PIR Group

PIR Group specializes in custom development of automated migration tools on various midrange platforms. One of the early assignments undertaken by the start-up organization was the development of a product for converting Wang VS shops to IBM’s S/38. The value of automation for eliminating repetitious, error-prone, manual conversion coding was the impetus for developing PIR’s first product. WANG400 is an automatic utility for converting Wang VS COBOL to native AS/400 COBOL with a first run conversion rate of 99.6%. PIR’s intent was to redirect human effort during conversions to those areas truly requiring hands-on intervention, e.g. debugging, code enhancements, and unit testing.
Coincidental with the development of the initial conversion product, IBM announced the AS/400. Because of PIR’s familiarity with the AS/400 predecessor, IBM looked upon PIR as a partner who could bring Wang software houses into the AS/400 arena. The announcement of PIR as an IBM Business Partner, specializing in conversions, confirmed this recognition. More than 200 Wang software companies used PIR’s products and services to become AS/400 Application Specialists themselves. More Wang customers followed has PIR’s reputation grew.
A second conversion product, a S/370-to-AS/400 tool set named COBOL KeePIR for the AS/400, was developed in 1990 and later brought to market in 1991. COBOL KeePIR for the AS/400 was met with great excitement by both IBM and its customers, soon becoming the leading native automated conversion product on the market. PIR has been a leader in helping mainframe customers rightsize their business taking advantage of the latest hardware technology available while still preserving their investment in application software.
Since being called the AS/400 then iSeries and now POWER i, PIR Group has greatly expanded it’s suite of migration tools. Databases such as IDMS, IMS and DLI are now handles. Aside from CICS now there are solutions for ADS/O and IDMS DC.
More recently, using the shells of existing conversion utilities, PIR has been able to develop automated conversion tools for code migration written on most other prominent manufacturers hardware.
In addition to developing mid-range migration tools, PIR has responded to the intense interest of the Open Systems and Client-Server market. New suites of automated conversion utilities have been developed that will convert COBOL source code to platform independent versions. This allows interfacing with several of the database management systems exemplified by Oracle, Informix, SEQUEL Server and others.
Automation provides a means of taking advantage of new ideas within the shortest timeframe, with the highest degree of success, and with the greatest economy. If your company is making changes to be more competitive and effective in today’s tough global market, call PIR to discover how we can put our skills to use for you.
PIR’s “High Tech, High Talent” approach continues to win both conversion and consulting engagements for us.