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Kumaresan.nk
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Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 31
Location: Chennai
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Hi,
I have converted a flat file to an excel file using a COBOL program by inserting X'05' in between the fields. This works fine. My concern now is that I need to format the fields in excel. Because some of my fields have leading and trailing zeroes in it and when I open the excel file in PC, all the leading and trailing zeroes are evaded. The excel file in mainframe has all the zeroes in tact. Is there any way I can format this in mainframe itself ? |
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dbzTHEdinosauer
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Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 6966
Location: porcelain throne
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when you OPEN the .cvs file in EXCEL on the PC,
you have a window where you indicated the x'05' is the field delimiter.
You have additional windows in the dialog where you can define the datatype of each field.
once you figure out what datatype you want each field to be,
you can write a macro,
which you can then deliver to your customer.
BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT EXCEL |
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Kumaresan.nk
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Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 31
Location: Chennai
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Hi,
I'm directly sending the file to the customer as a zip file, once it's been converted to excel in the job itself. So, what I'm looking is, if it's possible to format the fields in mainframe itself without any manual intervention. |
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dbzTHEdinosauer
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Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 6966
Location: porcelain throne
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creating an .xls type file on the mainframe
has been discussed before. search the forum.
as I said,
create the excel macro that the customer can use to import the cvs file.
Learn EXCEL if you want to generate all the bit-wise stuff you need for a Microsoft Excel .xls file. but then you would probably have to FTP the file in binary. But, I don't know, I always use the Excel Macro to import the .cvs file. |
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Kumaresan.nk
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Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Posts: 31
Location: Chennai
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| Thanks, pal. I'll try that. |
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Robert Sample
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Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 8697
Location: Dubuque, Iowa, USA
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The Microsoft Excel file formats manual is something over 1,000 pages long and changes with every release of Excel. In order to generate an actual .xls or .xlsx file on the mainframe, you either need to buy a package to do this (cost will be tens of thousands of dollars or more) or write code based on your reading the 1,000+ page manual to generate the correct data -- which may take 1000 to 2000 hours of effort, and will have to be maintained.
It is much easier, and simpler, to generate a comma-delimited .csv file and let Excel do the work when you open the file. |
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dick scherrer
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19244
Location: Inside the Matrix
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Hello,
| Quote: |
| I have converted a flat file to an excel file using a COBOL program by inserting X'05' in between the fields. |
Your very first words are incorrect - which has caused you confusion. . . The code had NOT created an Excel file - it has created a tab-delimited file. Very Big Difference.
As others have mentoned, you need to provide for the desired formatting on the (User's) PC or your organization will need to invest in the software and skills to really create an Excel file on the mainframe. |
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