For example, there are many legacy COBOL systems written for DOS. We take your COBOL code and convert your DOS screen panels to the Microsoft Windows format. This conversion is to native windows. There is no emulator. It is 100 percent pure COBOL. The processing logic in the programs are not touched. Only the screen panels and screen IO routines are changed.
Why convert ? One reason, DOS and many popular screen handlers (such as screenIO) are either out of date or no longer supported. Another reason is these old systems are not as functional and powerful as Microsoft windows. These old screen handlers don't support the new controls such as checkboxes, radio buttons, listboxes, buttons, menus, sizing, and many other controls. Below is a before and after example.
Notice that in the examples above the old DOS program had much keyboard interface, period selection with arrows, function keys. The new program requires no keyboard whatsoever, only mouse clicks. It eliminates a 2 screen process by utilizing drop down list boxes for account selection and year selection. It also utilizes menus, help, standardized message and title bars, and resizing. It can also use Windows fonts and graphics to clean the screen up for readability.
Is it cost effective ? Yes for many reasons. Our conversion prevents costly rewrites of a system to a new language. There is no change to the COBOL logic that has been in place and debugged for many years. We do the conversion offsite. There is no office space, computer facilities, housing, or meal expense. We are experienced at these conversions. There is no learning curve expense. Our conversion would not run 5% of the rewrite expense.
How do we start this conversion ? Typically, new customers want to walk into this process rather than authorize a full conversion. The following steps define the usual sequence of events.
- One program from a system is selected for conversion. This is usually a fairly simple screen program. Such as maintenance program.
- Documentation and source code is sent to us. We quote a fixed price to convert this program.
- If accepted, we convert and send the program back to you for evaluation.
- After your evaluation and desire to continue, we work on a price quote for the entire system conversion.
How is the conversion priced ? We like to quote a fixed price because we understand budgets. However, sometimes with systems that have poor documentation or poorly written COBOL code we charge by the hour. A technical example of this would be COBOL code that has multiple "Display" statements for error messages rather than having one routine to display error messages.
Are there any considerations after the conversion ? Yes, with Windows there are many functions and facilities that were not available to the old system. Such as contextual and graphical help. Since this wasn't in the old system it won't be there after the conversion. You might want a review of the old system to see what useful new features can be added now that it is a Microsoft Windows applicaton.