Data Build Manual

2 Understanding Data Build Files
099331 Tandem Computers Incorporated 2–1
This section describes
Key Data Build files
Input file sources
Key Data Build Files Data Build uses the following key files to convert your data:
File Description
DDL Record
Descriptions File
File created by Data Build and used to convert your input data to the output data.
DEFINES OBEY (command) file that contains a series of TACL DEFINE statements that
give the names and locations of the input and output files and the NonStop SQL
catalog needed in the conversion process.
PATHCNFG Pathway configuration file that defines Data Build’s Pathway parameters,
terminal control processes (TCPs), programs, and server classes. It contains
the same defines as the DEFINES file.
Source Record
Descriptions File
File that describes your data to Data Build. You must create it when your input
data is not in IXF format.
XRUN OBEY (command) file that starts Data Build and displays the Main Menu.
XSTART OBEY (command) file that cold starts the Pathway system which runs Data
Build.
XSTOP OBEY (command) file that shuts down the Pathway system which runs Data
Build.
File and DEFINE
Names
There are four important related files used for a conversion. Two of these are
referenced by file names and two by DEFINE names.
The information needed to determine the file and DEFINE names logically falls in
Sections 3 and 4 where these names are used. To fully understand this information it
would be helpful to have read these sections but it will be easier to understand these
sections if you understand the file and DEFINE naming conventions first; sort of a
Catch-22. Although it is a little premature to discuss this, it is being presented in great
detail now and will become more clear as you read the following two sections. You
should refer back to this information as needed.
Data Build Fileset Data Build uses the concept of a fileset for every input file you want to convert. This
fileset consists of the following:
Input file
Source Record Descriptions file
DDL Record Descriptions file
Output file (either Enscribe or NonStop SQL table)
Data Build references the Source Record Descriptions files and the DDL Record
Descriptions files by actual file names. The input files and output files or tables are
referenced by logical DEFINE names.