Question

How do I generate a text file with COBOL notation out of C#?

Asked by: rommelit

Can someone help me or tell if I can generate a text file with COBOL notation from C#?  I will need to dump the file to a specified location with a different name each time it is generated so it can be pulled into an older application.  I have all the record layout detail but need to know where to start.

This is a bit of an explaination of the basic requirements.
COBOL notation is used.  All "x" fields are considered unformatted text.  Justification is usually left, but not required.  "9" fields are numeric with the "v" representing an implied decimal point and "+-" representing the sign ("+" or "-").  Numeric ("9") fields are right-justified, left-zero filled.  Example: 112.40 in a field with a format of 9(4)v9(3)+- should be 0112400+.

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Asked On
2009-10-31 at 03:07:01ID24860495
Tags

COBOL

,

Notation

,

COBOL Notation

Topics

C# Programming Language

,

COBOL Programming Language

Participating Experts
1
Points
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: rommelitPosted on 2009-10-31 at 03:08:19ID: 25709072

Oh yeah, not sure if it is standard but the file will be fixed width.

 

by: rommelitPosted on 2009-11-01 at 05:28:39ID: 25713635

Ok, perhaps I am going about this the wrong way...

Since I know the specific file layout that I will need to generate for the COBOL application...  Is it possible to create a fixed width text file that has the additional numbers and characters?  Say, could I have the C# app generate the variables (EX. 112.40) then add code to append to that variable?  This would be done to meet the COBOL requirements in the example.  

So by design and standard calculations I could generate the variable 112.40 in C# with no issue then store this somewhere.  I could then append constants to that variable (IE - to meet the COBOL format of 9(4)v9(3)+-) for a result of 0112400+.  This could all then be written to a fixed width text file.  Does this seem like a reasonable approach?

 

by: MogalManicPosted on 2009-11-01 at 06:16:43ID: 25713742

This sounds alot like homework.

I would write a function that converts a Float or decimal number into a string, and then remove the '.' character.  Look at the String.Format method on how to format a string with fixed width.

 

by: rommelitPosted on 2009-11-01 at 07:52:19ID: 25714091

Will padding be necessary?

 

by: MogalManicPosted on 2009-11-01 at 09:48:01ID: 25714554

This the documentation for the String.Format for custom numeric formats.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0c899ak8.aspx
you can use the format string "000000" to create a 5 character zero filled string.

 

by: rommelitPosted on 2009-11-02 at 07:13:20ID: 25720055

Mogal.  I am accepting although I may ping you later if I run into hurdles.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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