Anyone hearing any Y2K problems with COBOL code on the AS/400? I am an AS/400 COBOL programmer and I am trying to judge the demand for 400 programmers.

-- New Guy (Newbie@begentle.com), January 14, 2000

Answers

None I've heard so far. But IBM's decision to go with a 2-digit UYEAR, and add the UCENTURY switch may cause problems down the line. Anyone know of anything else?

Doin' RPG on the AS/400...

-- RPGman (tripix@olypen.com), January 14, 2000.

This is from Lexington, Kentucky...

The client has discovered two critical programs with date dependencies that are not functioning properly since the change of the year. They are seeking someone who can work through and actually re-write the programs.

The client has two CICS programs that were written using CSP and compiled under an old release of COBOL (compiler no longer available). They were running under OS/390 2.6, but due to some date dependencies, they are no longer functional. They would like to have someone re-write these programs as CICS command level programs in COBOL II. One of the old programs involves 40 screens, while the other involves 10 screens. There are 16 tables used by the applications. Someone familiar with CSP and CICS examined the applications and estimated that it will require about a month's work to recreate them in the desired new environment. There is an assembler subroutine that is called by the programs, but it is not expected that this program will have to be modified. The client has specified that the conversion and testing be done on site, meaning that dial-in access is not allowed.

TASKS: Understand the old applications. Re-write the 2 CICS CSP/COBOL programs as CICS command level programs Re-code the 50 application screens. Implement the old 16 tables used by CSP in the new programs. Test and verify the new programs. Assist the client with any issues in re-implementing them in the new formats.

SKILLS: COBOL II programming (expert) CICS command level programming (expert) CICS (working experience)

SECONDARY: CSP coding (working experience) OS/VS II Cobol (working experience) Assembler coding (working experience) OS/390 (working experience)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This requirement addresses an urgent issue that has arisen as a result of the year change. The client recognizes that it will take some time to fix the problem, but they need to have it addressed as rapidly as possible. Please send questions and/or resumes to the e- mail address identified below.

-- C (c@c.com), January 14, 2000.

--C, cool of you to put up a job announcement. Could you link it, or at least put the e-mail address up for any folks looking for a new start? Thanks.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 14, 2000.

Hokie,

If you have the skills listed, and are really interested in the position, let me know, and I'll see if I can link you up with whoever contracts these positions in that area.

This came from a confidential site, my company subs to another company to hire out contract IT people, but we restrict ourselves to southern california, for liability and management reasons...

Can't give you a link to the site as it is restricted to companies that have contracted, but the position and job description is real, and was still open when I checked a few minutes ago...

-- C (c@c.com), January 14, 2000.

go to Monster.com and search for jobs in your area, they have a good list in my area, I run an AS400 wiith the main prog. written in COBOL, all is well SOFAR. There's lots of work out there , don't need to look for Y2K stuff to fix.

-- Jeff (Jeff@home.slave), January 15, 2000.

One should not program COBOL any more... two semesters in college taught me that COBOL was a language which should have died the same death that BASIC deserves.

Besides COBOL is against the Tao!

-- Michael Erskine (Osiris@urbanna.net), January 16, 2000.

Actually for those geeks still left with us, if you wish to add to that link I just posted (above), I am interested in improving the document and carrying it on. It is an OLD mainframer doc that I just reformatted. I would be delighted to include quality humor in the doc. If you want to copy it help yourself.

-m-

-- Michael Erskine (Osiris@urbanna.net), January 16, 2000.

Oh, c'mon, playing with Working Storage is FUN...especially when you only have a text editor at your disposal. ;-)

Master whatever code you pursue, for you can only point and click so far before you must face it.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), January 16, 2000.