how to create SQL Server Database with EBCDIC collation, so that I can store/retrieve EBCDIC data from SQL Server using Micro Focus COBOL program.

I want to limit the data conversion and leverage the existing EBCDIC DB2 data to be loaded into SQL Server Database with EBCDIC collation.  The DB2 data type is very straight forward (char, varchar, decimal) and we have the similar equivalent data type in SQL Server.   I would like to use the current Micro Focus COBOL program to store/retrieve EBCDIC data from SQL Server database.

Could you please let me know, how to accomplish the above.

Hi,

Can you provide more information regarding "limit the data conversion", can you share an example or provide more specific information to this. I want to understand what do you need to limit.

Also, can you advise: You refer to having "I would like to use the current Micro Focus COBOL program to store/retrieve EBCDIC data from SQL Server database.", do you already have your own COBOL program to retrieve data, or are looking to create a program for this purpose?
Have you considered using the HCO tool (HCO for SQL Server) that is included with Enterprise Developer?

Hi Kim,

Thanks for your quick response.

We wanted to move an existing (subset) mainframe application to Micro Focus Enterprise Server.  As part of this, we want to leverage the EBCDIC codeset thereby minimizing the data conversion (EBCDIC to ASCII).  We have Mainframe DB2 data, which we want to load it in SQL Server as EBCDIC .   

We are planning to have Mainframe DB2 unload (DSNTIAUL FORMAT) and have a Micro Focus COBOL program to insert the data into the SQL Server as EBCDIC.

Once the SQL Server has the EBCDIC data, we would like our application to connect to SQL Server and work seamlessly use EBCDIC data (store/retrieve).

We wanted to first validate, whether SQL Server can store EBCDIC data and our Micro Focus COBOL programs is able to access it.  Based on the discussion with Micro Focus team, we heard it is possible to store EBCDIC data in SQL Server.

We have leveraged XDB database with EBCDIC data.  We want to try the same with SQL Server with EBCDIC data. 

We do have HCO tool, but we have not tried it.   

Hope this answers all your questions.

regards,

Ravi