How can you create a mainframe format file?

[Pack10]

If I needed to send an excel file in mainframe format
what would I need to do. Basically I have a typical account list (Acct ID, Name, Acct_Open_Dt) ...that I send monthly to someone that has a mainframe app. He said if I send him the whole list in mainframe format they could overlay his data. What is considered mainframe format?

 

[SkipVought]

Pack,

This is an MS Access forum

Please post your question in Forum68.

You need to determine how they want the date structured. Please do THAT before posting the new thread in forum68.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[SkipVought]

you also need to know the LENGTH that they want EACH, for Acct ID & Name.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[Golom]

AFAIK, "Mainframe Format" does not have a specific definition.

More usually, it is the programming language in which the mainframe application is written that determines the required format. For example, COBOL applications are often (but not always) expecting data in fixed-length, zero-filled fields. FORTRAN or C applications may want a delimited format or even a binary one.

The term "overlay his data" does make me think that COBOL is the likely target but that should be confirmed.

As Skip says, you need to get a better definition of what is meant by "mainframe format" before you can even begin.

 

[Hap007]

I am would guess, by your description, what you want to create is a text file.

I another life, mainframe reports were text like, fixed font.

A second choice might be an ASCII, comma delimited file.

I would think you would want to use EXCEL since that is your source report.

Hap..

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