Talks

Migrating RDML & Rdb SQL/SQLMOD to x86

Title slide: RDML to embedded SQL to PostgreSQL on OpenVMS x86
Portsmouth 2026 OpenVMS Bootcamp · 27 October 2026 · Breakout
Denys Beauchemin
Grand Senior Migration Engineer, Sector7 USA LLC
Jon Power, CEO of Sector7
Jon Power
CEO, Sector7 USA LLC

Abstract

RDML is a database access method unique to Rdb. It is integrated into the various languages and only accesses Rdb. There is no Rdb on OpenVMS x86. If your application is coded to use RDML to access Rdb, you cannot simply modify it to access another SQL database such as Oracle, Postgres, etc. You have to refactor your application to change RDML to something else, which is a MAJOR undertaking. Up to now, an RDML-coded application was stuck on Rdb and Itanium or had to be rewritten.

Sector7 has just released an automated tool, VX/RDML, that will replace RDML code with embedded SQL code, the standard method of accessing an SQL database. With VX/RDML, you can now convert your RDML application to become an embedded SQL application running on OpenVMS and accessing Rdb, Oracle, Postgres, and other SQL databases. This fully automated deterministic tool gives the older Rdb applications a new lease on life and allows them to move to OpenVMS x86 and access an SQL database in very short order.

We will demonstrate VX/RDML and other tools that will allow the migration of Rdb-based applications to run on OpenVMS x86 and access Oracle, Postgres, SQL Server or other SQL databases.

What the talk covers

  • RDML to embedded SQL to PostgreSQL: step 1 on Itanium or Alpha with Rdb, step 2 on x86 with VX/SQL.
  • Two steps, each changing only one thing: save the application on Rdb first, then move to x86 and PostgreSQL.
  • VX/RDML processes COBOL, FORTRAN and Pascal and rewrites only the database statements while screens, prompts and dictionary COPY stay as they are.
  • Step 1 on OpenVMS Itanium or Alpha: VX/RDML converts RDML and Rdb SQL$PRE builds the result on the same Rdb database.
  • Step 2 on OpenVMS x86: VX/SQL precompiles the same embedded SQL and reaches PostgreSQL on Linux; a library-call build removes the precompiler entirely.
  • RDML is understood by one precompiler on one database; embedded SQL is understood by many.
  • Live demo section from the Portsmouth deck: from RDML sources through conversion, precompile, compile and link.

Slides

Session page on the VSI Boot Camp site

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