FAC T SHEE T: FIL E- A ID / M V S
Fast, accurate data management
across the enterprise
File-AID/MVS, used daily by more than 3,000
customers worldwide, is the industry standard for
file and data management. File-AID/MVS has the
scope and flexibility to let users customize data
to match their needs, while providing exceptional
dependability to handle potentially costly problems
with production data.
Designed for application and system developers, File-AID/MVS allows
quick and convenient access to the necessary data and files in batch or
interactive environments.
As the industry standard for the developer’s data management tool set,
File-AID provides superior usability, functionality and quality. File-AID/
MVS offers a wide range of file and data management capabilities
required to perform everyday data-related tasks. File-AID/MVS enables IT
professionals to easily create test data, resolve production problems and
make global JCL changes quickly and easily, eliminating the need to write
and debug one-time programs or learn multiple batch utilities. No other
product provides as much power and flexibility as File-AID/MVS to create
test data specific to individual needs and securely resolve production
problems.
ROBUST DATA EDITING
The File-AID/MVS edit facility allows you to work with all standard file
types regardless of record length or format. It also provides an audit trail
of the changes you make during an edit session.
ISPF-LIKE ACCESS TO MVS FILE TYPES
Developers familiar with ISPF can immediately use File-AID/MVS to work
with data that is not accessible through ISPF. The ISPF-like facilities of
File-AID/MVS allow you to allocate, copy, browse and edit VSAM, ISAM,
BDAM, HFS and sequential files with record lengths of up to 32 KB. The
full-screen edit mode lets you edit these file types using standard ISPF
commands such as INSERT, REPEAT, COPY, MOVE, DELETE, FIND and
CHANGE. You can also copy and paste records between files.
The File-AID/MVS character edit mode lets
you edit files using most standard ISPF-like
commands.
 FAC T SHEE T: FIL E- A ID / M V S
AUTOMATE COMPARISONS
Validation of test results often involves a tedious manual comparison of
before and after test files. The File-AID/MVS full-featured data, source
code and JCL compare allows you to easily compare two data files or
objects. File-AID/MVS supports an array of data files including VSAM,
sequential, PDS, BDAM, HFS, ISAM and IAM, in addition to COBOL and
PL/I source code, and JCL streams. You can:
• diagnose abends and incorrect results by comparing load modules
• compare files with different record layouts by indicating which fields or
record positions to compare
• compare source code
– convert letters to upper-case before comparing
– exclude comments, blank lines and compiler directives
– disregard multiple blanks from lines to get accurate compares
– set selection criteria as part of the compare process
– compare members of the same library (PANVALET or LIBRARIAN)
• compare JCL by line or by keywords at the statement level
• exclude comments and in-stream data from compare
• create customized compare reports
• compare all members of a PDS in one pass by matching the member
name
• use wild cards if necessary
• use compare criteria to specify fields to include/exclude during the
compare.
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The File-AID/MVS formatted edit mode
makes edit tasks easier and less error-
prone, eliminating the need to determine
where fields begin and end.
QUICKLY REFORMAT FILES
Save time by modifying an existing file format
rather than starting from scratch. The File-
AID/MVS reformat function permits the input
file to be reformatted as it is copied. Further
simplify the process by using COBOL or PL/I
record layouts to create a reformat definition
of the input and output data. You can use the
reformat function to:
• copy records that meet specified conditions
• add a new field to the target file and
initialize it
• reorganize fields in a file by defining a new structure for the target file
• validate fields from the source file and copy only valid records.
COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION CAPABILITIES
File-AID/MVS provides extensive selection capabilities that save DASD
and time needed to test. You can select the precise data you need,
based upon field content, to customize data for a particular application
and specific conditions. This helps ensure you test all conditions of a
program. And, by reducing the test file size, you also reduce the testing
runtime. Once you define them, selection criteria can be reused when
browsing, editing, comparing, copying and printing.
SUPPORT FOR OCCURS DEPENDING ON (ODO)
AND REFER IN SELECTION CRITERIA
File-AID/MVS provides selection criteria support for ODO (COBOL) and
REFER (PL/I) for all occurrences within an ODO, including subsequent
data and ODOs. Adding a parameter of ANY, EVERY and ALL to the
ARRAY and OCCURS primary commands improves the display and
criteria specification of ODOs.
CONCATENATED RECORD LAYOUT SUPPORT IN XREF
File-AID/MVS lets you access multiple record layouts within an XREF. The
System Parameters screen includes the option to define a Concatenated
Files Dataset. The members of this dataset contain lists of datasets to
be concatenated and used for the Record Layout Dataset. Instead of
specifying a Record Layout dataset, you specify the name of the member
that contains the list of datasets to be concatenated, prefixed with a plus
sign (+membername).

File-AID/MVS makes it easy to compare data in any two files, ensuring the validity of your test results.
Using the Compare function, users can easily compare two source programs. Flexible options are
provided for the compare process.
FAST, RELIABLE JCL CONVERSIONS
File-AID/MVS can save hours, days or even weeks of painstaking work
converting JCL libraries to accommodate changes in hardware, naming
conventions or accounting standards. File-AID/MVS can apply one or
more global changes to all members of JCL libraries, with the option to
preview online or in batch. File-AID/MVS recognizes JCL continuation
characters, so it can process multiple physical lines as a single, logical
JCL statement.
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FAC T SHEE T: FIL E- A ID / M V S
POWERFUL, FLEXIBLE
BATCH PROCESSING
When working with very large files or data on
tape, File-AID/MVS lets you work with data
in a batch environment. Batch processing is
also useful when online access to production
files is restricted. File-AID/MVS processes all
file types, record lengths or record formats, so
you can edit JCL libraries, VSAM, sequential,
PDS, BDAM, HFS, ISAM and IAM files.
For more efficient processing, File-AID/MVS
lets you perform multiple tasks in a single
pass through a file. Multiple records can be
merged into one, or a single record can be
split among multiple files.
Self-documenting control cards combined
with extensive reporting and TALLY
capabilities make File-AID/MVS the safe and
logical choice when working with production
data. Once batch jobs are created, you can
submit them online and save them to be
reused.
TEST DATA CREATION
File-AID/MVS enhances the productivity of
application developers by simplifying test data
creation and assisting in routine functions:
Finding files: If you can’t remember the name
of a file to use as a template for creating
customized test data, use the VTOC utility to
find it anywhere in the MVS environment.
Allocating test files: The File-AID/MVS VSAM
and Dataset utilities let you allocate any file
type online, including linear and Generation
Data Group (GDG) datasets. You can also
model the attributes of a new dataset after
those of an existing dataset, eliminating the
need to know the optimal settings.
Copying data: File-AID/MVS lets you quickly populate the allocated dataset
with data from a production or master test file, regardless of the file type.
You can interactively specify the selection criteria, and the File-AID/MVS
online Copy utility copies only the records satisfying those criteria.
Customizing data: The File-AID/MVS editor lets you modify your data
interactively without writing a program. This makes it easier for you to
ensure all conditions of your program are tested. The global editor lets you
quickly initialize any fields to the desired value before running your tests.
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 FAC T SHEE T: FIL E- A ID / M V S

The extensive selection capabilities of File-

AID/MVS help reduce the size of test files and
customized files for specific test situations.

It identifies the address, length, assembly/

compile date and applied ZAPs for CSECTs,
link-edit attributes of the load module and
more. This facility is available in online or
batch modes.

The VTOC utility allows you to find any file,

given any qualifier, anywhere in an MVS
environment. You can also display information
that cannot be obtained online using standard
ISPF. For example, the VTOC utility identifies
lost and free space and provides information
for computing file sizes when migrating
production systems. The VTOC utility also
displays or prints physical DASD volume
characteristics.

Reformatting files: File-AID/MVS lets you restructure a data file (add or BUILT-IN INTEGRITY
remove fields, change field lengths) without writing a one-time program.
File-AID/MVS was designed with built-in safeguards to help ensure
Simply identify the correlation between the old and new record layouts,
data integrity and minimize the risk of unintentional data changes. It
and File-AID/MVS does the rest. Create XML documents with the
works with installed security packages, such as RACF, CA-Top Secret or
XMLGEN command from edit and browse.
CA-ACF2. It also records before and after images of every record that
Validating data: File-AID/MVS helps you make sure the results of your has been changed during an edit session, providing an audit trail of file
test are correct. Use the Compare utility to compare the test file’s maintenance activity, or written to the Systems Management Facility log.
contents before and after the test. The File-AID/MVS online Browse
utility allows you to check the data visually. When using record layouts as
templates, the FIND INVALID command allows you to search for data that BENEFITS OF FILE-AID/MVS
does not match its field description. Use the TALLY function to total field
• increased developer productivity
values and ensure they equal the expected value.
• immediate reduction in test time
Printing data: Use File-AID/MVS to document your test data results or
review test results with end users. File-AID/MVS lets you selectively print • higher-quality testing
the contents of the file, even using record layouts as templates if desired. • fast, accurate resolution of production data problems
• easier problem diagnosis for packaged software
POWERFUL DIAGNOSIS AND ANALYSIS
• simplified environment for data handling
The File-AID/MVS VTOC and Library utilities allow for quicker reactions • fast and reliable conversions
to system problems. The Library utility displays information about load
• easier maintenance of old applications.
library members that is useful when diagnosing problems with third-party
software.

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07.09