Data Center Management Systems


Data Ager

 


Data Ager Overview
Data Ager significantly reduces the time and labor associated with System Testing setup. Programmers and QA analysts use DCMS/DAT to quickly adjust all or selected date fields on test files, incrementing the dates by the desired number of days. A recent Data Ager customer realized $350,000 in cost reductions for testing setup during a large project, and estimates they will save another $45,000 per year in labor costs for ongoing testing.

DCMS/DAT significantly reduces project cost and delivery time by automating the test file aging setup process, nearly eliminating the manual, labor-intensive work normally associated with aging test files. Data Ager also improves testing accuracy by making it so easy to regenerate test files that users are seldom tempted to risk reusing out-of-date test files from a previous project.


How it works
The Data Ager system consists of 2 components: the Online and Batch utilities.

Online - The Data Ager Online utility permits you to specify information about the file to be aged, such as its name and the date fields on the file.  Each use of the Online utility creates the Data Ager Batch utility JCL needed to accomplish the specified data aging.  The JCL can be submitted for immediate execution or stored on a private library for later execution.

Batch - The Data Ager Batch utility actually performs the data aging.  It sequentially updates the file, selecting the desired records and incrementing each selected date field. Most typically-used file formats are supported:
  • Sequential (QSAM) fixed-blocked (RECFM=FB)
  • Sequential (QSAM) variable-blocked (RECFM=VB)
  • VSAM key-sequenced datasets (KSDS)
  • VSAM entry-sequenced datasets (ESDS)
  • VSAM relative record datasets (RRDS)
It supports fields that are character, packed or hex (binary) data types, containing dates in one of more than 20 formats, such as MMDDYY and YYYY-DDD. Since DCMS is committed to supporting all date formats new date formats will be quickly added as required.


The Data Ager Process
1. The Initial ISPF screen prompts the user for the following information.

2. When the Selection Criteria option was chosen, the second ISPF screen prompts the user to define which records are to be selected for aging.
 
3. When Automatic Date Selection was chosen, the third ISPF screen is repeated for each field that contains the word 'Date' in the field name.

4. The fourth ISPF screen displays a scrollable list of all the fields in the COBOL record layout.
  • When Automatic Date Selection was chosen, these fields will already show a date format.
  • Any other desired date field can be aged by selecting the field from the list and applying a date format.

5. The fifth ISPF screen displays the Generated JCL.
  • The JCL executes the DAT batch component to process the requested aging.
  • The JCL is presented in an ISPF edit session.
  • The user can optionally submit the JCL for immediate execution or save it in a personal library for future execution.

Product use Recommendation
Data Ager can provide Customer with significant time and cost savings advantages for their project efforts, current “as-is” system testing, and future on-going system testing requirements on the z/OS platform. This product provides cost savings that will pay for itself many times over. The following is a list of some possible Data Ager product usage considerations.

Installation, Customization and Training
Data Ager is available for any processor that supports the z/OS operating system. Data Ager utilizes ISPF/Dialog Manager (DM) and ISPF/Program
Development Facility (PDF). Data Ager supports all versions and releases of z/OS, ISPF (version 2.0 and higher) and VSAM.

Operating Environment for DAT
DAT is available for any processor that supports the z/OS operating system environment. DAT utilizes ISPF/Dialog Manager (DM) and ISPF/Program Development Facility (PDF). DAT supports all versions and releases of z/OS.


Customer Service and Support
The DCMS Service and Support Hotline (952)473-3572 is accessible 24 hours / 7 days a week. On-site training and consulting are available for a nominal fee.

60-day Trial
The DAT system can be downloaded directly from the DCMS website for a no cost, no obligation 60-day trial.


DAT Publications
Cost Savings Assumption Model
Business Application changes require system integration testing be performed on a business process flow comprised of batch processing testing. This testing includes the changed programs and the associated programs impacted by the process changes. The model is based on “best case” industry averages. Cost estimates are based on a $50.00 hourly rate.
This scenario assumes Company ABC requires changes to the Accounts Receivable system to adjust the aging algorithms. These changes impact online CICS programs which define the customer master detail records which define the terms for receipt and the related batch jobs performing system accrual, G/L hand off, etc.  Complete testing requires that files be prepared to reflect future daily, monthly, quarterly, and year-end processing and reporting.

Assumptions:
Programs scheduled for modification
20  
Programs scheduled for testing 100  
Jobs scheduled for testing 30  
Files required for testing 300  
Hourly Rate $50  
Time required to manually modify 300 files
60
Hours

Sample Cost Savings
Testing Setup Function
Manual Hours
Est. Manual Cost
Est. Data Ager Hours
Est. Data Ager Cost
Modify files for jobs 
60
$3,000.00
4.00
$200.00
Totals:
60
$3,000.00
4.00
$200.00
Time Savings   60 Hours - 4.00 Hours =
56 Hours
Cost Savings
  56 Hours * $50.00 = $2,800.00

Product Pricing
 
$895.00
Total system delivery price
For additional information, contact your DCMS Representative at (952)473-3572 or sales@dcmsi.com.