ATERAS - automated solutions for legacy migration and modernization

IDMS Conversion of Databases and Data

Comprehensive Migration. ATERAS designed and developed DB-Shuttle™ to address the conversion of all data relationships and traversal defined within each IDMS schema. ATERAS, using its unique DB-Shuttle IDMS conversion technology, provides a complete replacement for all IDMS database functionality:

  • IDMS record layouts
  • Group-level elements
  • Occurs and redefines clauses within IDMS record definitions
  • Set definitions (record-to-record relationships)
  • System-owned indexes
  • Bill-of-material structures
  • Multi-member sets
  • Multi-set relationships between two record types
  • Duplicate CALC designations
  • Sorted sets with duplicates first, last or not allowed
  • Chained sets that are stored first or last
  • NEXT sets that allow the application code to keep member records in any order

Relational Results. The resulting relational database is a fully relational database. Each table is assigned a unique primary 'data' key, not an assigned number or dbkey. All foreign keys and index definitions are automatically created. All constraints are generated into the resulting DDL. Tables spaces, indexes, table names and column names are all delivered to the specifications.

Delivered Components. As part of the delivery process, ATERAS generates and delivers the following component types for installation in the new relational database processing environment by using DB-Shuttle:

  • Data Definition Language (DDL) Syntax for the new database
  • Load Syntax (optional) for use by relational database load utility
  • RI Check Syntax (optional) for use by relational database utility package
  • RUNSTATS Syntax (optional) for use by relational database utility package
  • IDMS Data Extract programs (generated in COBOL and fully self-documented) to unload all IDMS data to the correct format for relational database load utility
  • IDMS Data Extract JCL (optional; customized to your environment) to execute the extracts and other key-processing utilities
  • DCLGEN syntax (optional) to define COBOL layouts of the tables for replacement applications

IDMS Conversion. The IDMS data extract and relational load process is simple and straight-forward. During the extract process, all IDMS traversal is based upon mandatory/optional set relationships and the clustering specifications defined within the IDMS schema. The IDMS data extracts are fast and can be executed simultaneously. ATERAS can provide a number of extract variations for sites that have special requirements for a short IDMS conversion window. Data conversion during the cut-over weekend is always fast and complete.

Re-Engineering and Customization Workbenches. Special workbenches within DB-Shuttle provide additional capabilities for tailoring your IDMS migration so that it better meets the needs and requirements:

  • Re-name Workbenches to allow full naming of all tables, columns, tablespaces and indexes using a rules basis or a full-name basis
  • Data Cleansing Workbench to provide rule-based data cleansing during the IDMS data extract process
  • Date Conversion Workbench to allow the specification of the format of IDMS date fields along with the individual IDMS date field minimum and maximum values so that the DATE column specification can be used in relational databases (all date formats are supported)
  • Element Rename Workbench which allows selection of group level or elementary IDMS fields for use as columns in the relational database
  • Record Re-Definition Workbench to allow changes to field types and lengths during the relational conversion
  • Set Re-Definition Workbench to allow changes in the set definitions during the IDMS conversion
  • Key Re-Naming and Re-Mapping workbenches to override relationships established through the relational construction engine if required
  • Co-Existence Record Conversion Workbench for sites who choose to convert and implement their large IDMS databases using a phased approach, specifying groups of IDMS record types for each conversion phase

Visibility and Knowledge-Building. ATERAS ensures that the customer teams (and the ATERAS teams) have a full understanding of existing IDMS databases, as well as a full understanding of the post-conversion relational database. DB-Shuttle generates many reports and diagrams to assist with this knowledge-building process:

  • Complete Bachman diagrams for the IDMS database structures
  • Complete Entity Relationship Model (ERM) diagrams for the relational databases
  • Summary reports of the sizes and relationships within the IDMS and relational structures
  • Scoring Reports which rate the complexity of each IDMS record type as it relates to the IDMS migration to a relational definition
  • Matrix reports that relate records to tables, elements to columns, IDMS records to extract programs, and more
  • Date Finder and Key Identifier reports that allow team members to define selected fields and columns to ensure that the migration addresses all requirements for date conversion and key mapping
  • Hundreds of additional ad hoc reports that assist in further detailed identification of the unique characteristics of the IDMS database and its conversion
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