Method and system for processing COBOL language record description entries that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic and computer readable storage medium for storing instructions for performing the method
View Patent ↗A method, system and computer readable storage medium for storing instructions for processing COBOL language record description entries that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic are provided. The method includes providing COBOL language record description entries that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic and a plurality of subfields including a length subfield. The method further includes processing the COBOL language record description entries to create at least one of a compiled specification and compiled data. The subfields are treated as a single composite field, and the length subfield is automatically set to the appropriate corresponding value during processing.
1. A method for processing files containing fields which are defined by COBOL (i.e., COmmon Business Oriented Language) language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic, the method comprising:
providing COBOL language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify variable length elementary data items that include a varying length characteristic and a plurality of subfields including a data item length subfield; and
compiling and processing the COBOL language record descriptions to create at least one of a compiled specification and compiled data wherein the subfields are treated as a single composite field and wherein the length subfield is automatically set to a varying value which represents the varying length of the variable length elementary data item during the step of processing the compiled record descriptions.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing replacement data specifications wherein a compiled replacement specification is created based on the replacement data specification during the step of processing.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing replacement data and wherein compiled replacement data is created during the step of processing based on the replacement data.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein both a compiled specification and compiled data are created during the step of processing.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the compiled specification and the compiled data is used during replacement processing.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data item is a character data item.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data item is a graphic data item.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the varying length characteristic is indicated by a VARYING clause or abbreviation VAR and wherein the value is based on a maximum field length minus a number of trailing blanks.
9. A data processing system for processing files containing fields which are defined by COBOL (i.e., COmmon Business Oriented Language) language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic, the system comprising:
means for providing COBOL language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify variable length elementary data items that include a varying length characteristic and a plurality of subfields including a data item length subfield; and
a processor for compiling and processing the COBOL language record descriptions to create at least one of a compiled specification and compiled data wherein the subfields are treated as a single composite field and wherein the length subfield is automatically set to a varying value which represents the varying length of the variable length elementary data item during processing the compiled record descriptions.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising means for providing replacement data specifications wherein a compiled replacement specification is created based on the replacement data specification during processing.
11. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising means for providing replacement data and wherein compiled replacement data is created during processing based on the replacement data.
12. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein both a compiled specification and compiled data are created during processing.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the compiled specification and the compiled data is used during replacement processing.
14. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the data item is a character data item.
15. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the data item is a graphic data item.
16. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the varying length characteristic is indicated by a VARYING clause or abbreviation VAR and wherein the value is based on a maximum field length minus a number of trailing blanks.
17. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium that stores a set of software instructions which, when executed, effectuate processing files containing fields which are defined by COBOL (i.e., COmmon Business Oriented Language) language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic, comprising instructions for:
receiving COBOL language record descriptions that contain elementary items that specify variable length data items that include a varying length characteristic and a plurality of subfields including a data item length subfield; and
compiling and processing the COBOL language record descriptions to create at least one of a compiled specification and compiled data wherein the subfields are treated as a single composite field and wherein the length subfield is automatically set to a varying value which represents the varying length of the variable length elementary data item during processing the compiled record descriptions.
18. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising instructions for receiving replacement data specifications wherein a compiled replacement specification is created based on the replacement data specification during processing.
19. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising instructions for receiving replacement data and wherein compiled replacement data is created during processing based on the replacement data.
20. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , wherein both a compiled specification and compiled data are created during processing.
21. The storage medium as claimed in claim 20 , wherein at least one of the compiled specification and the compiled data is used during replacement processing.
22. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the data item is a character data item.
23. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the data item is a graphic data item.
24. The storage medium as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the varying length characteristic is indicated by a VARYING clause or abbreviation VAR and wherein the value is based on a maximum field length minus a number of trailing blanks.