COBOL — 122 Operations for AI Agents

This page is the canonical reference an AI coding agent uses to refactor, query, and analyze COBOL code through the act MCP server. 122 operations available: 48 refactor, 18 query, 42 analysis, 14 verification. Each operation is callable from Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode, or any MCP-compatible agent host. Click any operation for a stable anchor link suitable for citation.

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18Query
48Refactor
42Analysis
14Verify

Query

18 query tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/query-tools.

callers control_flow data_flow definition diagnostics effect_closure effect_summary fix_auto get_type graph import_organize interface mutations references repo_outline skeleton symbols symbols_batch

Refactor

Operation Description
add-comments Add or improve comments for clarity
add-cross-field-validation Add consistency checks across fields
add-data-validation Add input validation for critical data items
add-error-handling Wrap file operations in error handling
add-file-status-checks Add FILE STATUS checking after file operations
add-null-check Add SPACES/ZEROS check before use
change-signature Modify USING clause parameters
change-visibility Convert between WORKING-STORAGE and LOCAL-STORAGE
consolidate-paragraphs Merge logically related paragraphs
convert-evaluate-to-if Convert EVALUATE to IF/ELSE-IF chain
convert-if-to-evaluate Convert IF chain to EVALUATE
convert-perform-until-to-times Convert PERFORM UNTIL to PERFORM TIMES
convert-perform-varying Convert between PERFORM VARYING forms
convert-procedure-forms Convert between PERFORM THRU and single-paragraph PERFORM
convert-string-forms Convert between STRING/UNSTRING and MOVE
convert-variable-mutability Convert between VALUE and INITIALIZE-based initialization
extract-constant Define constant using 88-level condition
extract-function Extract code into new paragraph or section
extract-validation-paragraph Extract data validation into reusable paragraph
extract-variable Extract value to data item in WORKING-STORAGE
extract_function Extract a code selection into a new function — automatically infers parameters, return types, and inserts the call site. Use instead of manually cutting/pasting code. Works without LSP; LSP improves type inference. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
extract_variable Extract an expression into a named variable — inserts the declaration and replaces the expression with the variable name. Works without LSP. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool)]
generate-accessors Generate MOVE-based getter/setter paragraphs
generate-constructor Generate INITIALIZE paragraph
generate-equals Generate equality check paragraph
generate-hash Generate hash/hashCode method
generate-impl Generate paragraph skeleton
generate-tests Generate test wrapper or harness
generate-to-string Generate DISPLAY representation
import-add Add COPY statement for copybook
import-alias Create COPY alias with REPLACING
import-organize Sort and organize COPY statements
import-remove Remove COPY statement and inline content
inline Inline a variable, function, or method — replace every usage with its definition body, then remove the original. The inverse of extract. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file inlining. Params: file (string), symbol (string) [, line (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
inline Inline paragraph at call sites
insert_body Replace a function's implementation body with new code. AST-validated — rejects if the result has parse errors, so you can't accidentally break syntax. Use instead of manual text editing for function rewrites. Params: file (string), symbol (string), code (string) [, commit (bool)]
introduce-parameter Add parameter to USING clause
move Move data item or paragraph to different location
move_symbol Move a function, class, or type to a different file and automatically update all imports across the codebase. Use instead of manually cut/paste + fixing imports. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file import updates. Params: file (string), symbol (string), destination (string) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
recipe_run Run a codemod recipe: declarative match → transform → optional verify across modeled grammars. Preview lists matches; apply writes with optional E7 receipts and all-or-nothing rollback. Returns a per-site report.
remove-goto-usage Convert GO TO to PERFORM or structured EVALUATE
remove-unreachable-code Remove code after GO TO or unconditional exit
remove-unused-paragraphs Remove unreferenced paragraphs
remove-unused-variables Remove unreferenced data definitions
rename Rename a symbol and automatically update ALL references across the codebase. Safer and faster than find-and-replace — AST-aware, won't rename strings or comments. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file renames. Params: file (string), old_name (string), new_name (string) [, line (u32), column (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
rename Rename identifier and all references
rename-paragraph Rename paragraph and update all references
simplify-conditionals Simplify nested IF statements

Analysis

42 analysis tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/analysis-tools.

analyze_api_diff analyze_chokepoints analyze_clones analyze_clusters analyze_cohesion analyze_conformance analyze_coupling analyze_cycle_risk analyze_cycles analyze_dead_code analyze_depth analyze_entry_points analyze_export analyze_extraction analyze_fan_balance analyze_features analyze_hotspots analyze_impact analyze_inconsistencies analyze_inheritance analyze_interface_bloat analyze_interfaces analyze_layers analyze_orphan_types analyze_patterns analyze_platform_deps analyze_readiness analyze_roles analyze_seams analyze_stability analyze_surface analyze_test_gaps analyze_thickness analyze_type_completeness churn_hotspots co_change_clusters coverage_overlay ownership_map profile_overlay simulate split_module trace_overlay

Verify

14 verify tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/verification.

bisect_regression gate generate_test_harness scan secret_surface summarize_pr taint_flow unsafe_surface verify_behavioral_equivalence verify_contract_preserved verify_diff_semantics verify_port_parity verify_side_effects verify_test_impact

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