content Types.
  1. Go to Window -> Preferences -> General -> Content Types.
  2. Expand the Text category.
  3. There will be a Category for PL/1 Source Files.
  4. Add the *.pl1 extension here.
Content Types are a super set over File Associations and this will provide more tooling than just adding the File Associations.

Using Content Types is the recommended way for allowing customers to add custom mapping within IBM Developer for z/OS.

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Document Information

Modified date:
01 December 2023

UID

swg21622397