Data Transformation Engine Type Tree Importers Reference Guide

Chapter 2 - Using the Importer Wizard COBOL Copybook Importer

Type Tree Importers Reference Guide

Warning and error messages that may occur when generating a type tree from a

copybook file are listed in the Appendix A – Return Codes and Error Messages.

Modifying a Copybook File

If the copybook file does not conform to what the COBOL Copybook Importer

Wizard expects, a type tree is not successfully generated. Before importing the

copybook file, you may want to:

♦ Check that the level number statements (for example, 01, 05, 10) in your

copybook do not start before Column 8.

♦ Check for statements not supported by the COBOL Copybook Importer. The

importer does not expand any embedded COPY clauses. Add the data included

in the embedded COPY clauses before you run the COBOL Copybook Importer.

Note If you do not modify the copybook file before running the COBOL Copybook

Importer wizard, use the Type Designer to manually modify the generated type

tree. See the section COBOL Features Not Supported for information.

Modifying a Generated Type Tree

The COBOL Copybook Importer automatically generates type trees from COBOL

copybooks that describe the format of data. However, a copybook may contain

certain statements or have insufficient information that result in type trees being

generated that require some manual modification. Use the Type Designer to

modify any type tree that is generated by the COBOL Copybook Importer so that

the types contained in the tree accurately represent your data. The situations that

may require type tree modifications are:

♦ The copybook contains REDEFINES clause(s).

♦ The copybook contains VALUES THROUGH or VALUES THRU clause(s).

♦ The copybook contains statements that are not supported by the wizard.

♦ The Byte-Storage Mode is used.

REDEFINES Clause

If a copybook contains a REDEFINES clause, the COBOL Copybook Importer adds

a group subtype for the REDEFINES object. However, a copybook does not contain

sufficient information for the COBOL Copybook Importer to determine how the

redefined type is used.

For example, REDEFINES may be used to overlay different Record subtypes. In

this case, you may want to: