Easytrieve
A report-writing language from Broadcom, used to produce reports and extracts from files with far less code than COBOL.
Also written Easytrieve Plus, Easytrieve Report Generator, CA Easytrieve, report generator
Easytrieve is a programming language designed for one job: reading files and producing reports. It is sold by Broadcom, and its full name is Easytrieve Report Generator. Many people still call it Easytrieve Plus, an older product name.
A program has a simple shape. FILE statements describe the input and output files and their fields. A JOB section processes records one by one, with conditions and calculations. REPORT sections describe the report: which fields to print, how to total them, and how to break the report by account or branch. Headings, page numbers and totals are created for you.
Something that would take a few hundred lines of COBOL can often be done in a few dozen lines of Easytrieve. That is why it became popular for ad hoc reports, data extracts and checks, especially in banks.
Many sites have thousands of Easytrieve programs that still run every day. Some are replacing them with other tools, but people who can read and change them are still needed. If you know COBOL, Easytrieve is quick to learn.
Where can I learn this hands-on?
Right here, at ZedBank. You take a junior job at a simulated bank and learn each part of the work by doing it, with Zed beside you. There's nothing to install.
Start at ZedBankRelated
- COBOLThe programming language most business logic on the mainframe is written in. Verbose by design, and still running the world's payments.
- DFSORTThe standard sort utility, used far beyond sorting to select, merge, reformat and summarise records at speed.
- Batch processingRunning work in bulk, without anyone watching, usually on a schedule. The overnight run that settles a day of transactions.
- ICETOOLA DFSORT utility that runs several sort, copy, count and report operations in one job step.
- Numeric edited fieldA COBOL field whose PICTURE formats a number for people to read, with commas, decimal points, signs and no leading zeros.