CRTTSTDTA Create Test Data

CRTTSTDTA CREATE TEST DATA TAADBGE
The Create Test Data command either adds new test data to an existing member or updates existing data. A prompt appears with the fields from the file and various options may be selected such as consecutive numbers, random numbers, unique numbers, constants, character data, or digit data. Fields not specified are added as blanks or zeros or not changed during an update. You must have all rights to the file to be updated to use CRTTSTDTA. A typical use of CRTTSTDTA is when a copy of a portion of a master file is copied for test data and then changes should be made to protect the privacy of the information such as names, addresses, or social security numbers. For example, assume you copy the employee master file (either the entire file or a portion) and want to change the sensitive fields. After the copy, you would enter: CRTTSTDTA FILE(TSTLIB/EMPLOYEE) A prompt screen appears with all of the fields in the file. For each field, you may leave the data as is or request one of the following change types: ** *CON. A prompt appears to describe the constants that should be placed in each record. For example, you could enter XXX or 123 into the Department field for all employees. ** *CNS. This allows consecutive numbers to be placed into the records. For example, you could enter consecutive numbers into the employee number field. *CNS can be used when you have a unique key and a large enough field width. If the consecutive numbers overflow the available size, they will begin again at 0. ** *CHR. A prompt appears to describe the length of the data that should be entered into the field. It may be less than the full field length. For example, if the employee name is 20 characters, you could request the first 5 characters be filled with character data. The first record would be updated with ABCDE followed by blanks in the remaining portion of the field. The subsequent records would be updated with letters A-Z on a rotating basis. *CHR could also be entered for the address of the employee. ** *DGT. A prompt appears to describe the length of the data that should be entered into the field. It may be less than the full field length. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the telephone number is 10 bytes in length, you could fill the field with 0-9. The first record would be updated with 1234567890. The subsequent records would be updated with letters 0-9 on a rotating basis. ** *RAN. A prompt appears to describe the low and high range to be used. The low range must be 0 or greater. The high range may be less than the full field length, but may not exceed 999,999. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the salary information is 9 digits (decimal positions included), you could fill the last 6 digits with random numbers by entering a range of 50,000 to 100,000. Random numbers would be placed into the field. Using *RAN for a field that has unique keys may cause an error as the data is truly random. A generated number may conflict with an existing value if any exist. ** *UNQ. A prompt appears to describe the low and high range to be used for unique numbers. The low range must be 0 or greater. The high range may be less than the full field length, but may not exceed 999,999. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the field information is 9 digits (decimal positions included), you could fill the last 6 digits with unique numbers by entering a range of 50,000 to 100,000. Random numbers would be placed into the field. Using *UNQ for a field that has unique keys will generate unique values for the added records. A generated number may conflict with an existing value if any exist. After making all requests and pressing Enter (or F3), an Exit display appears that describes what will occur. You can return to the field selection display, continue with the update, or cancel the update. If no requests have been made, the exit display prevents any updates. Assuming you requested changes, the updates will occur to all records in the member. Any fields not requested for changes will remain as is. Tips ---- ** A small amount of test data is generally a good solution for most testing. This may not describe all of the potential problems such as the size of total fields. In some cases, two sets of test data may be desirable. ** The EDTDBF command may be used to make slight adjustments to the data such as changing a field value to cause an exception. EDTDBF does not require a program be created. It operates on any externally described file. ** If a unique key field exists and you are updating the field with consecutive numbers, it is possible to run into a duplicate key situation. You could query the field before the use of CRTTSTDTA and delete any records where the consecutive numbering approach may cause a unique key. ** Because CRTTSTDTA will update or add records interactively, it will be a slow runner if a large number of records exist to be added or updated. CRTTSTDTA escape messages you can monitor for --------------------------------------------- None. Escape messages from based on functions will be re-sent. CRTTSTDTA Command parameters *CMD ---------------------------- FILE The qualified name of the file to be added to or updated. The library value defaults to *LIBL. A specific library or *CURLIB may also be used. MBR The member to be added to or updated. *FIRST is the default. A specific member or *LAST may be entered. RQSTYPE The type of request to be made. *UPDATE is the default to update all existing records in the member. *ADD may be specified to add records to an existing member. The member may have existing records or be empty. NBRRCDS The number of records to be added if RQSTYPE(*ADD) is specified. 100 is the default to add 100 records. If RQSTYPE(*UPDATE) is specified, the number of records is ignored. Restrictions ------------ You must have all rights to the file to use CRTTSTDTA. The maximum record length which can be used is 9999 bytes. Only character (including variable length) and decimal (packed, signed and binary) field types may be changed. When new records are added, default values as appear in the default record for the file are used for field types such as T=Time and L=Date. Prerequisites ------------- The following TAA Tools must be on your system: ADJVAR Adjust variable CHKOBJ3 Check object 3 DSPFLDA Display field attributes EDTVAR Edit variable GENRANNBR Generate random number GENUNQNBR Generate unique number HLRMVMSG HLL Remove message RSNLSTMSG Resend last message RTVDBFA Retrieve data base file attributes RTVFLDARR Retrieve field array SNDCOMPMSG Send completion message SNDESCINF Send escape information SNDESCMSG Send escape message SNDSTSMSG Send status message Implementation -------------- None, the tool is ready to use. Objects used by the tool ------------------------ Object Type Attribute Src member Src file ------ ---- --------- ---------- ---------- CRTTSTDTA *CMD TAADBGE QATTCMD TAADBGEC *PGM CLP TAADBGEC QATTCL TAADBGEC11 *PGM CLP TAADBGEC11 QATTCL TAADBGER *PGM RPG TAADBGER QATTRPG TAADBGER2 *PGM RPG TAADBGER2 QATTRPG TAADBGED *FILE DSPF TAADBGED QATTDDS Structure --------- CRTTSTDTA Cmd TAADBGEC CL pgm TAADBGER RPG Pgm - Updates or adds records TAADBGER2 RPG Pgm - Prompts for field requests TAADBGED DSP file - Field requests TAADBGEC11 CLP Pgm - Does DSPFLDA


CRTTSTDTA CREATE TEST DATA TAADBGE
The Create Test Data command either adds new test data to an existing member or updates existing data. A prompt appears with the fields from the file and various options may be selected such as consecutive numbers, random numbers, unique numbers, constants, character data, or digit data. Fields not specified are added as blanks or zeros or not changed during an update. You must have all rights to the file to be updated to use CRTTSTDTA. A typical use of CRTTSTDTA is when a copy of a portion of a master file is copied for test data and then changes should be made to protect the privacy of the information such as names, addresses, or social security numbers. For example, assume you copy the employee master file (either the entire file or a portion) and want to change the sensitive fields. After the copy, you would enter: CRTTSTDTA FILE(TSTLIB/EMPLOYEE) A prompt screen appears with all of the fields in the file. For each field, you may leave the data as is or request one of the following change types: ** CON. A prompt appears to describe the constants that should be placed in each record. For example, you could enter XXX or 123 into the Department field for all employees. * CNS. This allows consecutive numbers to be placed into the records. For example, you could enter consecutive numbers into the employee number field. CNS can be used when you have a unique key and a large enough field width. If the consecutive numbers overflow the available size, they will begin again at 0. ** CHR. A prompt appears to describe the length of the data that should be entered into the field. It may be less than the full field length. For example, if the employee name is 20 characters, you could request the first 5 characters be filled with character data. The first record would be updated with ABCDE followed by blanks in the remaining portion of the field. The subsequent records would be updated with letters A-Z on a rotating basis. CHR could also be entered for the address of the employee. ** DGT. A prompt appears to describe the length of the data that should be entered into the field. It may be less than the full field length. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the telephone number is 10 bytes in length, you could fill the field with 0-9. The first record would be updated with 1234567890. The subsequent records would be updated with letters 0-9 on a rotating basis. * RAN. A prompt appears to describe the low and high range to be used. The low range must be 0 or greater. The high range may be less than the full field length, but may not exceed 999,999. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the salary information is 9 digits (decimal positions included), you could fill the last 6 digits with random numbers by entering a range of 50,000 to 100,000. Random numbers would be placed into the field. Using RAN for a field that has unique keys may cause an error as the data is truly random. A generated number may conflict with an existing value if any exist. ** UNQ. A prompt appears to describe the low and high range to be used for unique numbers. The low range must be 0 or greater. The high range may be less than the full field length, but may not exceed 999,999. Either a character or decimal field could be used. For example, if the field information is 9 digits (decimal positions included), you could fill the last 6 digits with unique numbers by entering a range of 50,000 to 100,000. Random numbers would be placed into the field. Using UNQ for a field that has unique keys will generate unique values for the added records. A generated number may conflict with an existing value if any exist. After making all requests and pressing Enter (or F3), an Exit display appears that describes what will occur. You can return to the field selection display, continue with the update, or cancel the update. If no requests have been made, the exit display prevents any updates. Assuming you requested changes, the updates will occur to all records in the member. Any fields not requested for changes will remain as is. Tips ---- A small amount of test data is generally a good solution for most testing. This may not describe all of the potential problems such as the size of total fields. In some cases, two sets of test data may be desirable. The EDTDBF command may be used to make slight adjustments to the data such as changing a field value to cause an exception. EDTDBF does not require a program be created. It operates on any externally described file. If a unique key field exists and you are updating the field with consecutive numbers, it is possible to run into a duplicate key situation. You could query the field before the use of CRTTSTDTA and delete any records where the consecutive numbering approach may cause a unique key. Because CRTTSTDTA will update or add records interactively, it will be a slow runner if a large number of records exist to be added or updated. CRTTSTDTA escape messages you can monitor for --------------------------------------------- None. Escape messages from based on functions will be re-sent. CRTTSTDTA Command parameters CMD ---------------------------- FILE The qualified name of the file to be added to or updated. The library value defaults to LIBL. A specific library or CURLIB may also be used. MBR The member to be added to or updated. FIRST is the default. A specific member or LAST may be entered. RQSTYPE The type of request to be made. UPDATE is the default to update all existing records in the member. ADD may be specified to add records to an existing member. The member may have existing records or be empty. NBRRCDS The number of records to be added if RQSTYPE(ADD) is specified. 100 is the default to add 100 records. If RQSTYPE(UPDATE) is specified, the number of records is ignored. Restrictions ------------ You must have all rights to the file to use CRTTSTDTA. The maximum record length which can be used is 9999 bytes. Only character (including variable length) and decimal (packed, signed and binary) field types may be changed. When new records are added, default values as appear in the default record for the file are used for field types such as T=Time and L=Date. Prerequisites ------------- The following TAA Tools must be on your system: ADJVAR Adjust variable CHKOBJ3 Check object 3 DSPFLDA Display field attributes EDTVAR Edit variable GENRANNBR Generate random number GENUNQNBR Generate unique number HLRMVMSG HLL Remove message RSNLSTMSG Resend last message RTVDBFA Retrieve data base file attributes RTVFLDARR Retrieve field array SNDCOMPMSG Send completion message SNDESCINF Send escape information SNDESCMSG Send escape message SNDSTSMSG Send status message Implementation -------------- None, the tool is ready to use. Objects used by the tool ------------------------ Object Type Attribute Src member Src file ------ ---- --------- ---------- ---------- CRTTSTDTA CMD TAADBGE QATTCMD TAADBGEC PGM CLP TAADBGEC QATTCL TAADBGEC11 PGM CLP TAADBGEC11 QATTCL TAADBGER PGM RPG TAADBGER QATTRPG TAADBGER2 PGM RPG TAADBGER2 QATTRPG TAADBGED *FILE DSPF TAADBGED QATTDDS Structure --------- CRTTSTDTA Cmd TAADBGEC CL pgm TAADBGER RPG Pgm - Updates or adds records TAADBGER2 RPG Pgm - Prompts for field requests TAADBGED DSP file - Field requests TAADBGEC11 CLP Pgm - Does DSPFLDA

Added to TAA Productivity Tools September 15, 2007

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Last modified on July 15, 2010