COBOL migration services from PRINCE Software

With the increasing emphasis on "Web-based" solutions, the ability to connect legacy applications to these new technologies looms as the next major challenge for many IT organizations. For a growing number of installations eager to take advantage of the latest mainframe advances, upgrading their COBOL applications to IBM's latest COBOL compiler is an important first step toward this goal. Having determined the benefits of increased functionality and continuing compatibility with current versions of strategic software, the primary issue for these organizations is to effect the conversion to the new compiler as quickly and accurately as possible.

For information on VSE COBOL Conversion Services, click here.

PRINCE Software offers extensive experience and a proven track record in the planning and execution of application systems migrations, including conversion to the current release of COBOL. Our staff is comprised of information technology professionals, specifically trained and experienced in the disciplines required for the successful migration process. Because of our extensive experience, we are able to provide significant flexibility in adapting basic migration techniques to support each client's unique information processing environment.

Migration Approach

In determining the best approach for a specific migration, PRINCE Software takes great pains to develop a methodology that will:

Offer the least risk
Minimize the impact on ongoing operations
Assure the greatest opportunity for success

A critical element to our successful migration approach is our extensive use of automated solutions. Evolving from over 20 years of migration experience is our MHtran-2 COBOL conversion software, widely recognized as the premier COBOL migration product in the marketplace.

Remote Conversion

PRINCE Software has developed an approach that has been proven to be the most efficient and cost-effective means of successfully completing the migration — performing it remotely. Our technicians install our MHtran-2 software on the client's computer system and perform the program conversion via a communications link to our fully staffed and equipped migration center in Ramsey, New Jersey. This approach not only facilitates the migration process, but also offers the following benefits over both an off-site migration and on-site staffing:

The Programs, Copybooks and other source code entities remain on-site, easing the logistics of the project and enabling faster response to missing and/or changed entities.
Program compilation is performed within the client's technical environment, eliminating problems related to differing software maintenance levels.
An on-line connection allows our migration specialists to interactively support the testing efforts of the client project team.
There is no need to allocate workspace, hardware and other support services required by on-site consultants.

Implementation Strategies

The PRINCE Software methodology supports either a kernelized or mass implementation approach for the conversion of the application systems.

With the kernelized approach, the installation's workload is divided into a number of groups called kernels. The major benefit of this approach is that the amount of work going into production can be highly controlled and the translation effort does not become too far advanced from the testing and implementation efforts. This provides a smooth transition period for company personnel to absorb and support the converted applications.

With the mass implementation approach, the workload can also be divided into kernels for conversion purposes. The translated and tested programs can be held awaiting completion of related application kernels, and then implemented in a small number of larger groups, or tested and implemented simultaneously.

PRINCE Software works with your in-house staff to determine the best implementation approach for your installation and the size, content and sequence of the conversion kernels. To minimize the impact of normal program change activity, kernels are defined and scheduled in coordination with on-going development and maintenance efforts and change control procedures are reviewed and implemented.

Project Planning

PRINCE Software specialists, working with your in-house project team, develop a full COBOL migration plan, which addresses the following topics:

Project Organization
Migration Environment
Application Inventory and Kernelization Strategy
Translation Options
Custom Program Changes
Compile / Linkedit Options
Conversion Methodology and Workflow
Conversion Issues and Concerns
Testing Procedures
Implementation Strategy
Project Control

Planning Process

The planning process begins with a two day kick-off session where PRINCE Software presents an overview of the migration process, describing the major activities and identifying items requiring special consideration. Through interaction with client personnel, areas of concern are identified and discussed. The kick-off session results in the following deliverables:

A preliminary project planning document
A high level task list
Identification of a pilot conversion kernel

A follow-up planning session, conducted upon completion of the pilot kernel, is scheduled to review the conversion process and results, identify any desired modifications and finalize the conversion plan.

Program Conversion

Our technicians perform the program translation and deliver to the client's migration team clean compiled, "ready-for-testing" COBOL for OS/390 source code. These technicians are then available on-line to resolve problems encountered by in-house personnel during all phases of testing.

The purpose of the conversion is to provide for the orderly change to COBOL for OS/390. It is not the intent of this conversion to redesign the existing applications. However, minor coding changes may occur during the conversion effort to take advantage of COBOL for OS/390 functionality. A PRINCE Software conversion includes:

Native OS/390 Conversion — All program changes are made using straightforward coding techniques typically used by COBOL for OS/390 programmers. Unsupported program syntax are replaced by their supported equivalent. Client programmers will find the converted code easy to understand and maintain.
Reserved Words — COBOL for OS/390 reserved words that are used as names in the programs are prefixed with the value 'XNVT-' and all references changed accordingly.
Automatic Determination of Source Dialect — PRINCE Software can analyze the load modules to determine the source COBOL dialect used for each program.
CA-Panvalet / CA-Librarian Support — Programs and INCLUDE members may be processed directly from the proprietary libraries.
Translation Audit Trail — Our technicians identify translated programs by inserting the following comment into the Identification Division: Translated by MHtran-2: translation date. Additionally, each line changed during translation can be flagged with a constant in either columns 1-6 or 73-80.
Year 2000 Compatibility — PRINCE Software assures that changes applied to the source code during the COBOL translation will not impact the Year 2000 readiness of the programs.
COBOL Report Writer — If encountered, are converted to native COBOL for OS/390.
ISAM Coding — Coding for ISAM Datasets, not supported by COBOL for OS/390, are converted to VSAM KSDS. PRINCE Software technicians make the appropriate program changes and can propose a solution for the physical conversion of the datasets, if required.
BDAM Coding — Coding for BDAM Datasets, not supported by COBOL for OS/390, are identified by PRINCE Software technicians who can then recommend a BDAM replacement strategy.

Testing Support

Our technicians are available on-line to resolve and correct any conversion related problems encountered during testing. Additionally, they can assist in-house personnel to understand and absorb the many new features of the current release of COBOL.

Project Time Frame

The pace of the migration is determined by the client. It generally depends on the personnel and computer resources that are deployed for the testing effort. PRINCE Software will work with your staff to develop a realistic schedule based on the available resources, the selected implementation strategy and other client requirements. PRINCE Software has completed projects at a pace of more than 1,000 programs per week.

Summary

Workload backlogs have made development and maintenance resources a precious commodity. It makes sense to focus them on specific business requirements by selecting PRINCE Software to expedite the migration process.

PRINCE Software's COBOL migration services has enabled our clients to realize considerable savings in time, cost and resources. Specific benefits of a PRINCE Software solution are:

Proven Automation-based Process
PRINCE Software Support Warranty
Migration Pace Determined by Client
Fixed price