Application & Data Agility
Multiple Platforms and Data Structures
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  Table of Contents  v-24.01.01 - indexmig.htm 
  Introduction
  Guidelines & Test Cases
  An Enterprise System Model
  A Distributed System Architecture
  Application Evolution
  Application Testing
  Host to Windows to Host
  A Linux Project
  Program Examples
  File Transfer & Conversion
  EBCDIC & ASCII, QSAM & VSAM
  Collating Sequence, EBC & ASC
  File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
  ASCII & EBCDIC Reference Table
  Summary
  Software Agreement and Disclaimer
  Downloads and Links
  Current Server or Internet Access
  Internet Access Required
  Glossary of Terms
  Contact or Feedback
  Company Overview

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Introduction

This purpose of this document is to serve as a repository for links to other SimoTime documents and examples that describe or show many of the details involved with Application Migration or the moving of an application between platforms such as a Mainframe System running ZOS and a Linux, UNIX or Windows System running Micro Focus Enterprise Server. Since most mainframe applications are COBOL-oriented this document has a bias toward moving these applications with minimum changes. To do this the examples use Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for the Linux, UNIX or Windows environments and standard COBOL/390 or later for the Mainframe environments. Many of the examples will run in a COBOL/2 environment. Programs that contain code that needs to be Y2K compliant will require COBOL/390 or later.

This document has a special focus on data file transfers between systems. Links are also provided to documents and examples that describe or show techniques for doing file format and record content conversion. Reading an indexed file and creating a sequential file would be an example of file format conversion. Reading an EBCDIC-encoded file and writing an ASCII-encoded file would be an example of record content conversion.

We have made a significant effort to ensure the documents and software technologies are correct and accurate. We reserve the right to make changes without notice at any time. The function delivered in this version is based upon the enhancement requests from a specific group of users. The intent is to provide changes as the need arises and in a timeframe that is dependent upon the availability of resources.

Copyright © 1987-2025
SimoTime Technologies and Services
All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Guidelines & Test Cases

This suite of programs and documentation provides additional Guidelines, White Papers and Test Cases that describe and demonstrate practical "How to" examples.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore information about preparing an environment and running the SimoTime sample programs. The techniques used in this effort may be used as a model when moving, sharing, accessing or processing applications and data across a variety of hardware platforms and operating systems.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section An Enterprise System Model

This document describes and demonstrates how the SimoTime Applications that run on a Mainframe System were copied and deployed in a Microsoft Windows environment with Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore An Enterprise System Model that describes and demonstrates how Applications that were running on a Mainframe System and non-relational data that was located on the Mainframe System were copied and deployed in a Microsoft Windows environment with Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section A Distributed System Architecture

The following shows a very simple overview of the systems required to support an application or suite of applications running in a distributed architecture.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore a Distributed System Architecture that will provide a foundation to run an application or suite of applications that is currently running on a Mainframe System.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Application Evolution

The following shows a typical Application Life Cycle or the Application Evolution process from conception to retirement.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore the evolution of application software from conception to retirement. This document includes an overview of how to setup a Development, Test and Production environment on a Windows System using Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Application Testing

The following will describe and demonstrate how to create an environment for Application Regression Testing on a Windows Platform. The Test Cases used in this scenario were downloaded from a z/OS Mainframe System. Also included is a process for reviewing the results using the JES logs and a Data File Compare program.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore How to Create an Application Testing Environment on a Windows System using Micro Focus technology.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Host to Windows to Host

This suite of programs and documentation will discuss the cycle of how to convert a VSAM, KSDS to a flat Sequential file on the mainframe, download the flat sequential file from the mainframe to the PC and create an Indexed file of ASCII content on the PC. Additional programs are included for converting ASCII, Text files to Indexed files. The examples also show how to manage Packed-Decimal and BINARY or COMP fields.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore the cycle of converting and transferring non-relational data files between an IBM Mainframe System and a Windows, Linux or UNIX System. This discussion will leverage the non-relational file support provided by Micro Focus for the distributed systems.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section A Linux Project

This link provides access to the notes created by a development team that was transferring programs and data from an IBM Mainframe System to a Linux System. The team was familiar with the Mainframe and Windows but needed to develop the Linux skills.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore a Project that will re-deploy a Mainframe Application to a Linux Platform. The goal is to deploy a segment of a business application that is currently running on an IBM Mainframe System onto a Linux System. The business application is a suite of batch jobs running in an EBCDIC-encoded environment. The current batch jobs are scripted and executed using Mainframe JCL (or Job Control Language). The application programs are written in COBOL and compiled using IBM Enterprise COBOL. The user data is stored in EBCDIC-encoded, non-relational data structures. The Linux System will be an ASCII-encoded environment and the batch jobs will be scripted and executed using Bash Shell Scripts. The COBOL programs will be compiled using GnuCOBOL. The user data will be stored in ASCII-encoded, non-relational data structures.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Program Examples

This section will show examples of data file transfers between systems, file format conversions and record content conversion.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section File Transfer & Conversion

This following programs show how to convert the organization of a file between sequential and keyed indexed, change the file content between ASCII and EBCDIC or change the organization by position within a record.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore how to move data between a Mainframe System and a Linux, UNIX or Windows environment with a focus on migrating data from its EBCDIC-encoded format on a Mainframe to an ASCII-encoded format for Linux, UNIX or Windows platforms.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section EBCDIC & ASCII, QSAM & VSAM

The following programs show how to convert the organization of a file between sequential and keyed indexed, change the file content between ASCII and EBCDIC or change the organization by position within a record.

Program Description
cble2a01 Convert from an EBCDIC-Sequential file to an ASCII-Sequential file. This example includes a mainframe JCL member.
zap00101 Convert from an EBCDIC-Sequential file to an ASCII-Text file. This example will do record content conversion (i.e. EBCDIC to ASCII) and file format conversion (i.e. record sequential to ASCII/Text)
zap00201 Convert from an EBCDIC-Sequential file to an ASCII-Indexed file (Sequential-Add).
zap00301 Convert from an EBCDIC-Sequential file to an ASCII-Sequential file.
zap00401 Convert from an ASCII-Text file to an EBCDIC-Indexed file (Sequential-Add).
zap00501 Convert from an ASCII-Text file to an EBCDIC-Indexed file (Random-Add/Update).
  Generated Programs that do File Format and Record Content Conversion

Note:  The preceding programs were generated using SimoTime technologies and are included in the SimoTime Enterprise package.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore How to Generate a Data File Convert Program using simple specification statements in a Process Control File (PCF). This link to the User Guide includes the information necessary to create a Process Control File and generate the COBOL programs that will do the actual data file conversion. The User Guide contains a list of the PCF statements that are used for the data file convert process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Collating Sequence, EBC & ASC

This suite of sample programs describes the ASCII and EBCDIC sorting or collating sequences and provides an example of programming logic that will work in an EBCDIC environment (i.e. mainframe) but fail in an ASCII environment (i.e. Linux, UNIX or Windows). The COBOL programs were written using the COBOL/390 dialect and will execute on an IBM Mainframe or the platforms supported by Micro Focus.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore a suite of sample programs that describes the ASCII and EBCDIC sorting or collating sequences and provides an example of programming logic that will work in an EBCDIC environment (i.e. Mainframe System with ZOS) but fail in an ASCII environment (i.e. Linux, UNIX or Windows with Micro Focus).

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program is commonly used to transfer files between systems because it is readily available at a minimum cost.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) commands using an interactive or scripted batch interface. This document describes a typical process for an interactive and automated, batch FTP session running on a Windows System and connecting to another Windows System, a Linux or UNIX System or an IBM Mainframe System.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section ASCII & EBCDIC Reference Table

The IBM Mainframe System and other systems (AS/400 and/or I-series) use EBCDIC-encoding and most Linux, UNIX and Windows Systems use ASCII-encoding.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   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.

Note:  Micro Focus Enterprise Developer and Server support applications running in an ASCII or EBCDIC-encoded environment on a Linux, UNIX or Windows platform. This is done using a combination of compiler directives and configuration options.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Summary

The purpose of this document is to assist as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers that are interested in redeploying or migrating applications (and associated data) across systems of different architectures. Links to additional documents, programming examples and professional services are provided.

In the world of programming there are many ways to solve a problem. This documentation and software were developed and tested on systems that are configured for a SIMOTIME environment based on the hardware, operating systems, user requirements and security requirements. Therefore, adjustments may be needed to execute the jobs and programs when transferred to a system of a different architecture or configuration.

SIMOTIME Services has experience in moving or sharing data or application processing across a variety of systems. For additional information about SIMOTIME Services or Technologies please contact us using the information in the  Contact or Feedback  section of this document.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Software Agreement and Disclaimer

Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software, documentation or training material for any purpose requires a fee to be paid to SimoTime Technologies. 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 Technologies.

SimoTime Technologies 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 Technologies 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.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Downloads and Links

This section includes links to documents with additional information that are beyond the scope and purpose of this document.

Note: A SimoTime License is required for the items to be made available on a local system or server.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Current Server or Internet Access

The following links may be to the current server or to the Internet.

Note: The latest versions of the SimoTime Documents and Program Suites are available on the Internet and may be accessed using the Link to Internet icon. If a user has a SimoTime Enterprise License the Documents and Program Suites may be available on a local server and accessed using the Link to Server icon.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore An Enterprise System Model that describes and demonstrates how Applications that were running on a Mainframe System and non-relational data that was located on the Mainframe System were copied and deployed in a Microsoft Windows environment with Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore the COBOL Connection for more examples of COBOL programming techniques and sample code.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore an Extended List of Software Technologies that are available for review and evaluation. The software technologies (or Z-Packs) provide individual programming examples, documentation and test data files in a single package. The Z-Packs are usually in zip format to reduce the amount of time to download.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   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.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore The File Status Return Codes that are used to interpret the results of accessing VSAM data sets and/or QSAM files.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Internet Access Required

The following links will require an internet connection.

A good place to start is The SimoTime Home Page for access to white papers, program examples and product information. This link requires an Internet Connection

Explore The Micro Focus Web Site for more information about products (including Micro Focus COBOL) and services available from Micro Focus. This link requires an Internet Connection.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Glossary of Terms

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore the Glossary of Terms for a list of terms and definitions used in this suite of documents and white papers.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Contact or Feedback

This document was created and is maintained by SimoTime Technologies. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or feedback please use the following contact information.

1. Send an e-mail to our helpdesk.
1.1. helpdesk@simotime.com.
2. Our telephone numbers are as follows.
2.1. 1 415 763-9430 office-helpdesk
2.2. 1 415 827-7045 mobile

 

We appreciate hearing from you.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Company Overview

SimoTime Technologies was founded in 1987 and 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. Our customers include small businesses using Internet technologies to corporations using very large mainframe systems.

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. We specialize in preparing applications and the associated data that are currently residing on a single platform to be distributed across a variety of platforms.

Preparing the application programs will require the transfer of source members that will be compiled and deployed on the target platform. The data will need to be transferred between the systems and may need to be converted and validated at various stages within the process. SimoTime has the technology, services and experience to assist in the application and data management tasks involved with doing business in a multi-system environment.

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

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Application and Data Agility across multiple platforms
Copyright © 1987-2025
SimoTime Technologies and Services
All Rights Reserved
When technology complements business
http://www.simotime.com