Cobol Microfocus Files with more than one record structure
Posted July 10th, 2009 by Bracken
I have several cobol microfocus files which are responding to manual parsing of data using the microfocus parser, However I have 2 sets of .files (.dat and .idx)which have multiple record types and the parser will not let me define more than one record type. Most of the buttons along the top of the parser window are greyed. I have tried to follow the instructions in the manuals to no avail.
I have no experience with cobol microfocus and my only requirement is to extract the data from the files.
Some instructions mention a cobol copybook - I have no idea what that is. I have found a file with a dle extension is that it? If so it fails to load.
The Source schema window doesn't allow me to do anything either.
Short of setting up different mappings for the file and extracting each one deleting the records in each file that do not fit and recombining I am at a loss.
What am I missing?
Mary
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RE: Cobol Microfocus Files with more than one record structure
Hi Mary,
The Data Parser allows you to define only one record structure at a time. So, for the two data files that contain multiple record types, the solution is to define "record type 1" and export the data. Only the records that "match" the definition that you created will be parsed, unpacked, and exported properly. The other record type(s) in the file will export, but will not be "correct" in the CSV file, so those records will need to be deleted from the CSV file. Repeat this process for "record type 2", "record type 3", etc. in each data file.
After all of the CSV files are created, you can use the Data Loader to CSV Text to filter out the "bad" records in each of your CSV files, and create a set of "clean" files.
Depending on your ultimate target, you can then use another of the Data Loaders to map, transform, and insert the records into your target database, application, or data file format.
- Jo