Record Editor

Record Editor is an open source, multiplatform and free graphical software implemented in Java and engineered to act as a programmer's editor similar with the Net-Cobols Cobol-Editor or Compuwares File-Aid mainframe editor. The application is capable of handling PC (text and binary), UNIX (text and binary), and native IBM mainframe (text and binary) file formats.

Features at a glance

Key features include the ability to display fixed file formats, such as Cobol or Mainframe data files, supports editing of text and binary files, as well as of native Mainframe Ebcdic and Ascii~PC files.

In addition, the software allows users to resize columns by dragging them with the mouse cursor, as well as to rearrange columns by dragging and dropping them. It uses a record-layout definition for displaying information in a human readable form.

With Record Editor, users can view and edit fixed field length data files, CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, supporting both complex and fixed width CSV files, compare files of different or identical formats, as well as to copy files from one format to another.

The record-layout definitions used by Record Editor to display the data in a human readable format is stored in a database. Two options exist, one for editing the record layouts and another one for importing Cobol record layouts into the database.

The software can be used by people who are interfacing with IBM mainframe systems, as well as by mainframe programmers. It can be successfully used for sending data to IBM 4690 and 4680 register controllers, for transferring data across computers or for automated warehouse control systems.

Under the hood and supported operating systems

Record Editor is a platform-independent application, written entirely in the Java programming language. It has been successfully tested under the GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, with both 32-bit and 64-bit computers.

What is new in this release:

• Loading large copybooks is very slow ( Bug 9 and Copybook load hangs. You will need to update the Attributes
• For Bug 8 error in Find/Filter, I have not changed the code but have moved the Numeric = next to the Text =. For the Text = 1.00 != 1 while for the numeric = 1.00 == 1. I can look further if need be.
• Enter file encoding on the logon screen.
• Hopefully I fixed Group filter not showing all the elements in a record. I am trying to code around a bug Tableayout/Java-Swing.
• Fixed issue with open file screen ( Bug 7.

What is new in version 0.97g:

• Adding Combo option to "preferred" record view (see Discussion)
• Added Character-set component to ReCsvEditor to make font selection easier. This
• component has both a drop down menu of common character-sets + a Character-set
• selection screen.
• Fix for problems when filtering / saving big files.
• Extra debugging info added.
• Support for updating colors used in the Highlighted Text Editor.
• Can use Background colors in the Highlighted Text Editor. Note: When a background
• color is used, a a white underline can appear, I do not think this can be fixed.
• When creating a new record (line) in a Text file (no binary fields), the record
• is initialised to spaces. Binary records are still initialized to Hex-Zero's though.
• Changes to prevent problem in filtering
• Adding an Output Tab in the script run Screen. You can now use print/println
• function in macros (scripts) and they are displayed on a seperate tab. This is useful
• for debugging.
• When running a script, any print/println will be written to the Log Window.
• Automatic schema backup has been enhanced.
• Adding a -db startup option
• Several Cobol parsing fixes (e.g. Sign trailing).
• Updated Csv parser (Extended Basic is now the default Csv parser). The new
• standard Parser follows Csv standard more closely.
• Updated File-Chooser screen with Recent directory options
• Fix for sort issues in Java 8
• New GenerateData.js example script which generates numeric data for a file. It
• can serve as an example for your own generate data scripts.

What is new in version 0.96h:

• Updated Csv parser
• More Cell operations for Csv files (Right click and Edit menus)
• New JavaScript macros (Delete-Duplicates and Show Duplicates)
• New Jython / Groovy macros to save files as JSon. These require Jython / Groovy interpreter's to be downloaded separately from there Project sites
• New Delete-Duplicate / Sort Macro-Build functions
• Removed Java-7 dependencies that had crept in, Should run in Java 6 again.
• IImproved major error reporting
• Recently used files are retained between sessions on a lot more screens
• Fixed several Java 8 issues (Sort and JavaScript)
• Fixed several OpeJdk issues.
• Fixed issue with spaces in filename (when used as a Startup parameter for ReordEditor)
• Fixed issue File-Location calcation (Fixed-Width files > 2gb).

What is new in version 0.88a:

• File Export fix and Help Menu fix

What is new in version 0.88:

• This version enhances filters (adding "and/or" support), enhances HTML exportation, adds an option to open an exported file, and adds minor GUI and menu changes and problem fixes.

What is new in version 0.85:

• Rewritten Save As/Export with a few more options. Changes incluse:
• Separate Save As option
• New Xsl Transform export option for Xml files.
• Export via Velocity Templates included as Standard
• New Script (Jython, JRuby, NetRexx etc) export option. It uses Java JSR 233 ScriptEngine so any compatible languages should work.
• When selecting a specific export option, only the relavent panel is displayed.
• There is an option to bring back the old look:
• Edit Options >>> Properties >>> Other Options Show all export panels).
• Can now view / edit Csv, Xml and Fixed export files directly in the RecordEditor.
• New Tree Csv-Export
• The File Copy and File Compare option's have moved from File to Utilities.
• Numerous Gui Changes including
• Delete key deletes selected records (There are options to control this in Edit Options >>> Properties >>> Other Options).
• Escape key will close most Utility Screens (work still needed, please report any I have missed) and the Single record Screens.
• The escape key will not close the main list screens !!!!.
• Ctrl-A (select all) implemented
• New option to control how the program starts (Edit Options >>> Looks >>> Screen Properties).
• Options include Maximised, Set Size or Last Size.
• Copybooks and sample files have moved from the install directory to the user directory (Windows UAC related).
• Reorganised Program-Options screens
• Updated Layout Editor
• A Child record can be used multiple times
• Extended Record Selection in the Layout Editor, Record Selection can now been done on multiple fields connected with And / Or boolean operators >, < >= and

What is new in version 0.68.2:

• Version 0.68.2 is a fix for HSQL running in embedded mode. There are some changes for utf-8 / 16 files as well.

What is new in version 0.65:

• New Diff (file compare) Utility. This compare does a Field by field compare; The advantages of this include
• Different types of files can be compared (i.e fixed width files / CSV files).
• Can ignore fields
• Can save the definition of Filters, Sort Tree's and Record Tree's and execute latter.
• Can Export/Import RecordLayouts as XML. These record layouts can be used in JRecord to read and write files in java. See http://jrecord.sourceforge.net/
• Can save files as XML.
• Enhanced Cobol Editor
• enhanced Sort Tree (field summary option added)

What is new in version 0.62:

• This release contains a new Column view, Tree views, improved CSV support, and limited XML support.

Requirements:

• Java 2 Standard Edition Runtime Environment