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Natural to cobol conversion


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magesh23586

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Joined: 06 Jul 2009
Posts: 213
Location: Chennai

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:08 pm
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Hi,

I have requirement to convert two online natural db2 program to CICS Cobol db2.

I don't know natural, If some one can help me, how to approach this, will be great.
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Nic Clouston

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Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 2455
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 10:44 pm
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    Understand the input
    Understand the output
    Understand how the input was converted to the output by looking at the current program and using the manual
    Design program
    Write program
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enrico-sorichetti

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Joined: 14 Mar 2007
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:55 am
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what about looking for the application specifications ???
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magesh23586

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Joined: 06 Jul 2009
Posts: 213
Location: Chennai

PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 2:39 pm
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Thanks for the response, is it possible to get a document/manual having cobol syntax for corresponding natural syntax.

Example
Natural code
Code:

0010     1 PARM-DATA
0020     2 PARM-MAIN-MENU-PGM              A    8
0030     2 PARM-ORIG-CALL-PGM              A    8


Cobol code
Code:

       01 PARM-DATA.
         05 PARM-MAIN-MENU-PGM  PIC X(8).
         05 PARM-ORIG-CALL-PGM  PIC X(8).
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dbzTHEdinosauer

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Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 6966
Location: porcelain throne

PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:40 pm
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a document, probably not.
but, you could sit down with both natural and cobol documentation,
and determine for yourself by comparing the definitions provided.

neither the firm that supports natural nor
any of the firms that provide cobol (ibm in this case)
want to be responsible for maintaining such a document.
that is why you need to have the reference manuals for both languages.
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Ralph Zbrog

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Joined: 21 Nov 2009
Posts: 58
Location: California

PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:28 am
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I provide such documentation when teaching Natural to COBOL programmers. Creating COBOL code from Natural is much more difficult.
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dbzTHEdinosauer

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Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 6966
Location: porcelain throne

PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:34 pm
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magesh23586


I Have given this post a little thought in the last day.

Nic gave you the best advice.
Ralph has provided you with a reason.

rewritting programs, especially into different languages,
is not a line by line task, nor should it be.

often the program was written some time ago,
things change and new approaches can be used.

simple input/reformat/calculate totals/output can easily been done by a sort product. (often easier, though one must learn how to code the sort cards.
but Kolusu visits this forum and can expand when Bill can not provide a solution - which is rare).

you have input and output (so you know the expected results)
and there should be some document describing the process.
(though often these do not exist in the 'new' data centers that we have encountered lately).

It is actually easier to write a program based on an existing program
than to write a program from scratch.

admittedly this project requires a little thought and research,
but if done properly,
will enhance your worth with your firm - which is what work is all about.
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