GENCTL: generate a CONTROL file from COBOL source

Description

Creates Wang CONTROL files from COBOL source files.

Categories

Program Development
System Management

Related files

GENCTL: Object file or COBOL source file.

User Instructions

This utility creates a Wang CONTROL file, using an existing COBOL program as its input. Converts most FD information to CONTROL file data, but the use of REDEFINE and some PIC types will not be properly translated.

The program must be run interactively. The first screen describes some of the features and requirements of GENCTL. Next the program prompts for the input COBOL file. Additional documentation is available from this screen by pressing PF(14), or press PF(16) to exit the program without processing.

Next GENCTL prompts for the prefix to be used for the field names in the control file to be generated. This prefix can be up to four characters. GENCTL analyzes the source file, returning with a list of the files detected in the program; enter an 'X' next to each you wish to create a CONTROL file for and press (RETURN). Finally, the output file GETPARM (PRNAME CNTRL) will appear for each file to be created, allowing control of the final location of the output control file.

GENCTL will use the actual COBOL field names if they are eight characters or less, or generate a unique name and put the COBOL name into the ALIAS area of the CONTROL field. All fields will have standard options set; e.g., REPORT = YES, UPDATE = YES, etc.

Programmer Instructions

Interactive use only.

COBOL source is available.

Example of use

Specify a COBOL source file, then check off the files to be converted. All files referenced in the program will be analyzed, so be sure to bypass any that already have related CONTROL files.

Comments

Bug-ridden, but sometimes the easiest way to build a CONTROL file. Be sure to review the generated CONTROL file carefully - particularly if it is to be used for file update with DATENTRY.