Viewing MFCobol flat files using the COBOL copybook

Posted May 29th, 2008 by mhalonen

Thanks for the download! I'm trying to use the data viewer to look at files used in a MFCobol batch system. I have the appropriate COBOL copybooks to use so I can format the data and see what is in each field in each record.

The files have header records with file totals and this initial record is also spelled out in the copybook.

I'm having some trouble with the Connection Definition. The instructions ask that I choose Cobol Flat Files. Unfortunately I don't see that as a choice in the drop down menu...I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Could you spell out for me the process for opening the file and associating the COBOL copybook to the file?

I'm anxious to see my data just like the ASCII file in the demo!

Thanks

Mike
MHalonen@planetmpi.com

‹ .xfd file type (i.e. application/x-xfdl;content-encoding="asc-gzip") No new licence to download ›

RE: Viewing MFCobol flat files using the COBOL copybook

On May 29th, 2008 jterrell said:

Hi Mike,

The Data Viewer reads data from data files, databases, and applications where the metadata resides in the same file as the data. For data files with little or no metadata, such as COBOL and ISAM data files, we provide the Data Parsers.

For Micro Focus COBOL data files, download a trial license for the Data Parser for Micro Focus COBOL. Support for the copybook is included, so after you connect to the data file and the copybook, you can view the data in rows and columns -- just like the ASCII file in the demo!

I'll send you a PDF document by email that takes you step-by-step through connecting to your copybook after you connect to your MF COBOL data file.

And if you need further assistance, please let us know.

- Jo