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Fujitsu Data Editor for Windows

  1. What file organizations does Data Editor support?
  2. Which data types does Data Editor support?
  3. How safe/reliable is Data Editor?
  4. Can I use Data Editor on files other than NetCOBOL files?
  5. What is the maximum file size that Data Editor can handle?
  6. What is the difference between Data Editor and the Edit function in the COBOL File Utility?
  7. Does Data Editor have a "replace all" function?

  1. What file organizations does Data Editor support?

    Answer: All the standard COBOL file organizations - sequential, line sequential, relative and indexed - and binary files for which there is no COBOL record description.

  2. Which data types does Data Editor support?

    Answer: All the COBOL data types that you can write to NetCOBOL files.

  3. How safe/reliable is Data Editor?

    Answer: Data Editor is a very safe and reliable tool for editing your data files. It creates a backup file so you can always recover to the state before your last edit session. Data Editor protects against changing data accidentally by:

    Indicating the changed records by changing the color of the data displayed.

    Reporting the number of changes, additions and deletions before you save the file.

    Providing View and Add modes of working that limit the changes you can make - either allowing no changes (View mode) or only allowing additions (Add mode).

  4. Can I use Data Editor on files other than NetCOBOL files?

    Answer: You cannot use Data Editor on structured files, such as indexed files produced by another COBOL vendor, nor on relational databases. Provided that you can supply a COBOL record layout description for the file, you can use Data Editor on fixed-length sequential files and line sequential files. Variable-length sequential files produced by other vendors are not supported as they will have their own file headers and different techniques of indicating the lengths of the records.

  5. What is the maximum file size that Data Editor can handle?

    Answer: Data Editor can handle files up to the limits of the COBOL system.

  6. What is the difference between Data Editor and the Edit function in the COBOL File Utility?

    Answer: The Edit function of the COBOL File Utility is a basic level function. It lets you edit files record by record, and can only display the data in simple character or hex formats. Data Editor lets you edit data field by field, understanding all the different data types and gives you well presented views of the data. COBOL File Utility gives you no indication of which changes you have made while Data Editor colors all changes and lets you confirm that you really want the changes to be made before closing the file. You can achieve the same results using both tools, but you are more likely to make the changes correctly, with greater speed and ease when using Data Editor.

  7. Does Data Editor have a "replace all" function?

    Answer: Yes, Data Editor has a replace all function. It will only change values within a selected field, and marks all records that are changed. We recommend this function is used with care, particularly on large files in which it may be difficult to confirm all changes were made correctly.