IMS Conversion

Comprehensive Migration. ATERAS' IMS conversion addresses all aspects of data relationships and parent-child traversal that are defined within each IMS database definition. Using DB-Shuttle™ automated IMS migration technology, ATERAS provides a complete replacement for all IMS database functionality:

IMS record layouts
Group-level elements
Occurs and redefines clauses within IMS record definitions
Parent-Child relationships
Sorting and Indexing

Relational Results. The resulting database is a fully relational database. Each table is assigned a unique primary data key, not an assigned number. 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 using DB-Shuttle, ATERAS generates and delivers the following component types for installation in the new relational database processing environment:

Data Definition Language (DDL) Syntax for the new relational database
Load Syntax (optional) for use by the relational database load utility
RI Check Syntax (optional) for use by the relational database utility package
RUNSTATS Syntax (optional) for use by the relational database utility package
IMS Data Extract programs (generated in COBOL and fully self-documented) to unload all IMS data to the correct format for the relational database load utility
IMS 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 the replacement applications

IMS Data Conversion. The IMS data extract and relational load process is simple and straight-forward. During the extract process, all IMS traversal is based upon the parent-child relationships defined in the IMS database definition. The IMS extracts are fast and can be executed simultaneously. ATERAS can provide a number of data extract variations for sites that have special requirements for a short IMS conversion window. Data conversion during the cut-over weekend is always fast and complete.

Re-Engineering and Customization Workbenches. Special workbenches within the automation IMS conversion technology, DB-Shuttle, provide additional capabilities for tailoring the database conversion 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 IMS data extract process
Date Conversion Workbench to allow the specification of the format of IMS date fields along with the individual IMS date field minimum and maximum values so that you can use the DATE column specification in the relational databases (all date formats are supported)
Element Rename Workbench which allows the selection of group level or elementary IMS 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
Parent-Child Re-Definition Workbench to allow changes in the parent-child relationships during the 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 migrate and implement their large IMS databases using a phased approach, specifying groups of IMS record types for each conversion phase

Visibility and Knowledge-Building. ATERAS ensures that the teams have a full understanding of the existing IMS databases, as well as a full understanding of the post-migration relational database. Our conversion tools generates several base reports and diagrams to assist with this knowledge-building process:

Complete diagrams of the IMS hierarchical structures
Complete Entity Relationship Model (ERM) diagrams for the relational database
Load Summary reports of the size and component counts within the IMS and relational structures
Scoring Reports which rate the complexity of each IMS record type as it relates to the conversion to a relational definition
Matrix reports that relate records to columns, tables to elements, IMS record types to extract programs, and more
Date Finder and Key Identifier reports that ensure that team members can preview 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 IMS database and its migration