>>>>>>Is there any way, I can access Data from Cobol Files,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>we have a very old FA Applications built in cobol....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Is there any way I can open it in VFP/Excel..
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Any hints/ideas abt cobol file structure(s) will be very helpful...
>>>>>
>>>>>Vinod,
>>>>>Cobol is usually stored in fixed-length field files (SDF). There is a utility available in the 'files' section that converts SDF to DBF files.
>>>>>
>>>>>Good luck
>>>>
>>>>Thanks for your reply...
>>>>
>>>>Can you pls give me in which section that utility is and what is the name of file as I'm not a premier member and unable to search in file section..
>>>
>>>Vinod,
>>>Sorry it took so long to respond. I actually found SDF2DBF in Malcolm Pitcher's FoxPro I/O. However, if you know the names, field lengths, and field types of the Cobol file, you cand create a table in VFP, download the Cobol file, and do an "APPEND FROM TYPE SDF. I have used it myself several times and it works quite nicely.
>>>
>>>Good Luck,
>>
>>I just tried it with the memo fields and with the same field names type
>>
>>but It is showing me junk char. in the rec..
>>
>>Pls note I have tried it in a hex editor also and all it is showing me is junk char.. but when I run the cobol prog... the whole data is avl.
>>
>>Pls help..
>>
>>Can u mail me that utility.. I will try with that also...
>Then it sounds like you are looking at a indexed Cobol File. What you need to do is to write a quick COBOL program that essentially reads in the file and writes it right back out sequentially. Then download THAT file to your network and append into the Fox.
>
>In between the read and write, you might want to slide the line "INSPECT record REPLACING HIGH VALUES WITH SPACES"
>
>That will convert anything that is truly 'garbage' into spaces.


The problem is there are more then 40 files..

If I will go on writing for each one, it will take me lot of time..

Additionally I did cobol years back and I'm not so good in it...

Any Other ideas...