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vini · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:55 am Post subject: Cobol Appln. Maintenance

Hi Friends,

Say I have a complex Cobol program and for ease of its Maintenance I would like to quickly or readily know its Structure or Hierarchy. One tedious and time consuming way is to Dry run the program.

Anyone knows of any common Tool /utility to achieve this ?!! It could be on mainframe or PC-based. Maybe even some Freeware which I could download.

If not , then any other Inputs on making the Task of maintaining a Complex and Huge Cobol Application easier .. apart from following Standards and Documenting the code i.e ? Assuming its someone elses baby Smile

and your expected to maintain it.

Thnks!
vini

kolusu · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:02 pm Post subject:

Vini,

I can see the enthusiasm of yours to know the system you have taken over to maintain. But remember that the system you want to learn is built over years. so go slow and first try to understand the business logic behind the system and then slowly the technical details will automatically flow in. There aren't any tools to get you what you asked for. Even if there are tools they wouldn't be 100% accurate.

Still if you insist on knowing the program, then you can try these suggestions.

Take a copy of compiler listing of the program(this will have the includes,copy books expanded). This will be big enough to be a pillow so that you can have it even during your sleep Smile

Now try to write down a psuedo code by going thru the program. This cannot be achieved in a day or two . so be patient.

Once you have done with that put your psuedo code as a reference sheet and run the program in batch or xpeditor. Now cross check your psuedo code with the results and verify if you understanding of the program is correct. Start with simple test and slowly move on to the most complex tests.

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Kolusu
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mfjin · Beginner Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 94 Topics: 17

vini,
microfocus revolve - a pc based tool should give you some idea in the form of flow diagrams and structure charts.

vini · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject:

We do not have Microfocus Revolve here & its not a Freeware.

I guess I'll have to go the traditional route as explained by kolusu Smile

Thnks.
vini

Mervyn · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:02 pm Post subject:

Vini, I've been doing this job for longer than I care to remember. I still believe there's no substitute for reading the code. Then reading it again. Then again. Then realising there are bits in there you can do better, and proving it.

Enjoy your work.
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kok328 · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:01 pm Post subject:

Vini,

Compuware has a PC based product call DEV/Enterprise which will analyze a program and draw flowcharts, maps, etc....

I wouldn't rely on this alone, use it as a road map to read the code.

neilxt · Beginner Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 23 Topics: 1

Dibakar · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 12:45 am Post subject:

Cogito-Ergo-Sum · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 2:42 am Post subject:

I had done that too; in REXX. 8)

Except, we had some 'shortcuts' that sometimes helped in parsing COBOL code. The most difficult part was, when a VERB with it clauses would span multiple lines. I cannot divulge much.

My code did 2 things. Check program for any standard violations. And, provide a flow of program similar to what neilxt has posted above. It was not as pretty though. Smile

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Debugging tip:
When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
-- Sherlock Holmes.