VX/MMS - OpenVMS MMS to make and XML

Description:

VX/MMS parses VMS/OpenVMS MMS (Module Management System) files and converts them into XML representations, enabling automated Linux makefile generation. This ensures seamless execution of MMS scripts on Linux while preserving dependencies, build rules, and source relationships. Additionally, VX/MMS supports VMS code scanning, allowing organizations to analyze dependencies and estimate migration costs.

By integrating with Sector7’s Continuous Integration (CI) migration tools, VX/MMS enables no-code-freeze migrations, ensuring that development can continue on VMS while automatically generating a Linux-compatible version in minutes.

MMS to XML: Streamlining the Migration Process

Generating XML from MMS

VX/MMS transforms MMS files into structured XML, capturing:

• Target dependencies

• Rules and build steps

• DCL syntax conversions

• Macro definitions

This XML representation allows for automated build process adaptation, supporting both Linux and Windows environments.

XML to Makefile: Automating Build Scripts

Once the MMS is converted to XML, it can be translated into Linux/Windows makefiles using Sector7’s inbuilt XML-to-Make engine.

• MMS Targets & Rules → Makefile Syntax

• DCL Commands → Linux Equivalent Commands or VX/DCL Execution

• Macro Definitions → Makefile Variables

Executing MMS Scripts on Linux

VX/MMS provides direct execution support, allowing MMS rules to be interpreted and run on Linux via VX/DCL.

This ensures that build systems remain functional post-migration, even when relying on legacy DCL-based commands.

Continuous Integration with VX/MMS

Seamless VMS to Linux Code Migration

VX/MMS is fully integrated into Sector7’s CI migration pipeline, allowing teams to:

✅ Continue developing on VMS/OpenVMS

✅ Automatically translate MMS to XML and Makefiles

✅ Run builds on Linux in minutes

By integrating with Sector7 translators, VX/MMS ensures that VMS-specific syntax is automatically converted to ANSI-standard equivalents, enabling 100% build automation.

Supported MMS Syntax

VX/MMS recognizes and translates key MMS syntax elements, including:

• Targets and Dependencies

• Rules for build execution

• Conditional statements (.IFDEF, .ELSE, .ENDIF)

• Macro Assignments (MACRO = VALUE)

• DCL Commands (COPY, DELETE, LINK, etc.)

Example Target Definition

TARGET : target_name {dependency_list } { dcl_statements }

Supported DCL Statements

• File Operations: COPY, DELETE, RENAME, PURGE

• Language Compilation: CC, COBOL, CXX, FORTRAN

• Repository Handling: VX/CDD Integration

• Forms Processing: VX/DECFORMS Integration

• Messaging: VX/MSG for message compilation

These commands are either translated to Linux equivalents or executed using VX/DCL.

VX/MMS File Conversion Overview

Input File	VX/MMS Output Files	Description
Filename.mms	Filename.xml	XML representation of the MMS file for structured build adaptation.
	Filename.make	Generated makefile for execution on Linux or Windows.
	Filename.scan	Analysis file containing details on dependencies and migration scope.

Conclusion

VX/MMS simplifies the migration of VMS/OpenVMS build environments by converting MMS files into XML and automatically generating Linux/Windows makefiles. Integrated with Sector7’s CI tools, VX/MMS enables automated VMS-to-Linux migration with no code freeze, ensuring teams can continue developing on VMS while seamlessly transitioning to modern platforms.