Overview of BMC AMI DevX File-AID/Data Solutions

File-AID/Data Solutions is an integrated set of data management tools that enables programmers and other IT professionals to manipulate data to suit a variety of business challenges. It provides powerful and precise solutions for converting euro currencies, aging dates for testing, validating data, encrypting sensitive data and more. File-AID/Data Solutions eliminates the need to write one-time programs by giving programmers a consistent, repeatable and accurate process for all data management tasks.

Data Solutions’s field-level exits enable you to perform calculations and modifications on individual fields. Sample exits are provided for analyzing data and dates, creating check digit values, calculating dates, generating test dates, data encryption and decryption, European currency conversion, mathematical calculations, etc.

Change criteria are entered online and can be executed online or in batch. The criteria can be saved for later recall, modification, and reuse.

File-AID/Data Solutions is a screen-driven product. It employs fill-in-the-blank processes that make it easy to use. Screen formats and other conventions are retained for familiarity. The entire product is backed by tutorials that provide detailed instructions and descriptions.

File-AID/Data Solutions copies and updates files of any standard MVS access method.

This section introduces the features and functions of the product.

Product features

This section outlines some general features of File-AID/Data Solutions. The features of each File-AID/Data Solutions function are described in Product Functions.

File access methods

File-AID/Data Solutions can process files created through any standard MVS access method. This eliminates the file type restrictions that exist in ISPF browse, edit, and copy functions. In addition, File-AID/Data Solutions accesses IAM files. File-AID/Data Solutions has special support for updating CA Panvalet and CA Librarian files.

File-AID supports extended-format data sets with compression, extended-addressing and/or encryption using Key Label for z/OS data set encryption (IBM Pervasive Encryption).

Record lengths and formats

File-AID/Data Solutions allows record lengths of up to a maximum of 32,760 bytes (approximately 32 kB). File-AID/Data Solutions processes any record format including fixed and variable length, spanned, and undefined records.

Boolean operators

All Boolean operators are available in File-AID/Data Solutions, enhancing selection processing. This capability allows you to search for specified record conditions in the Copy and Update functions. Only the specific records are processed, eliminating unwanted data processing. Multiple selection conditions can be connected with AND/OR elements. Record layouts can be used to specify conditions based on field contents.

PDS member list processing

When processing a PDS, File-AID/Data Solutions allows you to generate a selective list of members. File-AID/Data Solutions can select members based on member name or mask, creation date, changed date, or user ID of last modification.

BMC AMI DevX Studio's Data Privacy

The BMC AMI DevX Workbench for Eclipse includes a BMC AMI DevX Data Studio's Data Privacy plugin. Data Studio’s Data Privacy allows you to define Dynamic Privacy Rules that disguise data elements consistently across different data sources. The File-AID/Data Solutions Data Privacy function (Option D) fully supports the disguise criteria created with Data Studio’s Data Privacy. When disguising a file, simply specify the Dynamic Privacy Rules Project (DPR) that includes the privacy rules you want applied to the matching data elements in the file.

For more information on Data Studio’s Data Privacy, see BMC AMI DevX Workbench File-AID Data Privacy User Guide.

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Selective processing

With File-AID/Data Solutions, you can specify record selection by checking for specific record data in a named field.

COBOL ODO and PL/I REFER statements

File-AID/Data Solutions allows you to specify criteria for COBOL ODO (Occurs Depending ON) or PL/I REFERS statement for all occurrences within an ODO/REFER, and data subsequent to the first ODO/REFER, including ODOs/REFERs after the first ODO/REFER.

ISPF convention conformance

Like ISPF, File-AID/Data Solutions provides S (Select) line-command processing for a displayed list of data sets or members.

File-AID/Data Solutions allows you to jump screens using an equal sign (=). To change screens, enter =, followed by the File-AID/Data Solutions option value, and the desired File-AID/Data Solutions function and option code in any COMMAND or OPTION field on the current screen, and press <Enter>.

Example

When you press <Enter>, File-AID/Data Solutions displays the File-AID/Data Solutions Print Parameters screen (option 0.3).

File-AID/Data Solutions has tutorials that provide detailed information on each function. The tutorials define all field values for each screen and any associated error codes. To access tutorial information, use the HELP command or press the PF key assigned to the HELP command. PF1 is the default.

Security package interface

File-AID/Data Solutions works with any currently installed security package (RACF, CA ACF2, CA Top Secret, etc.). It uses standard open and close macros to avoid bypassing your security rules.

Unqualified data set naming for VSAM clusters

The File-AID/Data Solutions System Parameters screen (option 0.1) allows you to enter a default intermediate name to use for constructing VSAM dataset names. When an unqualified data set name is entered for a VSAM file, the fully-qualified name is created by concatenating the installation defined VSAM high-level name, your VSAM intermediate name, and the unqualified data set name. This process occurs during a search for a data set when File-AID/Data Solutions prefixes the unqualified data set name with the TSO prefix and fails to locate the data set.

Product functions

This section briefly describes each File-AID/Data Solutions function. Parameters (0)  through Utilities (U) provide detailed descriptions of the functions and screens.

Parameters

When File-AID/Data Solutions is installed, some processing parameters are preset. The values of these parameters are displayed and can be modified on various function screens. However, modifications made on the function screens are temporary. When the display changes, the original default values are redisplayed.

The Parameters function gives you a menu of File-AID/Data Solutions processing parameters which you can display and modify. Since all changes are saved in your user profile, you can modify your default values without affecting other users.

Date aging

This function includes date aging, the date calculator and business rules.

Aging

The Aging function allows you to age dates. Formatted date aging criteria enables you to add to, subtract from, or replace a date in your file. You specify the years, months, and days and format of the date.

Date calculator

The Date Calculator calculates the difference between two dates and gives the answer in number of days. It also identifies the day of the week of the end date.

Rules

The Edit Business Rules function allows you to create and maintain customized business rules members. You can use the business rules to automatically validate and correct your ending dates when executing Data Solutions’s aging feature.

Euro tools

The Euro Tools selection contains the Euro Conversion and Euro Triangulation functions.

Euro conversion

The Euro Conversion function is a screen-driven euro currency conversion feature. Formatted Euro conversion criteria is created which simplifies converting currency values to and from the European Currency Unit (ECU).

Euro triangulation

This new feature allows you to convert from one local currency into another using euro values to triangulate and control the conversion in accordance with ECU guidelines. The number of decimal places for both the intermediate euro value and the resulting currency value can be specified. An audit report can also be generated to document all of the changes, including the intermediate euro values.

Data analyzer

The Data Analyzer selection contains the Date Analysis, Data Validation, and Data Analysis functions.

Date analysis

The Date Analysis feature simplifies the identification of date fields. By automatically comparing date values against a list of date patterns, File-AID/Data Solutions can produce a report that lists the percentage of times a valid date is present and the number of times each date format is valid. You can compare your files to the date patterns provided or to those you’ve specifically created.

Data validation

Data Validation enables you to validate data based on data type or the actual values within the record. You may specify the valid values for a field online or in an external file. Validation processes include alpha, alphanumeric, and numeric data checking. When invalid data is found in any of the fields of a record, a return code of 04 is set indicating that not all data was valid.

Data analysis

The Data Analysis function analyzes the data in a particular field by comparing the data to its record layout field definition and reports whether the data is valid or invalid. The Data Analysis report is divided into the following informational sections:

Statistics

Reports the number of unique values, number of valid values, and the range of values found in the selected field.

Occurrence

Reports each unique value and the number of times each value occurs within the selected field.

Invalid data

Reports whether invalid data was found in the selected field. When invalid data is found, Data Solutions lists the number of invalid values and the highest, lowest, and most common invalid value found.

On the Data Analysis Specification screen, you can specify how the values are analyzed. You may choose to not produce the Statistics or Occurrence section of the report. You can set a maximum number of unique occurrences to report.

You can use a “filter dataset” to limit the values that Data Solutions lists in the occurrence report. This is useful when there are numerous records and a wide range of data values. Include the values that you want analysis information on in the filter dataset. Data Solutions limits the occurrence report to the “filtered” values found within the field.

Translator

This feature allows translating data values in one or more fields based on a translate table containing lookup and/or result values. The Translator function accesses the translate table based on values from the fields specified on the formatted panel. When the corresponding row is determined, it returns the result values and uses them to replace the specified output field value.

Generator

The Generator selection contains the Data Generation and Data Pattern Generation functions.

Data generator

Data Generation is used to fill fields with new data values. It can be used for new fields that need test data, or to replace live data that may be sensitive production information that should not be used in test. Data can be generated for numeric and character fields by using one of four methods: sequential, random, pattern masking, or by picking valid values from another file.

The Data Generation function can also be used to generate complete records (as opposed to only specific fields) into a new file, or an empty file, without specifying an input file from which to model the records.

Data pattern generation

Use the Data Pattern generator to fill new fields with test data, or to replace live data that may be sensitive production information that should not be used in test. Data can be generated for unsigned numeric and character fields by using one of two methods, Random Data Generation or Sequential Data Generation.

Field exits

This function allows you to create formatted field exit criteria and process data fields with Data Solutions-supplied field exits or one you have customized. Formatted field level exit criteria enables you to perform date and data analysis, mathematical calculations, and modifications on individual fields. Sample exits are provided for analyzing data and dates, creating check digit values, calculating dates, generating test dates, data encryption and decryption, European currency conversion, and mathematical calculations.

Data encryption

The Data Encryption function simplifies the process of encrypting and decrypting a data file. You can use one of the sample encryption/decryption routines provided with Data Solutions or create your own routine. Simply choose a routine for a particular field from Data Solutions’ list of Available Encryption/Decryption Exits. With the use of selection criteria, you can assign an encryption routine to a field based on the data in that field or on the data in another field in the record.

Data replace

The Data Replace function allows you to specify a replace value or source for the specified field or global variable.

Data privacy

The File-AID/Data Solutions Data Privacy function (Option D) executes any Dynamic Privacy Rules you defined using the Data Studio’s Data Privacy plugin of the Workbench for Eclipse.

Data Studio’s Data Privacy is a component of the Data Studio and provides the ability to easily create Data Privacy rules for your Enterprise files or databases.

Data Studio’s Data Privacy is BMC's solution for addressing all of your data privacy needs whether you have files or databases on distributed machines or on a mainframe computer. On how to define Dynamic Privacy Rules that can be applied to data sets you specify in the Input dataset specification screen, see the Data Studio’s Data Privacy documentation.

The Data Solutions Data Privacy function fully supports the disguise criteria created with Data Studio’s Data Privacy. To disguise a data set, simply specify the Dynamic Privacy Rules Project (DPR) that includes the privacy rules you want applied to the matching data elements in the data set.

Utilities

The Utilities function enables you to:

• Print Change Criteria and Audit Trail reports created during the update process
• Generate overrides for a criteria member and update criteria.

Set criteria

The Set Criteria function is used to create and maintain sets of criteria that File-AID/Data Solutions functions use to modify a data file. Selection Criteria can be added to the Set Criteria to select specific records in a data file for change processing. Set criteria can include date aging, euro currency conversion, data analyzer, translator, generation, field exits, and encryption.

XREF

You use the XREF function to create and maintain record layout cross references for use when formatting files with multiple record types in each of the product functions.