COBOL File Definitions in Datastage

COBOL File Definitions contain data description statements in a text file that describe a file format in COBOL terms. You can import CFDs into the InfoSphere™ DataStage® repository directly from a COBOL program. A CFD file can contain multiple table definitions, and can be either a COBOL copybook or a COBOL source program.

Before you import a COBOL FD, be sure it contains valid COBOL syntax. InfoSphere DataStage supports level number 02 to 49 and recognizes the following clauses:

OCCURS
OCCURS DEPENDING ON
PICTURE
REDEFINES
SIGN
SYNCHRONIZED
USAGE
The following items are not captured:

Level numbers 66 and 88 (these become comments for the column)
Data element names that are SQL reserved words (see Reserved Words for a list)
At least one 01 level must be defined in a CFD file. The name at the 01 level becomes the default table name in InfoSphere DataStage. Comments must be designated with an asterisk in the column preceding the start position.

For details about the native data types that InfoSphere DataStage supports when importing CFDs, see Native Data Types.


>>Importing CFDs in Datastage