Introduction › The Software Control Language (SCL)

The Software Control Language (SCL)

Software Control Language (SCL) is a freeform language, with English-like statements, that allow you to manipulate elements, environment definitions, and packages within CA Endevor SCM. SCL is the language used for the non-interactive (batch) execution of CA Endevor SCM. It is a flexible and powerful tool, saving you time in two ways:

• Using SCL allows you to work with as many (or as few) actions as are required to complete a specific job at a particular time.
• Using SCL eliminates much of the screen navigation that is required to process large numbers of elements in an interactive mode.

Because of its consistent nature, SCL is easy to learn and use. For example, you can establish global settings that can be used over and over. This provides a concise and consistent set of options or location information which can be applied to any number of actions, and you need code this information only once in each job stream. Conversely, you can override any pre- established settings by entering like information in a particular request.

There are many features and benefits to using SCL. The following list emphasizes those aspects of SCL that both facilitate and enhance CA Endevor SCM processing.

• SCL allows you to set up a single list or multiple lists of element actions for further manipulation in CA Endevor SCM.
• SCL allows you to manipulate elements or members singly, on a module-by-module level. SCL also allows you to manipulate several library members or module elements at a time. You can tailor your coding to meet your requirements at any time.
• SCL is extremely flexible. You can establish global settings for element action requests (using a SET statement), and override one or all of your selections on a local level; that is, within each individual element action request. In addition:
  • You can define the files you want to manipulate either within the language (for example, using a clause such as SET DSNAME...) or external to the language (for example, using a clause such as SET FILE...).
  • You can delay the specification of actions to be run at a particular time, by using the &&ACTION facility (see the description of &&ACTION in the chapter "Element Action Statements"). This capability allows you to define a list of actions for future use and re-use, so you can code only what you need when you need it.
• SCL allows you to mix CA Endevor SCM locations within the same execution. You can change environment, system, subsystem, or type at any time.
• SCL supports processing in type-sequence order, automatically sorting elements according to the specifications determined by the CA Endevor SCM administrator in your organization.
• SCL supports list processing. List processing enables you to:
  • Generate a list, edit it as necessary, and break it up into multiple executions instead of keying individual statements.
  • Generate lists based on different selection criteria.
  • Perform configuration management through the use of a special WHERE COMPONENTS EQUAL option.
  • Support a single scan facility that will run against CA Panvalet, CA Librarian, a PDS, and CA Endevor SCM, so you do not need to use separate utilities to scan source code.
• SCL serves as a problem-solving tool, by allowing you to quickly isolate system errors. For example, you can use the WHERE GENERATE FAILED option to generate a list of only those elements that were not successfully processed at a specific time.
• SCL supports vendor interfaces. You can execute SCL from a user-written program, which allows you to write user-defined front-ends for use with various proprietary or vendor-supplied programs.
• SCL enables you to integrate CA Endevor SCM into existing change management/change administration job scheduling systems.
• SCL supports release scheduling (job management). For example, moving a group of elements from a test environment to a production environment any given day.