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JCM
News, April 2001
Happy Fiscal 2001-2002!
We would like
to update you on our translators, migration services, and COBOL
maintenance services. If you prefer not receive future News Briefs,
please reply to this message, changing the Subject line to "unsubscribe
JCM News".
In
this issue:
1. Company updates
2. Convert or Replace? Take our software quiz!
3. Limited-time offer-available to all our valued clients
Company
updates
For IBM minicomputer to S/390 mainframe conversions, our latest
versions of AS/36 RPG and FMT (Screen Definitions) translators reached
a new level of integration, with automated conversion now providing
for Pseudo-Conversational Command Level CICS.
Development
proceeds on the extension of our RPG/400 translator to provide for
AS/400 to S/390 conversions, and Beta testing of translated Batch
programs is almost complete.
Translation
services for RPG, CPG, and related languages into readable, structured,
portable, standard COBOL, continues to be our core business. Our
cross-compilers generates Native COBOL, without any undesirable
emulation runtime dependencies.
We continue
to provide COBOL source maintenance consulting services.
Convert
or Replace?
The NPR car guys (Tom and Ray), say it is almost always cheaper
to maintain an old car than to purchase a new one. This is often
true for software too.
Clearly, if
you have to maintain a Stanley Steamer, you might not consider a
cross-country drive without asking "Does anyone out there maintain
this or will I be on my own?"
If you are invested
in COBOL, here is good news: On April 9th the US Public Review Comment
period for the Final Committee Draft of the next COBOL standard
ended. The resolution of FCD public review comments is the last
step before the standard goes to an up-or-down approval vote. The
next COBOL standard provides, among many other features, advanced
file-sharing, extended user-interface, and object-orientation.
COBOL vendors
compete to provide for leading edge business needs, and an agenda
for more than one COBOL-centric conference these days includes discussions
on Web-enabling and COBOL CGI, E-Business and Portable Computing,
Component and Object management, and Open-Source. Yes, even the
open-source movement has recognized the importance of COBOL, and
the GNU COBOL project is expected to provide a free COBOL for Linux
and other GNU environments soon.
Our
Quiz: Can this software be saved?
Can this application
support new requirements? What are the costs of replacing this application
with one that has all the additional requirements? Here are a few
questions that should help you decide between replacement and extension:
-
Is the application
a common function (Accounts Receivables, Appointment Calendars,
Inventory Management, etc.), with cost effective off-the-shelf
packages, or is it an application unique to your business, or
significantly extended to meet specific needs?
-
Are the
primary users of the current application happy with its performance?
-
What would
the costs be of involving the primary users in the selection
of the replacement application and re-training them?
-
What are
the long-term savings that can be achieved through replacement,
and what are the savings that can be achieved through conversion?
-
Will the
replacement simplify or complicate Configuration Management?
Every marriage, merger, acquisition, system upgrade, and major
new requirement, bring up the retire/replace/repair question.
A working line of COBOL is worth $20 (RPG line $60-80), and
the large majority of customers continue to see COBOL applications
as solid investments.
Limited
Time Offer
Free Demonstration (offer ends August 31, 2001): One of your programs
(up to 300 lines of code, select from RPGII, RPGIII, FMT, or CPG).
See http://www.jcmigrations.com/demos.htm for details.
If there is
something you would like us to cover, we would be happy to receive
your feedback.
We look forward
to serving you again soon!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J & C Migrations:
566 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458-2325
USA
Click here to send e-mail
Cryptic RPG to concise clear COBOL
http://www.jcmigrations.com
Tel. +1 (617) 916-5114
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