Best practice for transforming COBOL programs that use Report Writer features in Blu Age

When transforming COBOL programs that use Report Writer features in AWS Blu Age, there are several best practices and considerations to keep in mind:

1. Best practices for transforming COBOL programs with Report Writer modules:

   • Review and analyze the Report Writer modules carefully before transformation to understand their structure and functionality.
   • Consider refactoring complex Report Writer logic into simpler, more modular components if possible before transformation.
   • Ensure that all necessary input files and dependencies for the Report Writer modules are included in your transformation project.

2. Precompilation of Report Writer modules: While Blu Age generally handles COBOL code directly, including Report Writer features, precompilation is not typically required. The Blu Age transformation engine is designed to process standard COBOL constructs, including Report Writer modules. However, if you encounter specific issues with Report Writer modules, you may need to consider preprocessing or manual intervention.

3. Specific configurations for Report Writer modules:

   • Ensure that the correct file type classification is set for your COBOL programs containing Report Writer modules. You may need to launch the classification process again in your codebase project to ensure accurate file type recognition.
   • Check that your transformation workflow includes the appropriate steps for handling Report Writer features. This may involve configuring specific metadata or transformation rules.
   • Be prepared to review and potentially adjust the generated Java code, especially for complex Report Writer logic that may not have a direct equivalent in Java.

After transformation, carefully test the output of the transformed Report Writer functionality to ensure it matches the original COBOL program's behavior. You may need to make manual adjustments or use Blu Age's refactoring tools to optimize the generated code for readability and maintainability.

Remember that the transformed Java code will be organized into distinct projects, typically including an entities project for data structures, a service project for business logic, and potentially a utility project for shared tools. The Report Writer functionality will likely be distributed across these projects based on its role in the original COBOL program.

If you encounter specific issues during the transformation of Report Writer modules, consider reaching out to AWS support or consulting the Blu Age documentation for more detailed guidance.

Sources
AWS Blu Age Code Maintainability | Migration & Modernization
Transformation Failure: Missing initJics.sql and Unable to Download Transform outputs in Blu Insights | AWS re:Post