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Highlights
- Edit COBOL format
and binary data files with data presented as defined in COBOL record
descriptions
- Automatically create
test data using the Data Generation feature to populate fields with
variable values.
- Browse existing data
files
- Set values for testing
particular program conditions
- Verify updated data
- Search for values
within fields
- Import data from,
and export data to, XML data files.
Data Editor displays
the item names and descriptions alongside the data contained in that item.
It understands tables, re-definitions and record keys, and communicates
these properties in its data displays.
Using these features
you can see the data in the same manner you view data from the COBOL program.
Data Editor is easy to use and helps you work quickly and effectively.
Fujitsu's Data Editor
is one of the components of the NetCOBOL Enterprise Edition.
Select the
View to Match Your Purpose
Data Editor offers highly
configurable views of your data. There are two main formats - table format
and record format.
In table format, Data
Editor displays each record in a single row - like a spreadsheet display.
Use this format when you want to compare item values across many records.
In record format, Data
Editor displays one record at a time, with each elementary item occupying
a single row. Use this format when you want to see as much data as possible
on each record.
Data Editor also allows
you to select:
- Which elementary
items are displayed
- Whether to display
level numbers, item descriptions, and offsets
- Which record definition
or redefinition to use
- Whether or not to
expand tables
- Whether or not to
display the toolbar and status bar
- The font to be used
- Whether to edit in
character format or hexadecimal
With all these options
you control what you want to see, allowing you to focus on the information
that is most important to you.
Related Tools
Data Editor is integrated
with Data Converter so that data can be passed quickly and conveniently
to Data Converter
Detailed
Features and Benefits
The table below lists
key features and benefits of Data Editor.
| New in: |
Feature
Summary |
Feature |
Benefit of Feature |
| |
User-friendly,
highly functional interface |
Field-sensitive data file editing. |
Lets you see and
edit data in the same field-by-field format your COBOL programs
use. |
| |
|
Tabular or record-by-record display of the data. |
Table
view lets you compare values across many different records. Record
view lets you focus on a single record at a time.
The choice of views lets you choose the best focus for your purposes.
|
| |
|
Viewing of selected
fields only. |
For large records,
being able to view only those fields of immediate interest can be
a big time saver. |
| |
|
Character or hexadecimal editing of data. |
Character editing
of data is essential for speed and accuracy of data entry.
Hexadecimal editing is essential to cover all data value possibilities. |
| |
|
Viewing record key
definition information for indexed files from record and table views. |
Provides quick check
of record key details. |
| |
|
Printing table
view data. |
Convenient hardcopy
output of data. |
| |
|
Searching
for character or hexadecimal values in table and record views. Locating
fields by name. |
Speeds functions
such as finding the record with a particular value or finding a
particular field in a large record. |
| |
|
Replacing character
or hexadecimal values for specified fields in table view. Includes
a Replace All function. All changed records are marked so that changes
can be inspected before being saved (made permanent). |
Facilitates finding
and changing a particular value in one or more records. |
| |
|
Populating data items automatically when records are
inserted, appended, copied or replaced. |
Simplifies the process of creating test data. |
| |
|
Editing of files
in the root folder. |
Gives you total freedom
as to where you place your files. |
| +V3 |
|
Sever name is displayed on the title bar when the record or table view format screen is displayed. |
|
| +V3 |
|
Numbers can be edited in hexadecimal in the tool bar display field (no longer have to display the edit hexadecimal number dialog). |
|
| |
File/data
formats |
Handles files created
with the BINARY(BYTE) compiler option. |
Essential feature
for those using the BINARY(BYTE) compiler option. |
| |
|
Handling data files greater than 1GigaByte (using BSAM) |
Lets
you edit production-sized files. |
| |
|
Variable length
record in indexed files. |
Adds variable length
indexed files to the set of supported files. |
| |
|
Supports Unicode data. |
Essential feature for those working with international
data. |
"+Vn" in the "New in:" column indicates a feature that contains new or improved elements as well as existing elements. The number n indicates the Data Editor version in which the new feature was introduced. Recent Data Editor versions were released in the following NetCOBOL products:
Data Editor V3 – NetCOBOL V9
An
In-Depth Look at Data Editor
The following sequence
of screen captures lets you see the features of Data Editor at work.
Setting
Up Data File Details
After selecting the file you wish to edit, Data Editor prompts
you to provide information about the file. You setup these details by
first specifying a COBOL library file that describes the file data. Data
Editor analyzes the COBOL record layout so that it can present the data
to you field by field.
After analyzing the library, you select the file's organization. Unless
you have a special feature in your file, such as the data being in EBCDIC,
that's all you need to do as Data Editor can pick up all of the information
from the COBOL library and the data file header.
Setting
Up Data Edit Sessions
Data Editor then gives you a choice of how to edit the data:
- You can update the
file, meaning you can add, delete and change records.
- You can view the file,
meaning that no updates are allowed
- You can add to the
file, meaning that you can add new records but you cannot change any of
the existing data.
When dealing with data
files it is important to have these options as you don't want to accidentally
change existing data when all you want to do is look at the data, or add
some new values.
You also have the option
to select what range of records should be loaded from the file, thus speeding
up loading and letting you focus on the area of interest.
Editing
Using the Record View
The record view lists all the data from a single record. You add and delete
records in this view. Notice that the record key is indicated by coloring
it in green.
Editing
Using the Table View
The table view displays the data in a spread-sheet-like format. This makes
it very convenient for comparing values in adjacent or nearby records.
You can see in the snapshot below how data editor uses colors to make
it clear which records have been updated, deleted or added.
Confirming
Updates
Before any changes are saved, Data Editor shows you a summary
of the number of updates, additions and deletions so you can confirm that
only the changes you intended to make have been made.
Focusing
on a Few Fields
Another important feature of Data Editor is the ability for
you to display only a few fields - whether or not they are adjacent in
the record description. In the snapshot below, two items, RECORD-KEY and
RECORD-AMOUNT have been selected.
Platforms
Supported
Server
- Solaris™ 2.6 Operating Environment
- Solaris™ 7 Operating Environment
- Solaris™ 8 Operating Environment
- Solaris™ 9 Operating Environment
- Solaris™ 10 Operating Environment
Client
Requires NetCOBOL for
Windows Enterprise Edition on the client machines
- Microsoft® Windows®
98
- Microsoft® Windows®
Me
- Microsoft® Windows
NT®
- Microsoft ® Windows® 2000
- Microsoft® Windows®
XP
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