NAME

  uakebcpd - ebcdic and packed decimal conversion

SYNOPSIS

  uakebcpd [-options] input-file

DESCRIPTION

  The uakebcpd utility will convert an ebcdic file with imbedded packed
  decimal fields to ascii.  The packed decimal fields must be explicitely
  identified.  Please reference notes at bottom, this utility is largely
  untested.

OPTIONS

  -length record-length
       It is presumed the input file is fixed length records (typical for
       IBM) which was probably provided to UNIX via dd.

  -packed column.length[,...]
       Specify the packed decimal field(s).

  -output filename
       To specify output file, defaults to stdout.

  -null
       To specify that NULL characters should not be translated to spaces
       (left as null).

  -verbose
       Verbose option to display settings.

  -?   Display terse help message.

EXAMPLES

   snkac@java: uakebcpd -v -l 6 -p3.2 uakebcpd.test
   ebcdic: Cols 0001-0002 Lng:	 2
   packed: Cols 0003-0004 Lng:	 2
   ebcdic: Cols 0005-0006 Lng:	 2
   ab0001cd
   AB1234CD
   Invalid: field 1 record 3
   121?0034
   Ab9876cD

   4 records, 1 errors
   snkac@java:

NOTES

  This utility was written quickly for a former employer (UofA SOIS) who did
  not realize in their MVS to UNIX conversion that some of their archival
  data contained packed decimal fields (written by COBOL).  This utility was
  tested only with small test file.

  The byte order of packed decimal may need to be reversed (big-endian vs.
  little-endian); if necessary the flip.c routine may accomodate this.

  The ebcdic to ascii conversion table should be re-validated (it was
  extracted from a VMS library routine).  Code un-packing may not deal with
  negative fields, if it is wrong at least error count should be incremented
  and exit(2).

  If this utility works, great.	 If it does not work properly, corrections
  sent to kcarlson@arsc.edu will be re-incorporated.

RELATED INFORMATION

   uakebcpd.c  convert ebcdic|packed -> ascii (source)
   uakebcpd    convert ebcdic|packed -> ascii (executable)

   uakebcpd_test.c  write small test file to convert
   uakebcpd.test    small test file

   cci/*       general routines
   cci/ptox.c  courtesy of of orca:uacn_util:[ibm.cci]ptox.c
   cci/etoa.c  rewritten from vms (orca) which used LIB$AB_EBC_ASC
   cci/etoa.h  constructed under vms (orca) using vms/ebc.c