Hello,

We have a Mainframe application that data is in files that are compressed. Several years ago there was an attempt to use the adapters from IBI to access these files but the attempt failed. The problem seemed to be that the data is in a proprietary compression.

Is there anybody that has had success in accessing files like these?

Thanks
Dan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: moyer1dl,

Dan,

How does COBOL do that? Are there special routines? I suppose one could one create a Private Interface.

Thats a good question. I had the understanding that cobol had no problem accessing these files.

Although, the Mainframe programmers say that there are tools from the company that made the application to access these compressed files. I am not sure if they are used for COBOL to access them.

Dan,

I am sure that you can find (or ask for) the routines that access the files. Then you should be able to have an idea of how the files are structured: simple sequential, hierarchy sequential, direct access in some form, etc.

With this data it should be possible (maybe not easy) to create your own interface to run these routines, what is called a "private interface". We have done this often in the past.

Bonjour,
Special VSAM aspects seem to be on the trend ... (And they are a Focus Problem, Kerry, not just Cobol).
1) Suffix = PRIVATE lead to GETPRV module.
A motivated Programmer can make the link between
special Files and Focus. (Could someone send me an example of reading Vsam RRDS file by Module(s) based on DDNAME (- through ACCESS PDS)
2) Suffix = YourChoice lead to a more complicated interface. Your Module must comply to the way Focus Handles different segments in a Focus DataBase.
Both ways are not brand new ( except that the 1) approach does not need anymore to link GetPrv into Focsam => It's much cleaner now)
I very much liked this opening onto the out world by clean Focus Exits.
Very different of the nopain Clicking or DoubleClicking of our modern informatics
From the past, with love
Focusely

If this provides any insight as far as solutions to connect to compressed files. The Mainframe Application is called BCMS (Billing Customer Management System)formally owned by PMS (Policy Management Systems) now owned by CSC.

I'm afraid it doesn't.
Do I understand that it is only the BCMS application that accesses the files?
Does PMS or CSC provide an API?
In the past we have done this:
In one occasion the files were VSAM but had a proprietary structure.
In another there were a set of subroutines to call in order to open the files read a record travel through a hiererachy, etc.
So, I think that you should contact CSC and ask for instructions. If there are none then you are probably up the proverbial creek. However, if you do get something, we can look at it here and maybe provide some help.
Good luck!

Once you find out how they are read from a 3 Generation Language (FORTRAN, COBOL , C . . ) could should be able to do the SUFFIX=PRIVATE but my preference always was to use the SUFFIX= because it is a standalone load module and not linked into a FOCUS module.

see http://ecl.informationbuilders.../source/topic139.htm