How to specify a date mask when altering DECIMAL column to DATE in RC/Migrator

Products

• RC/Migrator for DB2 for z/OS
• RC Compare for DB2 for z/OS

Issue/Introduction

Altering the data type of a column from DECIMAL to DATE and when analyzing the RC/Migrator for Db2 for z/OS (RCM) strategy receiving error message RMA231E.

RMA231E ERROR OCCURED DURING GENERATION OF LOAD CONTROL CARDS FOR TABLE: 
creator.name 
MASK IS MISSING;

Reason:
An error occurred during the generation of control cards for loading the table identified in this message.      

How to specify a mask to resolve the RMA231E error?

Resolution

The RMA231E error is most likely to occur when altering a numeric or character column to data type DATE via a Compare strategy. If the alter is being performed
via an Alter strategy then RC/Migrator will automatically ask you to specify a date mask when creating the strategy, thus avoiding any potential data conversion
errors during the Analysis.

If the RMA231E error occurs for a Compare strategy, including a Batch Automap Compare strategy, then you will need to manually specify a date mask.
This can only be done online via the panels. There is no batch PARMFILE equivalent masking parameter.

To specify a date mask for a Compare strategy use the following steps:

1. Access the strategy via RC/M Strategy Services

2. (u)Update the strategy

3. On the RC/M Compare Explode Services screen (e)edit the table definition referred to in the RMA231E error message.

4. On the Table Alter screen enter the SRC line command next to the column being altered to data type DATE.

5. The DATE Mask Specification screen is displayed.

 

6. Enter a valid date mask, for example, DDMMYY.

 

This mask will then be referenced when the Analysis builds the load control cards, thus resolving the RMA231E error.