Many EBCDIC data files contain packed-decimal, zoned, signed, binary and
other special fields. For example, in a packed-decimal field, seven decimal digits
and the sign are packed into four bytes. Any character-by-character EBCDIC to
ASCII translation software or hardware will corrupt these fields and the original
data will no longer be recoverable.
These packed fields are perhaps the biggest problem anyone converting an
EBCDIC database to a PC database will encounter. The VEDIT EBCDIC conversion
packages can translate almost any EBCDIC data file, including very complex
ones with multiple record types, variable length records, and thousands of
fields per record. Very few other products can handle complex packed fields.
Without VEDIT, the typical solution is to write a custom COBOL program to
unpack the fields on the mainframe.
The VEDIT EBCDIC conversion packages are available in three levels:
- LEVEL 2 - This package can convert fixed-length-record EBCDIC
files with an unlimited number of packed-decimal, zoned (signed), binary and
other special fields. Formatting options include handling leading zeros and
adding decimal points.
Custom field conversions can handle unusual files and special needs. You can
optionally create "quoted, comma-delimited" ASCII files. Sections of a
COBOL copy-book can be directly used as the file layout specification. Consists of
the EBCDIC conversion macros and a special 32-bit Windows version of VEDIT.
The price is $544; this includes VEDIT Deluxe and one year of support and
updates.
The VEDIT for Windows trial version
includes a trial version of the Level-2 conversion package. It is fully
functional, but will only convert the first 5000 packed/zoned/binary fields
in a file.
- LEVEL 3 - Includes all Level 2 features plus the ability
to convert EBCDIC files which contain multiple types of records, each with
different field specifications. This handles "REDEFINES" in a COBOL
copy-book. For example, one record might contain 10 packed fields, and the next
record 20 packed fields. It has a very flexible method of recognizing the record
types from an ID field or fields. It can optionally create a separate ASCII file
for each record type; this ensures that the ASCII files have fixed-length records.
The price is $744; this includes VEDIT Deluxe and one year of support and updates.
- LEVEL 4 - Includes all Level 3 features plus the ability
to convert records with "repeat" counts for single fields or groups of
fields. In a COBOL copy-book this is referred to as an "OCCURS
DEPENDING ON" clause. (The records therefore have variable lengths.) It
supports up to 10 "OCCURS DEPENDING ON" clauses
per record; each clause can contain any number of fields; it even supports
multiple sub-record types within a clause. If desired, the data in the
variable length portion(s) can be output to a separate
file(s) so that all the converted ASCII files have fixed-length records; a
"key" field is automatically added to the records so that your
database can link them together. The price is $944; this includes VEDIT
Deluxe and one year of support and updates.
Currently, the Level-4 package also includes ASCII to packed EBCDIC translation.
This is useful for creating a mainframe database file from a PC database.
If you are unsure which EBCDIC conversion Level is needed, please send
(e-mail or fax) us the file layout specification, e.g. the COBOL copy-book, and
preferably a sample file. We will examine your layout and/or files and determine
which Level is needed.
The EBCDIC conversion packages include one year of support and updates. We
regularly make enhancements to the capabilities, flexibility and speed of these
packages, especially the Level 4 package. During the 1-year support period, you
can update to a more comprehensive EBCDIC package for the price difference.
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