Why Modernize COBOL Copybooks?
95% Faster
Complete in 1-2 weeks vs 3-6 months manual conversion
85% Cost Savings
Eliminate expensive COBOL expertise and manual conversion
100% Accuracy
Zero data loss with automated validation and testing
4-Phase Automated Conversion
Copybook Analysis (2-4 hours)
AI analyzes COBOL copybooks to understand data structures, field definitions, and relationships.
- Parse COBOL copybook syntax (PICTURE clauses, REDEFINES, OCCURS)
- Extract field definitions, data types, and lengths
- Identify hierarchical structures and nested records
- Detect COMP-3 packed decimals and binary fields
Schema Generation (1-2 hours)
Automatically generate JSON schemas with proper data types, validation rules, and documentation.
- Convert COBOL data types to JSON Schema types
- Generate validation rules (min/max, patterns, enums)
- Create nested object structures from hierarchies
- Add descriptions and examples from COBOL comments
Data Conversion (3-7 days)
Convert actual COBOL data files to JSON format with validation and error handling.
- Parse fixed-width COBOL records to JSON objects
- Handle COMP-3 packed decimal conversion
- Convert EBCDIC to UTF-8 encoding
- Validate against generated JSON schemas
API Generation (2-3 days)
Generate REST APIs and documentation for accessing converted data.
- Create OpenAPI/Swagger specifications
- Generate REST endpoints for CRUD operations
- Add authentication and authorization
- Create interactive API documentation
COBOL to JSON Data Type Mapping
| COBOL Type | Example | JSON Schema Type | Validation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIC 9(n) | PIC 9(5) | integer | minimum: 0, maximum: 99999 |
| PIC S9(n) | PIC S9(5) | integer | minimum: -99999, maximum: 99999 |
| PIC 9(n)V9(m) | PIC 9(5)V99 | number | multipleOf: 0.01, maximum: 99999.99 |
| PIC X(n) | PIC X(50) | string | maxLength: 50 |
| PIC A(n) | PIC A(30) | string | pattern: ^[A-Za-z ]+$, maxLength: 30 |
| COMP-3 | PIC S9(7)V99 COMP-3 | number | Packed decimal conversion |
| OCCURS n TIMES | OCCURS 12 TIMES | array | minItems: 12, maxItems: 12 |
| Group Item | 01 CUSTOMER-RECORD | object | Nested properties |
AI vs Manual Conversion
| Factor | Manual Conversion | AI-Powered |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 3-6 months | 1-2 weeks |
| Cost | $150K-$300K | $20K-$40K |
| Accuracy | 85-90% (human error) | 100% (validated) |
| COBOL Expertise | Required (scarce/expensive) | Not required |
| Documentation | Manual creation | Auto-generated |
| API Generation | Separate project | Included |
| Testing | Manual test cases | Automated validation |
People Also Ask
Can you convert COBOL copybooks without COBOL expertise?
Yes. AI-powered conversion eliminates the need for COBOL expertise. The system automatically parses COBOL syntax, understands data structures, and generates JSON schemas. This is critical because COBOL developers are increasingly scarce and expensive, with average rates of $150-200/hour.
How do you handle COMP-3 packed decimal fields?
AI automatically detects COMP-3 fields in copybooks and converts them to standard decimal numbers in JSON. The conversion handles sign nibbles, packed BCD format, and precision correctly. All conversions are validated to ensure accuracy matches the original COBOL data.
What happens to REDEFINES clauses in COBOL?
REDEFINES clauses create union types in JSON Schema using oneOf or anyOf. The AI analyzes how REDEFINES are used in your COBOL programs to determine the correct JSON representation. For example, a REDEFINES that represents different record types becomes a discriminated union with a type field.
Can you generate APIs from COBOL copybooks?
Yes. After converting copybooks to JSON schemas, the system automatically generates REST APIs with OpenAPI specifications. This includes CRUD endpoints, request/response validation, authentication, and interactive documentation. APIs are production-ready with proper error handling and logging.
How long does COBOL to JSON conversion take?
Complete conversion takes 1-2 weeks including copybook analysis, schema generation, data conversion, and API creation. This is 95% faster than manual conversion which typically takes 3-6 months. The timeline includes full testing and validation to ensure 100% accuracy.