Converting CSP/VisualAge to Native COBOL, CICS, DB2

Peter Thompson · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

I was wondering if anyone has successfully converted CSP or VisualAge Generator code to native COBOL CICS DB2. If so, was it accomplished using any off-the-shelf software or was it done in-house?

Naish · New User Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 82 Location: UK

I was a part of a team which tested the converted VAGen code into the COBOL-CICS-DB2 one, three years ago. The migration was done by a third party using an inhouse tool they had developed. However, it required manual corrections, fixes to the code to replicate the functionality but eventually successfully migrated nearly 2000 modules.

(can't put names for security/IP reasons).

Peter Thompson · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Thanks, Naish.

I was hoping that there was a fairly cost-effective way to do the conversion, as the alternative here might be to completely scrap a great user-friendly system.

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 11:49 pm

Hello and welcome to the forum,

How is "cost-effective" defined? Does this system meet a current business need or is it just a "nice-to-have"?

How big is the system (program modules, maps, files/tables, etc)?

If the system meets a current business need, i suspect it needs to survive one way or another.

Peter Thompson · New User Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Dick,

Our system has about 5000 VisualAge components (this includes applications/programs, static tables, record layouts, map groups, maps, linkages and functions/subroutines). The system once had a large database of clients but now most have been migrated to another system and the remnants are somewhat "niche" players.

VisualAge 4.5 that we are using has gone out of support. There will be development work of some kind in order for us to move forward with this functionality.

As I see it, we have a few options:

1) Move the functionality elsewhere (significant development; probably not a user-friendly solution)
2) Upgrade the VisualAge software to a supported product (significant cost; migration effort)
3) Convert the system to native COBOL, CICS, DB2.

I am trying to investigate option 3.

lindovaldolpn · New User Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 16 Location: Brazil

Hi,
I have been working with this kind of project since 1999. But, my first version of this tool/filter was developed in 1987 using CSP versio 1.3 and DB2 1.2 written in assembler. In 1999, this product was modified and we have been improve new function, and facilities until now.
I am responsable for this develepment and I think that I could help you. I did some project in Brazil. If you would like to test some programs to know the results no problem for me.

Tks