Learning and Reference
Presentations and Workshop Sessions
  Table of Contents  v-18.09.15 - simopath.htm 
  Introduction
  SIMOPATH Training Sessions
  Convert a File from EBCDIC to ASCII
  Compare Two Files (Item File)
  Introduction to Numeric Formats
  Environment Variables in COBOL
  SIMOPATH Task Documents
  Net Express (Functions & Features)
  Start and Create a New Project
  Open an Existing Project
  Adding Source Members
  Point to a Copy File Directory
  Compile Source Code within a Project
  Debug or Animate a COBOL Program
  Data File Editor (Functions & Features)
  View Records in a Data File
  Create a Structure File
  View Records using Structure
  Additional Reference Material
  Summary
  Software Agreement and Disclaimer
  Downloads and Links
  Current Server or Internet Access
  Internet Access Required
  Glossary of Terms
  Comments or Feedback
  Company Overview

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Introduction

The SIMOPATH Series is a single point of entry for the training offerings from SimoTime and a repository for the learning materials used in the classroom sessions or self-study courses. The offerings are structured into three groups.

Item Description
1 A SIMOPATH Workshop is a group of sessions combined into a single offering. A workshop is only available as a classroom session and may be accomplished in a single day or span multiple days. It usually covers a variety of related subjects.
2 A SIMOPATH Session may be conducted in a formal classroom environment or it may be a self-study course provided on line. A SIMOPATH Session usually focuses on a single subject matter.
3 A SIMOPATH Task is used in support of the sessions and is usually an HTML document that describes the step-by-step instructions for doing a specific task. The documents may be considered as reference material and are especially useful for tasks that are performed on an infrequent basis and are easy to forget.
  SIMOPATH Groups or Categories

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 © 1987-2019
SimoTime Technologies and Services
All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section SIMOPATH Training Sessions

A SIMOPATH Session is a classroom or self-study exercise that covers a complete topic. It has a lecture or reading component followed by a hands-on exercise.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Convert a File from EBCDIC to ASCII

The Data File Migration Training Session will describe how to convert an EBCDIC-encoded file to an ASCII-encoded file while maintaining the mainframe numeric encoding formats. The EBCDIC-encoded file has been downloaded from a mainframe to a Personal Computer with Windows and Micro Focus COBOL. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0 or later) to be installed. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Compare Two Files (Item File)

The Data File Comparison Training Session will describe how to compare two data files. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0) to be installed. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Introduction to Numeric Formats

The Introduction to Mainframe Numeric Formats will describe some of the common numeric formats used on a mainframe. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0) to be installed on a Windows system. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Environment Variables in COBOL

This example will describe and demonstrate how a COBOL program can access environment variables using Micro Focus Net Express. The first program starts by setting, getting and displaying an environment variable for a file name. A second program will the environment variable to map its program-file-name to the actual physical-file-name defined in the environment variable. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section SIMOPATH Task Documents

A Task Document provides a step-by-step explanation of how to do a particular software function. The SIMOPATH Tasks Documents are used to support the SIMOPATH Training Sessions.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Net Express (Functions & Features)

This section links to the SIMOPATH sessions that describe how to perform various tasks within Net Express.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Start and Create a New Project

The Starting Net Express and Creating a New Project is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Open an Existing Project

The Start Net Express and Open an Existing Project is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Adding Source Members

The Adding Source Members to a Net Express Project is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Point to a Copy File Directory

How to Point to Copy File Directories is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Compile Source Code within a Project

How to Compile Cobol Source Code is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Debug or Animate a COBOL Program

How to Debug or Animate Cobol Source Code is described in a step by step process.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Data File Editor (Functions & Features)

This section links to the SIMOPATH sessions that describe how to perform various tasks within Net Express and the Data File Editor.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section View Records in a Data File

This session describes how to use the basic functions of the Micro Focus Data File Editor to view records in a data file. The records are displayed in a list format and option to view in a hexadecimal format is included.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Create a Structure File

The purpose of the Create a Structure File is to describe in a step by step process how to create a structure file that may be used by the Micro Focus Data File Editor to view a file and map the records to a data structure defined in a COBOL copy file or source member.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section View Records using Structure

This session describes how to use the advanced functions of the Micro Focus Data File Editor to view records in a data file. The records are displayed using a structure file based on a COBOL definition of the record structure.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Additional Reference Material

This section includes links to additional reference material that is complementary to the scope and purpose of this document.

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 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 to interpret the results of accessing VSAM data sets and/or QSAM files.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore The Binary or COMP format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS COMP" or "USAGE IS BINARY" clause.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore The Edited for Display format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be used with an edit-mask to prepare the presentation for readability by human beings.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore The Packed-Decimal or COMP-3 format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS COMP-3" clause.

Link to Internet   Link to Server   Explore The Zoned-Decimal format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is the default numeric for COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS DISPLAY" clause.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Summary

The SIMOPATH Series is a single point of entry for the training offerings from SimoTime and a repository for the learning materials used in the classroom sessions or self-study courses. This document may be used 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 document and the links to other documents are intended to provide a greater awareness of the Data Management and Application Processing alternatives.

The 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  Comments 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. The first group of documents may be available from a local system or via an internet connection, the second group of documents will require an internet connection.

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.

Table of Contents Previous Section Next Section Internet Access Required

The following links will require an internet connect.

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 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 Comments 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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Copyright © 1987-2019
SimoTime Technologies and Services
All Rights Reserved
When technology complements business
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