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# Rewrite Conversion Programs

Most base applications have conversion programs up to version 6.5x. Therefore, you may need to also add a file conversion for your application.

If you have not re-written conversion programs to the new standard of chained conversion programs, follow these steps to use the new conversion structure (see “Data File Conversion” for a more detailed discussion):

1. Change your existing conversion programs. (The skeleton program SDSKCNVT on the Software Development Utilities diskette can be used as a model for the new program format.)
2. Create the version 4.5x to 6.5x conversion programs, using SDSKCNVT.
3. Add the conversion data file records for each version (since 3.2x) of your application to the OSCNVT file, using the SDACCNVT program. This information is used to verify that the necessary source files are available at each conversion level.
4. Write a small program to separate the records for your application into an xxCNVT file.
5. Copy the xxCNVT file to the application program directory on the media.
6. Include an xxLAST task to merge the xxCNVT file into OSCNVT during installation.
7. Create the xxCNVT.HDR file using the Software Development Utilities.