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Data
Converter let's you convert your data files from format to format
or from code set to code set with an interactive, easy-to-use interface.
Data Converter follows the Fujitsu standard of providing fast, reliable
software tools. This is particularly important when handling large
quantities of critical data.
Highlights
- Move data
between different COBOL file formats.
- Load data
files from text files.
- Convert data
to and from XML data files
- Create DTD
(Document Type Definition) files used with XML
- Move COBOL
data to and from spreadsheets and databases.
- Convert data
from one code set to another (e.g. ASCII to EBCDIC)
- Create matching
COPY libraries from the Layout Definition file
- Supports
Unicode data.
Step-by-Step
Conversion
File conversions
can be quite complex, requiring input and output record descriptions,
field changes, file format definitions, character set definitions,
error logging, and treatment of certain byte values. Data Converter
provides a wizard to step you through all the required information,
breaking a complex process into a number of simple steps.
Data Converter
provides a Preview function for certain file formats, so that you
can check the results of converting the first 100 records before
proceeding with a full file conversion.
Supported
File Formats
For the COBOL file formats (sequential, relative, and indexed) data converter supports:
- Fixed-length records
- Variable-length records
Supported
Character Sets
- ASCII
- EBCDIC
- Other codes
by editing the User Defined Conversion Tables
Supported
Data Types
All COBOL data
types such as packed decimal and binary data
Additional
Functions
- Converting
individual fields between different data types
- Defining
descriptions in the Layout Definition function
Invocation
Modes
Conversions
can be started:
- Interactively
from Data Converter
- From the
command line for batch mode working
Related
Tools
Data Converter
is integrated with Data Editor so that data can be passed quickly
and conveniently to Data Converter.
Detailed
Features and Benefits
The table below
lists key features and benefits of Data Converter.
| New
in: |
Feature
Summary |
Detail
of Feature |
Benefit
of Feature |
| V9 |
File
organization conversions |
Conversions
to/from CSV (Comma Separated Values) formats.
Record
layout conversions, including situations where there are multiple record layouts. |
Automates
the tasks of updating file formats (e.g. when fields
need to be added or extended) and lets you transfer data to/from
spreadsheets or databases via the CSV format. |
| +V8 |
|
Character-set
conversions between EBCDIC, ASCII and
UNICODE. |
| V9 |
|
Convert data from one code page to another |
| V5 |
|
Number
of items supported extended to 1000. |
| V5 |
|
Conversions
can be driven by batch commands. |
| V6 |
|
Handling
data files greater than 1GigaByte (using BSAM) |
Lets
you edit production-sized files. |
| V6 |
|
Supports
Unicode data. |
Essential
feature for those working with international data. |
| V7 |
|
Conversions
to/from XML data files. |
Enables
communication of COBOL data over the Web. |
|
| V7 |
Data
definition export |
Creates
DTD (Documentation Type Definition) files. Creates COPY libraries
from the Layout Definition file
|
Makes
information defined for data conversions available for other
programs and processes. |
|
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Mapping |
Field
by field input/output mapping. |
|
|
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Wizard |
A
conversion wizard for guidance through the complexities
of file conversions. |
Speeds
data conversion by simplifying the initial setup stages. |
| "+Vn" in the "New in:" column
indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as
well as existing elements. When "+Vn" is in Italics, it refers
to the italicized detail items. The number n indicates the release
in which the new feature was introduced. |
An In-Depth Look at Data Converter
The following
sequence of screen captures lets you see the features of Data Converter
at work.
Conversion Wizard
Layout Definition
Conversion Wizard Steps 3 and 4
Conversion Summary
Conversion Preview
Conversion Wizard
The
Data Converter provides a conversion wizard that guides you through
the information required to convert files from one format to another.
In the wizard you define:
- Type
of file conversion (data format or character conversion).
- Default
folder, so that the conversion uses relative pathnames for all
the files.
- Record
layout, using the Layout Definition tool.
- Input
file attributes such as filename, code system (ASCII/EBCDIC),
organization, and fixed or variable length.
- Output
file attributes.
- Other
conversion configuration information such as a file for error
messages and the maximum number of errors before the conversion
should be aborted.
Conversion Wizard Step 1
The
wizard starts by asking you to define the type of file conversion
you want to perform, and whether you would like to specify a default
folder - which will be used as the base folder for all other pathnames.
Layout Definition
Next
you are asked to specify or create a layout file. This describes
the fields in both the input and output files - so you are able
to change the record format, field by field. For example, you can
change the size or type of numeric fields, or enlarge alphanumeric
fields. The Wizard can hook you into the Record Layout tool which
can process the COBOL record definition, then let you make any changes
you require to the output field defintions. The snapshot below shows
the Record Layout tool:
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