FAQ - Eclipse
Common questions and issues when using Eclipse with the P3/COBOL IDE.
Topics
Plugin is broken after installation
Occasionally, a new Eclipse release changes something the P3/COBOL IDE plugin depends on before the plugin has been updated to support it. In that case, installing the plugin into the latest Eclipse version may leave it in a broken state (for example, the P3/COBOL perspective, editors, or menus fail to load).
This is a temporary workaround until an updated plugin release supports the newer Eclipse version. Once that release is available, you can upgrade Eclipse and the plugin normally.
Solution
Install the plugin into a known-compatible Eclipse release instead of the latest one (here 2026-03):
Install Eclipse 2026-03
Download and install Eclipse for Java Developers, version 2026-03, then start it.
Disable automatic update checks
Go to Window -> Preferences -> Install/Update -> Automatic Updates and disable
Automatically find new version updates and notify me.
Restrict the available software sites
Go to Window -> Preferences -> Install/Update -> Available Software Sites and disable every site except:
2026-03 | https://download.eclipse.org/releases/2026-03
Add the P3/COBOL update site
In the same Available Software Sites preference page, click Add and enter the P3/COBOL Eclipse Plugin update
site, using the URL that was provided to you when you licensed the IDE:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Url |
| Name | p3cobol |
| Location | https://... |
Install the plugin
Go to Help -> Install New Software. In the Work with drop-down, select the p3cobol_release_17.0.5 site, keep
Contact all update sites during install to find required software enabled, and click Next.
Follow the default installation process to complete the install.
If the plugin is still broken after following these steps, please let us know () so we can investigate.