File Layout viewer

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Chesca
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    I am viewing a file that's hard to decipher how the file is laid out. I was a mainframe programmer and we use Fileaid. I was wondering if there is a MF cobol product or software I can use to view/edit datafiles/records. 
    Woozy
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      Hi bernfc10 - Are you trying to view/update a database table, a workfile, or an output text file? A database table or output file are fairly easy, but a workfile is difficult and cumbersome.
      Kelly Meade
      J. R. Simplot Company
      Boise, ID
      Chesca
      Veteran Member
      Posts: 490
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        The program creates an output file in prod/law/prod9/work/deductions. I ftp the file and I can view as .txt
        Here is a a sample record:

        0203{ 0000{ 0000{ 0000{ 0181F 0000{ 0082F 0000{ 0000 {0000{
        Woozy
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          Hmmm - I've never used Fileaid, so I'm not sure how helpful this will be. It sounds like Fileaid will actually allow you to define the file format and then use this to reformat the file on-the-fly. Unfortunately I've never been able to find anything this robust - though it would be a wonderful thing. Maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

          If you are looking to view/edit files, since you have FTP access I'd suggest a regular text file viewer (I use PSPad) to view and edit these files. PSPad has the ability to columnize data based on a delimiter, if that is helpful. I use WinSCP as my FTP client, and I have just set PSPad as my default file viewer.

          I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but hopefully it will be helpful.

          Good Luck
          Kelly Meade
          J. R. Simplot Company
          Boise, ID
          Chesca
          Veteran Member
          Posts: 490
          Veteran Member
            Yes, I can use wordpad but I don't find it as productive. So I ended up downloading RecordEditorHSQL software and I am able to view the file with a defined layout and can view/edit a single records. We are having a production issue and the users and vendor are saying that a record is reporting a deduction amount in a different column/field. The program didn't change and that's the only rec they are having problems with. Thank you!