Ideas for recreating non-existent Datacom database structures

Products

• Datacom/DB

Issue/Introduction

Is there any way to use the CXX to create a Datadictionary Definition without impacting the current operating environment? We have several MUFs where the databases were loaded using DDCFBLD, and there is no source definition in the Datadictionary.  

Along the same lines, is there any way to compare CXX entries of two databases that are supposed to be the same to see if they are in fact the same? 

Resolution

There is currently no utility available to reverse engineer a database definition from a CXX entry.

In some cases, this may not be necessary. If you have an environment where multiple systems were create using DDCFBLD files (even though this is supposed to be reserved only for Datadictionary), there should be one MUF that was the source of the DDCFBLD files. If you can find that system, you might be able to match the last-update date and version on the database with the Last Maintained Date and version on the CXX report. IF they match, then you have a high likelihood of being able to use that MUF for BTG source or SQL entity definitions.

Next, if all your tables use only whole-record elements, you might be able to use a copybook or Ideal dataview to get your table layout. Ideal dataviews are built from one or more elements, so a whole record element would show the whole table layout.

Next, the Key and Element details are kept in the CXX, and you can easily see those details in the CXX report to create the related BTG transactions or the SQL entity definitions.

Finally, since we don't have any official (or even informal) utility that can help us reverse engineer a table or database to its original Datadictionary definition, this sounds like an Idea that you could create in the CADRE community, to be considered for the future. In addition, you can post a comment on the CADRE community to explain your situation, and one or more of our veteran users might have something to help in this process.