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Compare Utility

You can use CA File Master Plus to compare the contents of two data sets or two or more members in a PDS. Use this feature to perform tasks such as identifying or verifying changes made to a data set. Access this utility through the right-click menu, or you can compare data sets and members not listed in your Directory List view by selecting a server and then selecting Compare from the CA File Master Plus, Utilities menu.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Directory List view.
2. Select from the Directory List view one of the data sets or members that you want to compare.
3. Right-click the data set or member and select Utilities, Compare.

   The Compare Data Set Utility wizard opens.

4. Complete the following fields on the Old Data Set page, or verify that the prefilled information is correct:

   Data set name

   Specifies the name of the first data set that you want to compare.

   Note: For more information about identifying a data set, see Select a Data Set.

   Member name

   Specifies the name of the member that you want to compare. Perform a wildcard search to select more than one member. Enter an asterisk (*) to compare all members.

   Note: This field is only active when comparing members in a PDS.

   Note: For more information about identifying a member, see Select a Member.

5. Click Next.
6. Specify the name of the data set and member as on the New Data Set page. This identifies data set and member that you want to compare to the Old data set. If you are comparing members in a PDS, the Old and New data sets must both contain the members you want to compare.
7. Click Next.
8. Select the Output Format options that you want to apply.

   Print

   Specifies the display format of the compare report. Select one of the following options:

   Character

   Displays records in character format, up to 100 characters

   Hexadecimal

   Displays records in three-line hexadecimal format

   Single record

   Displays field names and values for each record.

   Note: If you select this option, you must specify a record layout.

   Record display

   Specifies which records to display in the compare report. Select one of the following options:

   All

   Displays all records

   Mismatched

   Displays only mismatched records

   Summary

   Displays only a summary of the data set compare

   Field display

   Specifies which fields to display in the compare report. Select one of the following options:

   All

   Displays all fields

   Mismatched

   Displays only fields that have different content

9. (Optional) Specify a layout for the old and new data sets. Do one of the following in the Old data set layout and the New data set layout groups:
   • Select from the drop-down list a layout displayed in your Layout view.
   • Specify the layout data set and member name.

   Note: Select Use old data set layout to use the specified layout for both the old and new data sets.

   Note: You must specify a layout for a single record report format. Otherwise, this step is optional.

   Note: For more information about identifying a data set, see Select a Data Set.

10. (Optional) Specify selection criteria. Do one of the following:
    • Type selection conditions into the selection criteria text box.

      Note: For more information on valid selection conditions, see Selection Criteria Specifications.

    • Click Layout to build selection conditions based on the contents of the specified layout.

      Note: For more information on modifying selection criteria, see Modify Layout Selection Conditions.

      Note: If you specify selection criteria, you can click Validate to verify that the selection criteria listed are legitimate.

    • Click Import to import selection criteria from an existing selection criteria member.

      Note: For more information on importing selection criteria, see Import Selection Criteria.

      Note: This option is only available if you specified a layout with the single record print mode.

11. Click Next.
12. Specify the position of the data and length of the compare, if you want to compare only a portion of a data set or member.
13. Click Next.

    A summary page shows the options that you have selected.

14. Click Finish.

    The summary results of your compare are displayed in the Report view.

    You can display the detailed compare report by clicking the icon in the top right corner of the compare report summary. When you close the compare report summary, the detailed compare report closes and is deleted.

More information:

Compare Utility

Compare Program Utility

Select a Data Set

Select a Member