Converting IS Data Structures with the COBOL Converter

Adapter services for the connection type COBOL Converter are used to convert Integration Server data structures from/to a byte array representing the COBOL binary data. The IS data structure is described by a Software AG IDL File (with an optional server mapping file, see Server Mapping Files for COBOL), which is created using the IDL Extractor for COBOL. The interface type COBOL Converter has to be used for this purpose. See COBOL Converter (In same as Out, In different to Out).

Note:
For interface type COBOL Converter, COBOL input and output is either described by the same layout ("In same as Out") or the input is overlaid by a different output layout ("In different to Out"). See COBOL Mapping Editor.

The COBOL Converter functionality can be used in scenarios where COBOL binary data is either already available in IS, or required by an IS service. Typical examples are:

  • working with files that contain COBOL binary data

  • COBOL binary data with a complex structure consumed or produced by components such as the WebSphere MQ Adapter

  • COBOL binary data from EntireX Adapter connections such as CICS IPIC, CICS ECI, CICS Socket Listener, IMS Connect, AS/400 Connections

The conversion depends on the signature of the generated adapter service:

  • Input Only
    If the adapter service has only input parameters (structure inRec) they are converted to a COBOL binary data structure (byte array) and stored in the output parameter cobolOutput.

  • Output Only
    If the adapter service has only output parameters (structure outRec) the COBOL binary data structure (byte array) contained in the input parameter cobolInput is converted to the output parameters.

  • Input and Output
    If the adapter service has both input and output parameters (structures inRec and outRec), input parameter cobolInput is checked:

    • If cobolInput is empty, the structure inRec is converted to a COBOL binary data structure (byte array) and stored in the output parameter cobolOutput.

    • If cobolInput is not empty, the contained COBOL binary data structure (byte array) is converted to the output parameters.