Working with File-AID Compare Requests
In much the same way that File-AID Data Editor uses requests to access mainframe files, File-AID Compare uses a compare request to capture all of the parameters to use for a mainframe compare.
Invoking File-AID Compare
There are three ways to invoke File-AID Compare functionality:
- By clicking the toolbar File-AID icon
and selecting Compare. - By clicking a file in Host Explorer, Ctrl+clicking a second file, then right-clicking and selecting Compare With > Each Other Using File-AID.
- By right-clicking just one file in Host Explorer and selecting Compare With > File-AID.
In all three cases, a File-AID Compare request appears. If you selected two files, their names are pre-filled in the request. If you selected just one file, its name is pre-filled in the Old File field. If the File-AID icon was used, the request is blank.
Compare Request Tabs and Fields
A compare request has a Name field at the top which is initially set to <NEW REQUEST>. Next to the Name field are four buttons:
New: Creates a new Compare request by clearing any and all existing compare specifications.
Open: Displays the Open compare request dialog box where you can select and open or delete an existing compare request.
Save: Saves the contents of an existing compare request or—if the request is new—displays the Save as dialog box where you can name and save your current compare request. Incomplete requests can also be saved for use as templates.
Save as: Displays the Save as dialog box where you can name and save your current compare request.
The options available on a File-AID Compare request are grouped into the following four tabs described below:
- Files
- Record Matching
- Fields
- Limits
- Selection Criteria
Files Tab
The Files tab is used to specify the old and new files to be compared and, optionally, a layout and top level for formatted compare.
File icons indicating VSAM or Sequential appear to the left of the Old file and New file fields, and clicking the Swap datasets button
will switch the files in the two fields. The Old file, New file, and Layout fields display the file name, host, and port and feature dropdown lists of up to 15 previous selections. If comparing files on different LPARs, the layout must exist on the same LPAR as the file specified in the Old file field. Browse buttons to the right of the Old File, New file, and Layout fields can be used, if needed, to configure a host connection or browse to a file or layout. When a Browse button is clicked, the Dataset Selection dialog appears. Select a connection in the Host field, then use the Name field and List button to select the desired file or layout for the compare.
Record Matching Tab
The Record Matching tab is used to select the type of record matching to be used for the compare. The choices (and the type of results they provide) are:
- Match records using a sort field or key field (
Changes, 
Inserts, and 
Deletes) - Attempt to find a record match by reading ahead in the file that is likely in order (Inserts and Deletes)
- Attempt to find matching records by reading ahead or behind for files not in order (Inserts and Deletes)
- Match records by using the record number as the key (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.) (Changes).
Fields Tab
The Fields tab is used to specify which fields, either user-defined or from a layout, will be involved in the compare. If a layout was specified (formatted compare), it will be displayed with level indenting and a filter field at the top that enables you to limit the fields shown. If no layout was specified (unformatted compare), you can choose to either compare entire records or specify and define your own fields to compare.
Limits Tab
The Limits tab is used to set maximum allowable values for compares. Use these limits to control the time it takes to finish comparing two files. Values can be entered to:
- stop a compare if records read reaches the specified value
- stop a compare if differences found reaches the specified value
restrict the number of differences included in compare results.
A compare preference is used pre-fill the default value for the maximum number of differences in results. See File-AID-Compare-Preferences for more information.
Selection Criteria Tab
Selection criteria determines what portion of the selected files become available for comparison. You can choose which fields will be included and conditions for selecting records. Only records that match your selection criteria will appear in the compare results.
Creating and Running Compare Requests
The following sections explain how to create and run File-AID Compare requests:
- using a sort field or key field
- using read ahead (for file likely in order)
- using read ahead or behind (for files not in order)
- using the record number as the key (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.).
Compare using a sort field or key field
- Invoke File-AID Compare as described above. A compare request will appear.
- Make sure the files to be compared are selected in the Old file and New file fields. If necessary, use the Browse button next to each field to access the Dataset Selection dialog box and make your file selection there.
- If performing a formatted compare, specify a layout in the Layout field and specify a Top Level.
- Click the Record Matching tab. Depending on your preferences, the Match records using a sort field or key field radio button may be already selected. If not, select it.
- If no sort or key fields have been defined, click Add. For formatted requests, the Compare Editor Field Selection dialog box appears, allowing you to select the desired field and click OK to add it to the table of Sort or key fields. For unformatted requests, the User Defined Field dialog box appears, allowing you to specify Length, Location, Data type, and Order., then click OK to add the field to the table of Sort or key fields.
- Existing sort or key fields can be removed, edited, or reordered with the adjacent buttons.
- Click the Fields tab, then select either Compare the entire record or Specify user-defined fields to compare. If user-defined fields are needed, click Add. On the User Defined Field dialog box, specify Length, Location, and Data type, then click OK.
- Optionally, click the Limits tab and specify compare stop values for records read and differences found. You can also override the default limit for the number of differences to include in detail results.
- Optionally, click the Selection Criteria tab and define conditions as follows:
- If no layout was specified, go to step g below.
- If you specified a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the Choose Field Mode dialog box, select either Formatted (use layout fields) or Unformatted (use user defined fields), then click OK.
- If you selected Formatted, the Select filter field window appears. Click the field name to select the desired field, then click OK. You can select only one field. You will return to the File-AID Compare request window with your selection in the Field column and the Data Type column populated.
- In the Operator column, click <select condition>. A drop-down list appears enabling you to choose the desired operator.
- In the Value column, click <enter value> and type the desired value. Additional conditions and sets can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 10.
- If you did not specify a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the User Defined Field dialog box, specify field Location, Length, and Data Type, select the desired operator from the drop-down list, then enter the desired Value and click OK. Additional conditions can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 10.
- To save your compare request, click the Save button
next to the Name field. Specify a name in the Request name field and click OK. Click Run to execute your compare request. The request is submitted, and the results are displayed. See Understanding-File-AID-Compare-Results for more information. You can also close the request without running the compare by clicking Close.
Compare using read ahead (for files likely in order)
- Invoke File-AID Compare as described above. A compare request will appear.
- Make sure the files to be compared are selected in the Old file and New file fields. If necessary, use the Browse button next to each field to access the Dataset Selection dialog box and make your file selection there.
- If performing a formatted compare, specify a layout in the Layout field and specify a Top Level.
- Click the Record Matching tab and select the second radio button (Attempt to find a record match by reading ahead in the file that is likely in order). You can also override the default limit for the number of records to read ahead. This value is pre-filled based on your preferences. See File-AID-Compare-Preferences for more information.
- Click the Fields tab. If a layout was specified (formatted compare), it will be displayed with level indenting and a filter field at the top that enables you to limit the fields shown. Use the checkboxes to select the desired fields. If no layout was specified (unformatted compare), select either Compare the entire record or Specify user-defined fields to compare. If user-defined fields are needed, click Add. On the User Defined Field dialog box, specify Length, Location, and Data type, then click OK.
- Optionally, click the Limits tab and specify compare stop values for records read and differences found. You can also override the default limit for the number of differences to include in detail results.
- Optionally, click the Selection Criteria tab and define conditions as follows:
- If no layout was specified, go to step g below.
- If you specified a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the Choose Field Mode dialog box, select either Formatted (use layout fields) or Unformatted (use user defined fields), then click OK.
- If you selected Formatted, the Select filter field window appears. Click the field name to select the desired field, then click OK. You can select only one field. You will return to the File-AID Compare request window with your selection in the Field column and the Data Type column populated.
- In the Operator column, click <select condition>. A drop-down list appears enabling you to choose the desired operator.
- In the Value column, click <enter value> and type the desired value. Additional conditions and sets can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 8.
- If you did not specify a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the User Defined Field dialog box, specify field Location, Length, and Data Type, select the desired operator from the drop-down list, then enter the desired Value and click OK. Additional conditions can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 8.
- To save your compare request, click the Save button next to the Name field. Specify a name in the Request name field and click OK.
Click Run to execute your compare request. The request is submitted, and the results are displayed. See Understanding-File-AID-Compare-Results for more information. You can also close the request without running the compare by clicking Close.
Compare using read ahead or behind (for files not in order)
- Invoke File-AID Compare as described above. A compare request will appear.
- Make sure the files to be compared are selected in the Old file and New file fields. If necessary, use the Browse button next to each field to access the Dataset Selection dialog box and make your file selection there.
- If performing a formatted compare, specify a layout in the Layout field and specify a Top Level.
- Click the Record Matching tab and select the third radio button (Attempt to find matching records by reading ahead or behind for files not in order). You can also override the default limit for the number of records to read ahead. This value is pre-filled based on your preferences. See File-AID-Compare-Preferences for more information.
- Click the Fields tab. If a layout was specified (formatted compare), it will be displayed with level indenting and a filter field at the top that enables you to limit the fields shown. Use the checkboxes to select the desired fields. If no layout was specified (unformatted compare), select either Compare the entire record or Specify user-defined fields to compare. If user-defined fields are needed, click Add. On the User Defined Field dialog box, specify Length, Location, and Data type, then click OK.
- Optionally, click the Limits tab and specify compare stop values for records read and differences found. You can also override the default limit for the number of differences to include in detail results.
- Optionally, click the Selection Criteria tab and define conditions as follows:
- If no layout was specified, go to step g below.
- If you specified a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the Choose Field Mode dialog box, select either Formatted (use layout fields) or Unformatted (use user defined fields), then click OK.
- If you selected Formatted, the Select filter field window appears. Click the field name to select the desired field, then click OK. You can select only one field. You will return to the File-AID Compare request window with your selection in the Field column and the Data Type column populated.
- In the Operator column, click <select condition>. A drop-down list appears enabling you to choose the desired operator.
- In the Value column, click <enter value> and type the desired value. Additional conditions and sets can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 8.
- If you did not specify a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the User Defined Field dialog box, specify field Location, Length, and Data Type, select the desired operator from the drop-down list, then enter the desired Value and click OK. Additional conditions can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 8.
- To save your compare request, click the Save button next to the Name field. Specify a name in the Request name field and click OK.
Click Run to execute your compare request. The request is submitted, and the results are displayed. See Understanding-File-AID-Compare-Results for more information.
You can also close the request without running the compare by clicking Close.
Compare using the record number as the key (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.)
- Invoke File-AID Compare as described above. A compare request will appear.
- Make sure the files to be compared are selected in the Old file and New file fields. If necessary, use the Browse button next to each field to access the Dataset Selection dialog box and make your file selection there.
- If performing a formatted compare, specify a layout in the Layout field and specify a Top Level.
- Click the Record Matching tab and select the fourth radio button (Match records by using the record number as the key (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.)).
- Click the Fields tab. If a layout was specified (formatted compare), it will be displayed with level indenting and a filter field at the top that enables you to limit the fields shown. Use the checkboxes to select the desired fields. If no layout was specified (unformatted compare), select either Compare the entire record or Specify user-defined fields to compare. If user-defined fields are needed, click Add. On the User Defined Field dialog box, specify Length, Location, and Data type, then click OK.
- Existing fields can be removed, edited, or reordered with the adjacent buttons.
- Optionally, click the Limits tab and specify compare stop values for records read and differences found. You can also override the default limit for the number of differences to include in detail results.
- Optionally, click the Selection Criteria tab and define conditions as follows:
- If no layout was specified, go to step g below.
- If you specified a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the Choose Field Mode dialog box, select either Formatted (use layout fields) or Unformatted (use user defined fields), then click OK.
- If you selected Formatted, the Select filter field window appears. Click the field name to select the desired field, then click OK. You can select only one field. You will return to the File-AID Compare request window with your selection in the Field column and the Data Type column populated.
- In the Operator column, click <select condition>. A drop-down list appears enabling you to choose the desired operator.
- In the Value column, click <enter value> and type the desired value. Additional conditions and sets can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 9.
- If you did not specify a layout, in the Field column click <select field>. In the User Defined Field dialog box, specify field Location, Length, and Data Type, select the desired operator from the drop-down list, then enter the desired Value and click OK. Additional conditions can be added as required.
- When the desired selection criteria have been specified, go to step 9.
- To save your compare request, click the Save button next to the Name field. Specify a name in the Request name field and click OK.
Click Run to execute your compare request. The request is submitted, and the results are displayed. See Understanding-File-AID-Compare-Results for more information. You can also close the request without running the compare by clicking Close.