tasks.json exists but 'No task defined' - json

Question

I have a tasks.json open in VSCode. When I try to 'Run Task' I get 'No task to be run. Configure Tasks'.
Trying to Configure Tasks I get 'Open tasks.json'. But tasks.json is already open in VSCode. Closing tasks.json and reopening it gives the same result.
Help appreciated. tasks.json shown below.
{
// See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
// for the documentation about the tasks.json format
"version": "2.0.0",
"label": "GnuCOBOL - Compile (single file)",
"type": "shell",
"options": {
"env": {
"PATH":"\\gnucobol3\\bin",
"COB_CONFIG_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\config",
"COB_COPY_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\copy",
"COB_INCLUDE_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\include",
"COB_LIB_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\lib",
},
"command": "cobc",
"args": [
"-x",
"-std=mf",
"-t${fileBasenameNoExtension}.LST",
"${file}"
]
},
}

Answer 1

It looks like your tasks.json file got changed. It should be of this form:
{
// See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
// for the documentation about the tasks.json format
"version": "2.0.0",
// "global" options can go here
"options": {
"env": {
"APP_NAME": "Nice"
}
},
// you are missing the tasks array
"tasks": [
{ // task 1
"label": "Task A",
"type": "shell",
"command": "echo A2",
"problemMatcher": [],
"presentation": {
"group": "groupA"
}
// or task-specific options can go here
},
{ // task 2
"label": "Task B",
"type": "shell",
"command": "echo B",
"problemMatcher": [],
"presentation": {
"group": "groupA"
}
}
]
}
So with your code:
{
// See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
// for the documentation about the tasks.json format
"version": "2.0.0",
"options": {
"env": {
"PATH":"\\gnucobol3\\bin",
"COB_CONFIG_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\config",
"COB_COPY_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\copy",
"COB_INCLUDE_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\include",
"COB_LIB_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\lib",
}
},
"tasks": [
{
"label": "GnuCOBOL - Compile (single file)",
"type": "shell",
"command": "cobc",
"args": [
"-x",
"-std=mf",
"-t${fileBasenameNoExtension}.LST",
"${file}"
]
}
]
}
}
}

Answer 2

Not sure how to respond - my response is too big for a comment.
Mark: I've modified tasks.json thus but still get same errors:
{
// See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
// for the documentation about the tasks.json format
"version": "2.0.0",
{
"label": "GnuCOBOL - Compile (single file)",
"type": "shell",
"options": {
"env": {
"PATH":"\\gnucobol3\\bin",
"COB_CONFIG_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\config",
"COB_COPY_DIR": "c:\\gnucobol3\\copy",
"COB_INCLUDE_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\include",
"COB_LIB_PATH": "c:\\gnucobol3\\lib",
},
"tasks": [
{"command": "cobc",
"args": [
"-x",
"-std=mf",
"-t${fileBasenameNoExtension}.LST",
"${file}"
]
}
]
}
}
}

Answer 3

Mark: your mods now run but with errors:
> Executing task: cobc -x -std=mf -ttasks.LST c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json <
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:2: error: invalid indicator 'e' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:3: error: invalid indicator 'o' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:4: error: invalid indicator 's' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:5: error: invalid indicator 'i' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:6: error: invalid indicator 'n' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:7: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:8: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:9: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:10: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:11: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:14: error: invalid indicator 'k' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:16: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:17: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:18: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:19: error: invalid indicator '"' at column 7
c:\WORKAREA\cobol\VisualStudioCode\.vscode\tasks.json:24: error: invalid indicator ']' at column 7