How to convert EEBCDIC file format to csv

Question

I have a data file in .eic format and its hard to convert it to the readable format, any input will help. I have tried some of the online tools but in vain.

Edit - Have added Database Hierarchy if this helps to convert 1 .eic file to 9 files. The R-3 dataset is hierarchical in structure. In an attempt to maintain the appropriate parent/child record relationship, the GR-ROOT-KEY field is pre-pended to all output child records. The GR-CYCLE-KEY field is appended to all child records of the GR-CYCLE-RECORD parent record.

Database Hirerachy

do you mean `EBCDIC` ???. Is it `binary Ebcdic` or just `Text`. Is `Fixed-Length`, `VB` or are lines delimited with \n ???. Is there a Cobol Copybook for the file ??? — Bruce Martin, Feb 23 '17 at 01:48
I don't have a Cobol copybook and tried some software online to convert it but no success. Here is the link to the file - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4dbpZSkJXU5UTdvWW16V2E4dW8 Yes I mean EBCDIC file format. — kush thakkar, Feb 23 '17 at 15:13

Bruce Martin · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-24T00:50:41.137

File Definition

The files appears to be:

  Encoding: Binary Ebcdic (There are Packed-decimal ~ Cobol Comp-3 fields).
  Format: Fixed Length 
  Record Length: 422 bytes
  Multi-Record: Yes - I think there are 10 record types in the file
  Mainframe JCL Definition:  RECFM=FB,LRECL=422,...

File - Hex view

A hex view of the file (the first line is Text (ebcdic), the following 2 lines hold the hex value). It is basically a Mainframe ISPF Edit Style hex view.

Processing

To process, you really need the Cobol Copybook (or pl1 etc depending on the language used).

Your processing options are

Process in Cobol / Whatever on the Mainframe / AS400 where ever it comes from.
RecordEditor (ideally with a Cobol Copybook)
JRecord, CobolToXml or some other program/project that can process Ebcdic Cobol. There are some Comercial packages that can.

The file is not suitable for conversion to Csv (unless you only want the header Records). Conversion to Xml/Json would be possible.

File View

I have posted the RecordEditor-Xml description here:

https://sourceforge.net/p/record-editor/discussion/467594/thread/d21a205c/

You would better off getting a Cobol Copybook and using that instead !!!

Looking at The file in the RecordEditor in full screen view:

or Record View:

Bruce Martin · Answer 2 · 2017-02-24T00:43:46.337

0

Using the RecordEditor - Layout Wizard

For this file It would be much better to import a Cobol Copybook.

In the RecordEditor, You can use the Layout Wizard (**Record Layout >>> Layout Wizard Menu option) yo define the file, it is tedious though.

So Select Record Layout >>> Layout Wizard Menu option and enter cp037 (US - EBCDIC, there are a number EBCDIC variants e.g. cp273 is German Ebcdic)

Hit the Right button at the bottom of the screen, you need to work out the Record Length in this case it is 422:

Next enter the Record Selection Field, in this case it starts in column 1 and is 2 bytes long:

Next enter the record Names (you can use Right Click >>> Generate Names)

Next Select the fields, While the RecorEditor will select fields, you do need to check the fields and adjust if necessary. Clicking on the start of a field will create / delete the field. You will need to select the fields for every record type

Then you need to enter field names (for every RecordType (you can use the Right Click menu to generate names).

While you can use the Layout Wizard to generate the File Description, it is tedious, It is much better to work from the Cobol Copybook.

edited Feb 24 '17 at 00:43

answered Feb 24 '17 at 00:19

Bruce Martin

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Thanks Bruce! I am not finding a Cobol Copybook for this but did found out DATABASE HIERARCHY ********** * GRROOT * * KEY=01 * ********** * ****************** * * ********** ********** *GRCYCLE * *GRR3RMKS* * KEY=02 * * KEY=13 * ********** ******** – kush thakkar Feb 28 '17 at 19:38
* *****************************************************************> A * * * * * * ********** ********** ********** ********** ********** ********** * GRR3I * * GRR3II * * GRR3V * * GRR3VI * *GRR3VII * * GRR3X * * KEY=03 * * KEY=04 * * KEY=05 * * KEY=06 * * KEY=07 * * KEY=10 * ********** ********** ********** ********** ********** ********** A >************** * * ********** ********** * GRR3XI * * GRR7 * * KEY=11 * * KEY=12 * ********** ********** Do this help in getting 9 data files from a 1 .eic file? – kush thakkar Feb 28 '17 at 19:39