Documentation

Complete guide to using COBOL Graph for legacy code analysis

Getting Started

COBOL Graph is a powerful desktop application that helps you visualize, analyze, and understand legacy COBOL codebases through interactive graph-based analysis.

COBOL Graph Desktop

Professional COBOL analysis tool with offline capabilities, advanced features, and enterprise support.

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Try the Demo First

Want to see COBOL Graph in action before downloading? Try our web demo with a sample banking application. Note: The web demo has limited features and is for evaluation purposes only.

Launch Web Demo

Quick Start Guide

  1. 1Download and install COBOL Graph Desktop for your platform
  2. 2Launch the application and activate your license
  3. 3Load your COBOL project from your local file system
  4. 4Explore the interactive graph and run powerful queries

Installation

System Requirements

  • Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, or Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+)
  • 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended for large codebases)
  • 500MB disk space
  • Internet connection for license activation

Download & Install

Download the latest release for your platform:

Download for WindowsDownload for macOSDownload for Linux

Purchase a license to unlock full access to all features.

Installation Steps

Windows

  1. Download the .exe installer
  2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
  3. Launch COBOL Graph from the Start menu or desktop shortcut

macOS

  1. Download the .dmg file
  2. Open the .dmg and drag COBOL Graph to your Applications folder
  3. Launch from Applications (you may need to allow it in Security & Privacy settings)

Linux

  1. Download the .AppImage or .deb package
  2. Make executable: chmod +x "COBOL Graph.AppImage"
  3. Run the application: ./"COBOL Graph.AppImage"

First Launch

When you first launch COBOL Graph, you'll be prompted to activate your license:

  1. Enter your license key on the welcome screen
  2. Enter your email address (recommended for license recovery)
  3. Your license will be validated and activated immediately
  4. Your license status is displayed in the status bar

License Activation

After purchasing a license, activate it in the application:

  1. Go to Help → License Management (or click the license indicator in the status bar)
  2. Click "Enter License Key"
  3. Paste your license key and click "Activate"
  4. Your license will be validated and activated immediately

Note: Licenses are tied to your machine. If you need to transfer a license to a new computer, deactivate it first under License Management.

Features

Dependency Visualization

Interactive graph view of all program calls, file access, and copybook usage with intuitive color coding and layouts.

Impact Analysis

Understand downstream effects of code changes before you make them with recursive dependency tracing.

Data Lineage Tracing

Track variables and data structures throughout your entire codebase to understand data flow.

Hidden Coupling Detection

Identify programs coupled through shared file access that may not be obvious from code structure.

Dead Code Detection

Identify unused programs, paragraphs, and variables to reduce technical debt and improve maintainability.

Multi-Project Support

Analyze multiple COBOL applications simultaneously and compare their architectures.

GitHub Integration

Load COBOL projects directly from GitHub repositories for quick analysis.

Export Capabilities

Export graph data and query results in JSON and CSV formats for further analysis.

Using the Application

Loading Projects

COBOL Graph Desktop provides multiple ways to load your COBOL projects:

Local File System

Load entire directories of COBOL files from your computer. This is the primary method for analyzing your codebases.

  1. Click "Load Project" in the toolbar or press Ctrl+O
  2. Browse to your COBOL project directory
  3. Select the folder containing your .cbl, .cob, or .cpy files
  4. The application will recursively scan for all COBOL files
  5. Click "Open" to start parsing and analysis

Individual Files

Load specific COBOL files for quick analysis. Drag and drop files directly onto the application window or use File → Open Files.

Sample Project

Try the built-in sample project to familiarize yourself with the interface. Includes a banking system with customer and invoice management programs.

Interface Overview

  • Toolbar: Access project loading, save, export, layout options, and view controls
  • Sidebar: Filter nodes by type, search for specific components, and view project statistics
  • Graph Canvas: Interactive visualization with zoom, pan, drag, and node selection
  • Metadata Panel: View detailed information about selected nodes including source location and relationships
  • Query Panel: Run built-in or custom SQL queries for advanced analysis
  • Status Bar: Shows license status, node/edge counts, and parsing progress

Keyboard Shortcuts

Open ProjectCtrl+O
Save ProjectCtrl+S
ExportCtrl+E
FindCtrl+F
Zoom In+
Zoom Out-
Fit to ScreenF
Reset ViewR
Run QueryCtrl+Enter
Toggle SidebarCtrl+B

Graph Visualization

Node Types

Program
Main COBOL programs
Copybook
Shared code modules
File
File descriptors
Variable
Data definitions
Paragraph
Procedure sections

Edge Types

CALLSProgram invocations
PERFORMSParagraph executions
READSFile read operations
WRITESFile write operations
USES_COPYBOOKCopybook inclusions
MODIFIESData modifications

Layout Options

The graph automatically uses a hierarchical layout (dagre) optimized for dependency visualization. You can also switch to other layouts via the toolbar:

  • Hierarchical (Default): Top-down tree layout
  • Circular: Nodes arranged in a circle
  • Grid: Uniform grid arrangement
  • Force: Physics-based layout

Queries & Analysis

Built-in Queries

Impact Analysis

Finds all components affected by changes to a target node. Traces downstream dependencies through CALLS, PERFORMS, and data flow edges.

Usage: Select a node → Run "Impact Analysis"

Data Lineage

Tracks how data moves through the system. Follows READS, WRITES, and MODIFIES relationships to trace variable usage across programs.

Usage: Select a variable → Run "Data Lineage"

Hidden Coupling

Identifies programs coupled through shared file access. Reveals implicit dependencies that may not be obvious from code structure.

Usage: Run from Query Panel → Shows all coupled programs

Dead Code Detection

Finds programs, paragraphs, and variables that are never referenced. Helps identify candidates for removal to reduce technical debt.

Usage: Run from Query Panel → Shows unreferenced nodes

Program Call Hierarchy

Shows all programs that call or are called by a specific program. Reveals the complete call chain including CALLS and PERFORMS relationships.

Usage: Enter program name → Run "Program Call Hierarchy"

Copybook Usage

Shows all programs that include a specific copybook. Helps assess the impact of copybook changes across your codebase.

Usage: Enter copybook name → Run "Copybook Usage"

Project Summary

Generates comprehensive metrics for your entire project including node counts by type, edge counts, most-used variables, and top programs by call frequency.

Usage: Run from Query Panel → No parameters required

Custom Queries

Advanced users can write custom SQL queries against the graph database. The schema includes:

  • nodes table: All graph nodes with metadata
  • edges table: All relationships between nodes
  • projects table: Project metadata

Export Formats

COBOL Graph supports exporting your graph data and query results in multiple formats for integration with other tools.

JSON Export

Complete graph data in JSON format, including all nodes, edges, and metadata.

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "uuid",
      "name": "PROGRAM-NAME",
      "node_type": "program",
      "source_file": "PROGRAM.cbl",
      "metadata": {}
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "source_node_id": "uuid",
      "target_node_id": "uuid",
      "edge_type": "CALLS"
    }
  ]
}

CSV Export

Tabular format perfect for spreadsheets and database imports. Includes separate sections for nodes and edges.

Use Cases:

  • Import into Excel or Google Sheets
  • Database bulk imports
  • Simple text-based analysis
  • Reporting and documentation

How to Export

  1. Load a project in the desktop application
  2. Click the "Export" button in the toolbar or press Ctrl+E
  3. Choose your format (JSON or CSV)
  4. Select the destination folder and filename
  5. Click "Save" to export the file

Troubleshooting

Application Won't Start

If COBOL Graph Desktop fails to launch:

  • Windows: Check if Windows Defender or antivirus is blocking the executable
  • macOS: Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy and allow the app to run
  • Linux: Ensure the AppImage has execute permissions (chmod +x)
  • Check the system requirements are met (4GB RAM minimum)
  • Try reinstalling the application

License Activation Issues

If you can't activate your license:

  • Verify you have an active internet connection
  • Check that your license key is copied correctly (no extra spaces)
  • Ensure your license hasn't expired or reached its activation limit
  • If transferring from another machine, deactivate the old license first
  • Contact support@cobolgraph.com with your order number for assistance

Graph Not Displaying

If the graph canvas is blank after loading a project:

  • Check the status bar to verify nodes were loaded (should show node/edge count)
  • Try clicking "Fit to Screen" button or press F
  • Check if filters are hiding all nodes (clear filters in sidebar)
  • View application logs for parsing errors
  • Try loading the sample project to verify the application is working

Still Need Help?

If you're still experiencing issues, email support@cobolgraph.com with:

  • Your operating system and version
  • COBOL Graph version (Help → About)
  • Application logs (Help → View Logs)
  • Steps to reproduce the issue

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this parse mainframe COBOL?

Yes! COBOL Graph Desktop supports mainframe COBOL including IBM Enterprise COBOL, Micro Focus COBOL, and GnuCOBOL. The parser handles both fixed-format and free-format COBOL. If you encounter parsing issues with your specific dialect, contact support and we'll work to add compatibility.

How large a codebase can it handle?

COBOL Graph Desktop has been tested with projects over 1 million lines of code. Performance depends on available system memory - we recommend 8GB RAM for optimal performance with large codebases. For extremely large systems, consider analyzing subsystems separately.

Can I use this offline?

Yes! The desktop application works completely offline after initial license activation. All your code and analysis data stays on your local machine. This makes it ideal for secure environments, air-gapped networks, and organizations with strict data security policies.

Is my code secure?

Absolutely. All your code and analysis data is stored locally on your computer. COBOL Graph never uploads your code to any server. License activation only sends a license key validation request - no source code is transmitted. Your intellectual property stays completely under your control.

What file formats are supported?

We support .cbl, .cob, .cobol (programs), .cpy (copybooks), and .pco, .sqb, .ccp (SQL COBOL). Both fixed-format (columns 7-72) and free-format COBOL are supported. JCL and other mainframe artifacts can be included in your project directory - the parser will automatically identify COBOL files.

Can I try it before buying?

Yes! Try our web demo to see the interface in action, though the demo has limited features. Purchase a license to get complete access to all features with your own code.

What support is included?

All licenses include email support with response within 2 business days. Enterprise licenses include priority support with same-day response, phone support, and dedicated account management. All users have access to documentation and community forums.

Need More Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? We're here to help.

Contact SupportTry the Demo