Copying Table Descriptions from Datadictionary

CA-Datamacs/II provides a direct interface to Datadictionary for the purpose of retrieving record descriptions and other database information, to support processing against a CA-DATACOM/DB database.

CA-Datamacs/II test data generation statements are designed to be embedded in an existing COBOL source program, or a COBOL shell. CA-Datamacs/II always assumes the COBOL statements are syntactically correct.

When processing flat files (for example, VSAM, QSAM, and so forth), the record description can be coded directly in the source program or copied from an MVS PDS or a VSE source library. When activating the CA-Datamacs/II CA-DATACOM/DB interface, the COBOL record descriptions are always retrieved from Datadictionary, directed by entries on a *DM COPY TABLE statement.

When doing any of the CA-DATACOM/DB database functions possible with CA-Datamacs/II, CREATE, UNLOAD, LOAD, or MODIFY, retrieving record descriptions from Datadictionary is always required, regardless of the intent to specify field generators.

To populate a database, the test data can come from 'scratch' or from an existing database table. When the data comes from an existing file to be reloaded into a database used for testing, field generators can be used to mask sensitive data contained in the input file, or to change the data, to make it more consistent with the test plan. To populate a database with test data or to change it, it is necessary to place a 'field generator' (for example, SEQUENCE, CONSTANT, and so forth) immediately following the field it is associated with, by specifying a sequence number in columns 73-80.

When there is no existing source for test data, such as in new development, the test data can only be generated with the CA -Datamacs/IICA-Datamacs/II CREATE function, using 'field generators' as the source of the data.

The CA-Datamacs/II CA-DATACOM/DB interface, prior to any database calls, is directed to retrieve record descriptions from Datadictionary by *DM COPY TABLE statements coded in the DATA DIVISION of a COBOL program, or a COBOL shell.