Example 9 Export file, transform file, and import file

This COBOL program illustrates how an XML document is generated from a COBOL data item, and then how the content of an XML document may be converted into COBOL data format and stored in a COBOL data item.

The program first writes (or exports) an XML document file from the content of a COBOL data item. Next, the document is transformed into another format (the same format as described in Example 2: Export File and Import File with XSLT Stylesheets and then transformed back into the original output format. Then the program reads (or imports) the same XML document and places the content in the same COBOL data item. One additional transform is applied to add in the COBOL attributes to the input document.

This example uses the following XML statements:

• XML INITIALIZE, which initializes or opens a session with XML Extensions.
• XML EXPORT FILE, which constructs an XML document (as a file) from the contents of a COBOL data item.
• XML IMPORT FILE, which reads an XML document (from a file) into a COBOL data item.
• XML TRANSFORM FILE, which uses an XSLT stylesheet to modify (transform) an XML document into another format.
• XML TERMINATE, which terminates or closes the session with XML Extensions.