Web Ring When technology complements business   All Things COBOL

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Introduction
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SimoTime Enterprises provides technology and services to migrate applications and data between a mainframe and a Windows platform. This includes the conversion of data files between EBCDIC and ASCII. Since many of our efforts involve working with COBOL we have joined the Web Ring for "All Things COBOL" .

You may access our Home Page or use the following for additional information with links to specific areas on our Web Site.

The COBOL Connection
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The COBOL Connection provides examples for the COBOL programmer. The sample programs (or COBOL coding examples) are written using the IBM VS COBOL II dialect with few exceptions. For example, programs that access the system date may require the COBOL/390 dialect to be Y2K compliant. In many examples the programs are coded to the ANSII'85 standard with the exception of programs that use hexadecimal notation (i.e. value X'1F'). The Hexadecimal notation is a COBOL II syntax and is also part of the ANSI/2000 standard. The programs will also work with COBOL for MVS, COBOL/370 and COBOL/390. A few programs use Micro Focus syntax and are documented as such and will not run on the mainframe. These programs are intended for a Windows or UNIX platform running Micro Focus (or microfocus) COBOL. JCL members are provided to run the batch jobs as MVS batch jobs on an IBM mainframe or as a project with Micro Focus Mainframe Express (MFE) running on a PC with Windows.

The Assembler Connection
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The Assembler Connection provides examples for the mainframe assembler programmer. The sample programs are written to assemble and link using Assembler/H or High Level Assembler (HLASM) when possible. If a technique is used that is unique to a specific dialect it will be noted. JCL members are provided to run the jobs as MVS batch jobs on an IBM mainframe or within a project using Micro Focus Mainframe Express (MFE) running on a PC with Windows . The 370 Assembler Option for MFE is required to run on the PC. Micro Focus provides a functionally rich mainframe assembler emulator with built-in debugging tools that allow a programmer to step through a program executing one line of source code at a time and viewing the results of register and memory content. If a technique is used that is unique to the mainframe and not supported by the Mainframe Express 370 Assembler Option it will be noted. Refer to http://www.microfocus.com for more information. The Assembler Connection also provides summary documentation for the problem-state instruction set plus detailed documentation for each of the examples. It is intended to be a reference resource for experienced programmers and a learning resource for programmers that want to become familiar with mainframe assembler programming.

The JCL Connection
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The JCL Connection provides examples of how to create PDS's and compile programs. The JCL Connection provides a suite of sample programs and documentation that use the mainframe Job Control Language (JCL). The JCL members are written to run as MVS batch jobs on an IBM mainframe or as a project with Micro Focus Mainframe Express (MFE) running on a PC with Windows (refer to http://www.microfocus.com ). If a technique is used that is unique to the mainframe and not supported by Mainframe Express it will be noted.

The Numbers Connection
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The Numbers Connection provides examples and documentation about the various numeric formats used on an IBM Mainframe system. This link provides detailed information about converting, printing, displaying or exporting a variety of numeric fields types.

The SQL Connection
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Many of the applications running on IBM Mainframes access information that is stored in a DB/2 Relational Data Base. This link is intended for individuals that are learning, creating or maintaining applications that access relational data bases. Unless otherwise stated the examples provided in  The SQL Connection  will run on an IBM Mainframe using MVS or a Personal Computer using Windows and Micro Focus Mainframe Express.

The VSAM-QSAM Connection
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The VSAM-QSAM Connection provides examples of how to create, populate and delete VSAM Data Sets. The VSAM-QSAM Connection provides a suite of sample programs and reference documentation for managing VSAM Data Sets or flat, sequential files (QSAM). Techniques for creating, deleting or updating are included for both VSAM and QSAM. The sample members are written to run as MVS batch jobs on an IBM mainframe or as a project with Micro Focus Mainframe Express (MFE) running on a PC with Windows (refer to http://www.microfocus.com ). If a technique is used that is unique to the mainframe and not supported by Mainframe Express it will be noted.

Summary
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The purpose of this document is to assist as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers. These sample programs are made available on an "as-is" basis and may be downloaded in accordance with the Software Agreement and Disclaimer that is explained in the following section of this document. As always, it is the programmer's responsibility to thoroughly test all programs.

Software Agreement and Disclaimer
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Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software for any commercial purpose requires a fee to be paid to SimoTime Enterprises. Once the fee is received by SimoTime the latest version of the software 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.

Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software for a non-commercial purpose and without fee is hereby granted, 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 for any purpose. It is provided "AS IS" without any express 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.

Downloads and Links to Similar Pages
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Please view the complete list of SimoTime Z-Pack Examples at http://www.simotime.com/sim4dzip.htm .

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

The SimoZAPS Utility Program has the capability of generating a COBOL program that will do the conversion of sequential and VSAM (KSDS) files between EBCDIC and ASCII. SimoZAPS can also read a sequential file in EBCDIC format and create an ASCII/CRLF file or VSAM KSDS file in ASCII format. The conversion tables may be viewed or modified to meet unique requirements. The Hexcess/2 function provides the capability of viewing, finding or patching the contents of a file in hexadecimal.

This item will provide a link to  an ASCII or EBCDIC translation table. A column for decimal, hexadecimal and binary is also included.

This document provides a quick summary of the  File Status Key  for VSAM data sets and QSAM files.

Check out  The SimoTime Library  for a wide range of topics for Programmers, Project Managers and Software Developers.

To review all the information available on this site start at  The SimoTime Web Site .

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

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

About SimoTime Enterprises, LLC
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Founded in 1987, SimoTime Enterprises is a privately owned, Limited Liability Corporation located in Novato, California. 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