Unicode (UTF-8) data

File-AID/MVS Browse and Edit functions support Unicode (UTF-8) when the data is located on a COBOL USAGE UTF8 field. The Browse and Edit functions retrieve the native Unicode data in formatted and vertical formatted modes. Then, after converting the data from Unicode to terminal CCSID EBCDIC-based data, File-AID/MVS displays the converted EBCDIC-based data on the Browse/Edit formatted data screens.

Important

To determine the terminal CCSID, File-AID/MVS refers to the ISPF system variable called ZTERMCID. When using emulator software, ISPF sets dialog variable ZTERMCID based on the emulator’s code page setting. Refer to your emulator documentation for further information.

In a formatted Edit session, you can edit the converted data in the Unicode fields. If any character can't be converted, the entire content will be displayed in HEX in formatted mode and "U-INVALID" will be displayed in vertical format mode. When you enter your edits, the EBCDIC-based data is converted back to Unicode.

In formatted mode with DISPLAY HEX, and in vertical formatted mode with HEX ON, File-AID/MVS displays native Unicode data in hexadecimal format, in addition to the converted EBCDIC-based data. You can then edit the Unicode data, including non-displayable characters, in hexadecimal format. See Editing Unicode (UTF-8) Data for more information.

Important

  1. Browse and Edit do not support data exceeding the field length, after it has been converted from Unicode to terminal CCSID EBCDIC-based, or from EBCDIC to Unicode.
  2. IBM z/OS Conversion Services must be activated with the appropriate conversion tables. File-AID/MVS does not set a specific conversion technique search order for the Conversion Services call, so the system default is used for the conversion table search order. During the conversion between Unicode data and terminal CCSID EBCDIC-based data using the CUNLCNV program, character substitution can occur based upon your system’s conversion tables. Usually, x’3F’ is defined as a substitution character in conversion tables.

Related topics

Data-displays

 

Tip: For faster searching, add an asterisk to the end of your partial query. Example: cert*