The two charts below show the default conversion tables used by Spectrum Writer, the 4GL Report Writer and File Format Utility for Mainframes. In these tables, non-printable characters (other than a few with standard special meanings) are translated to a question mark (?).

Tips on converting files from EBCDIC to ASCII
The main reason to convert an EBCDIC file (usually found on mainframes) to an ASCII file is so that the file can be used on a PC, a server, or some other UNIX-based system. Keep these points in mind when converting mainframe files.

• you may not need to perform a conversion at all, if your record contains all text data. Most mainframe-based file transfer programs have an option to automatically convert from EBCDIC to ASCII while performing the download.
• you probably do not want to convert the whole record. If the record contains any non-text fields (such as binary numeric fields, packed numeric fields, hex or packed date fields, or bit fields), those fields cannot simply be "translated" from EBCDIC to ASCII. They must either be left "as is" (if the PC system can handle that type of data) or reformatted.
• in addition to converting text from EBCDIC to ASCII, any binary, packed or BCD numeric fields may need to be reformatted as character numeric fields for the PC.
• you may also need to convert dates from packed, hex, or BCD values in the mainframe file to character fields for the PC.
• rather than simply translating a record byte-by-byte to ASCII, the data may be easier to use on the PC if you delimit the fields with commas. Your PC program may also expect to see quotation marks around each character field, especially if the character field contains embedded spaces or commas. The PC program may also require dates to have slashes in them, which dates in mainframe records usually do not.

Did you know that Spectrum Writer, the 4GL Report Writer and File Format Utility for Mainframes, handles all of the above issues (and lots more) automatically. Spectrum Writer is available for OS/390 and VSE mainframes. Its PC-formatting features automatically create comma delimited files ready for use on your PC, server, Oracle database, etc.

Plus, Spectrum Writer lets you select exactly which records and which fields you want on the PC, so that you don't download unnecessary data. You can also sort, subtotal and summarize the data before downloading it. To learn more about Spectrum Writer, or to download a free 30-day trial, use the navigation buttons at the top left of this page to enter our main site.

Now, for the dedicated do-it-yourselfer, here are the default conversion charts that Spectrum Writer uses. Happy coding!

Use Spectrum Writer to:

• mix data from flat files, VSAM files and DB2 tables
• extract and reformat mainframe data for use in:

  -- spreadsheet programs like Excel and Lotus

  -- database programs like Microsoft Access

  -- Oracle databases

  -- Unix Web servers

  -- Internet and Intranet Web browsers (HTML)

  -- any other mainframe, mini, or PC application that requires a custom file format

• convert packed, binary, BCD, COMP, COMP-3 data into normal ASCII numbers
• convert bits, flags and switches to ASCII fields
• convert mainframe dates in any format (packed julian dates, eg.) into standard ASCII MM/DD/YYYY dates (or into other popular formats)

See for yourself why Spectrum Writer is already in use at over 150 mainframe shops worldwide. Click here to read more about Spectrum Writer (and its pricing.) You can also download a free 30-day trial of this powerful utility to create comma delimited files.

Pacific Systems Group is an IBM S/390 Partner in Development.

Attention Mainframe Software Vendors! Spectrum Writer is the ideal choice for adding custom reporting and file export functions to your own product. Call about OEM, VAR and bundling opportunities.