Data Management Series  Non-Relational Data Files

Introduction
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The primary purpose of this document is to provide a consolidated resource of information about application migrations between Mainframe systems and Windows or UNIX systems supported by Micro Focus technologies. The concepts available may be used regardless of the direction of the migration. A subset of moving or migrating an application is the data file management involved when moving, sharing and possibly converting data files.

A special "Thank you" to Larry Simmons of Micro Focus for providing much of the information that is presented in this series of white papers and sample programs.

Data File Management, White Papers
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This section provides examples and links to documents that describe the management of data sharing or application migration between an IBM Mainframe System and a Windows System using Micro Focus. The information provided will cover data file transfer, conversion and comparison of non-relation or traditional sequential files and VSAM, Keyed Sequential Data Sets (KSDS).

Data File Abstract
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the data management tasks required to migrate or share data between a Mainframe system and a Windows or UNIX system.

Data File Transfer
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the data file transfer options available when transferring or sharing data between a Mainframe system and a Windows or UNIX system.

Data File Conversion
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the possible data file conversion options available when migrating or sharing data between a Mainframe system and a Windows or UNIX system.

The self-study session for data file conversion includes a discussion about file conversion with a focus on EBCDIC and ASCII content conversion. The session includes a hands-on exercise that does an actual conversion of a data file that includes packed and binary data. The exercise shows how to do file content conversion at the field level.

Data File Comparison
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the possible data file comparison options available when testing an application or data that has been moved between a Mainframe system and a Windows or UNIX system.

The self-study session for comparing data files uses a generated COBOL program to compare two data files. The session includes a hands-on exercise that does an actual data file comparison.

File Formats for Micro Focus
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the various Micro Focus File Formats provided for the Windows and UNIX environments and supported by Micro Focus.

Application Migration & Data Sharing
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This section provides examples and links to documents that describe the challenges and solutions of migrating or sharing data between systems of different architectures. The following link discusses some of the Possibilities and Considerations for Application Migration and Data Sharing.

File Conversion and File Formatting
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This is a link to a white paper that provides a quick overview of the various File Formats and Conversion Techniques provided for the Windows and UNIX environments and supported by Micro Focus.

File Conversion, ASCII and EBCDIC
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This is a link to a white paper with an example that provides a quick overview of the various File Content Conversion, ASCII and EBCDIC provided for the Windows and UNIX environments and supported by Micro Focus.

A Data File Transition Cycle with Various Convert and Compare Processes
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This link provides an example of the various conversion and comparison processes that move data from EBCDIC encoded environments to ASCII encoded environments and from a Mainframe format to a format that may be easily imported into an excel spreadsheet. This suite of sample programs and documentation may be downloaded for training and evaluation purposes.

Note: You must have a connection to the internet to download a software package.

Managing a File Properties Repository
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This link provides an example of managing a File Properties Repository. This capability and the information it provides is quite useful when supporting applications or migrating an application (source code, control information and data) from a Mainframe System to a Linux, UNIX or Windows System using Micro Focus technologies. This suite of sample programs and documentation may be downloaded for training and evaluation purposes.

Note: You must have a connection to the internet to download a software package.

Numeric Fields, Special Considerations
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The following table is a list of white papers that provides more detailed information about the four various numeric formats used on an IBM Mainframe.

Summary
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The purpose of this document is to provide a consolidated resource of information about application migrations (both application assets and data files) between Mainframe systems and Windows or UNIX systems supported by Micro Focus technologies.

This document may be used to assist as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers. In the world of programming there are many ways to solve a problem. This documents and the links to other documents are intended to provide a choice of alternatives.

Software Agreement and Disclaimer
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Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software, documentation or training material for any purpose requires a fee to be paid to SimoTime Enterprises. Once the fee is received by SimoTime the latest version of the software, documentation or training material will be delivered and a license will be granted for use within an enterprise, provided the SimoTime copyright notice appear on all copies of the software. The SimoTime name or Logo may not be used in any advertising or publicity pertaining to the use of the software without the written permission of SimoTime Enterprises.

SimoTime Enterprises makes no warranty or representations about the suitability of the software, documentation or learning material for any purpose. It is provided "AS IS" without any expressed or implied warranty, including the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. SimoTime Enterprises shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from the loss of use, data or projects, whether in an action of contract or tort, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this software, documentation or training material.

Downloads and Links to Similar Pages
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This section includes links to documents with additional information that is beyond the scope and purpose of this document.

A good place to start is The SimoTime Home Page for access to white papers, program examples and product information.

Explore The ASCII and EBCDIC translation tables. These tables are provided for individuals that need to better understand the bit structures and differences of the encoding formats.

Explore the non-Relational Data Connection for more examples of accessing methodologies and coding techniques for Data Files and VSAM Data Sets.

Explore The Numbers Connection in the SimoTime Library for more examples of programs and documentation that describe and demonstrate techniques for understanding and processing the various numeric field formats used in a mainframe environment.

Note: You must be attached to the Internet to download a Z-Pack or view the list.

Explore The File Status Return Codes to interpret the results of accessing VSAM data sets and QSAM files.

Glossary of Terms
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Check out  The SimoTime Glossary  for a list of terms and definitions used in the documents provided by SimoTime.

Comments, Suggestions or Feedback
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This document was created and is maintained by SimoTime Enterprises.

If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or feedback please call or send an e-mail to: helpdesk@simotime.com

We appreciate hearing from you.

Company Overview
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Founded in 1987, SimoTime Enterprises is a privately owned company. We specialize in the creation and deployment of business applications using new or existing technologies and services. We have a team of individuals that understand the broad range of technologies being used in today's environments. This includes the smallest thin client using the Internet and the very large mainframe systems. There is more to making the Internet work for your company's business than just having a nice looking WEB site. It is about combining the latest technologies and existing technologies with practical business experience. It's about the business of doing business and looking good in the process. Quite often, to reach larger markets or provide a higher level of service to existing customers it requires the newer Internet technologies to work in a complementary manner with existing corporate mainframe systems.

Whether you want to use the Internet to expand into new market segments or as a delivery vehicle for existing business functions simply give us a call or check the web site at http://www.simotime.com