Explore - Variables Tab
The Variables tab shows program data items and how they connect to SQL, files, and procedure structure. You often arrive here from a link on another tab; you can also open the tab directly and filter by module.
Variable grid
Search and filter by module to narrow a large project. Select a variable to open its detail view.
Top variables and the variable tree
COBOL groups fields into records and substructures. In the UI:
- Top variables are parent-level groups (think of one logical record made of many columns).
- Child variables are the components under that parent.
When you select a variable, the detail view shows where it sits in the variable tree and highlights related parents and children. Clicking related variables lets you move up or down the structure without losing context—similar to moving across columns on one row in a spreadsheet.
Hardcoded values
When the parser resolves a literal assigned to a variable, Explore shows that hardcoded value next to the variable name in the variable tree—for example a fixed status code, flag, or constant. This helps you spot embedded business rules without opening source.
On the Modules tab, sorting variables by child count helps you find record-like structures a program uses as inputs or outputs.
Paragraphs, subroutines, and procedure structure
For COBOL modules, the detail view lists paragraphs where the variable appears.
For RPG modules, the detail view lists subroutines instead of paragraphs—the same role in the UI, different language structure. Legacy RPG subroutine names are often abbreviated.
Click a paragraph or subroutine to see statements and other variables referenced there—useful when you need “where is this amount calculated?” without reading the whole program.
From any listed variable you can navigate up or down the data flow via links.
Edges (table, field, and file relationships)
Edges are the table, field, or file touchpoints tied to a variable—where data enters or leaves the program’s working storage. Examples:
- A table read into a host variable
- A file input record layout
- A database update or file write at the end of processing
Edges are common starting and ending points for research.
Related SQL and variables
The detail view also shows:
- Related variables in the same structure
- Related SQL tables and fields when the variable participates in embedded SQL
Links open the corresponding Tables, Fields, or Variables entries.
Zengines Assist - Variable Summaries
Click Summary on the variable detail view for a short AI summary of what that variable does and how it fits in the program.
The first result is brief (for example, that a field is an account identifier used as part of a key). Click Tell Me More for a longer summary grouped into themes such as (wording may vary by release):
- Purpose — Business role of the variable
- Implementation — How the code sets and uses it
- Execution context — Where in the program flow it matters
- Data lineage — Sources, transforms, and sinks, with links to tables, files, copybooks, and other variables
Use links inside the summary to jump into Explore; use point-and-click lineage when you want to validate a specific path yourself.