Ø Casegen Versus CA-Telon

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This document compares the features and facilities of Casegen with CA-Telon. Casegen can convert CA-Telon macros just by accessing the macro file (CA-Telon source) on your local area network, then selecting the file with the mouse or alternatively, convert a complete project. Conversion is fast, up to 5000 programs per hour.

The CA-Telon conversion process converts all section/procedure names, variable names etc. to the Casegen standard. May existing CA-Telon sites, all over the world, have already converted to Casegen for both batch and online programs. Many thousand existing CA-Telon programs have already been converted.

All IMS/DC, CICS and Batch programs are supported against DB2, IMS/DB (DL/I) and VSAM files and databases.

Ø Casegen Specific Features

Casegen allows CA-Telon customization to be specified by either the Systems Administrator, the Project Administrator or the Programmer. It is not necessary to edit files or provide multiple copies of project set-up as in TLNIIS. If changes have been made to the installed CA-Telon provided macros (in the generator), the necessary changes are made directly by Casegen Technologies (including all future maintenance) but because Casegen allows more customization, this is not always be necessary.

Ø Systems Administrator

Casegen provides a Systems Administrator function that is password protected to set global options. Every Casegen user must be defined to the system by the Systems Administrator and a user can be defined as a Projects Administrator.

Ø Projects Administrator

A Projects Administrator can create new projects, set project options and determine which programmers may work on these projects. Programmers who do not have access to a project are not aware of it’s existence. Finally, each project has a template program (visible only to the Project Administrator or Systems Administrator). This template is always used as a basis for any new programs created in the project, unless a program is copied.

Ø On-Screen Structure Charts

Casegen contains on-screen structure charts. Programmers can specify DL/I, VSAM, SQL, PFKEYS, CICS TS/TD queue access or NATIVE CODE (CUSTOM CODE) by clicking on the structure charts with the mouse.

Several parameters are also specified this way or by using pull-down menus. Support for second level validation is provided as well(XFEDIT, SEGEDIT and SRC in CA-Telon).

Ø Screen and Report Painter

The Casegen Screen Painter and Report Painter is extremely powerful. It allows fields or groups to be painted with the mouse, which can be displayed using all 3270 colours. Repeating fields (SEGLOOP) are specified using the mouse and are visible on the screen. Single and multiple field move and copy functions, cursor specification and delete are all specified using the mouse. All 3270 screen sizes are supported. Fields may be moved or copied whether attributes (PD) exist or not. Restrictions that exist in CA-Telon, such as putting a quote (‘) or ampersand (&) on the screen do not exist in Casegen, and it is never necessary to redefine the characters used to define variable fields (>, < or +), thus simplifying the whole process.

Ø Field Attributes (PD)

Attributes are specified by clicking on a field or from a list. Full support is provided for all CA-Telon specifications. Fields may be tied to SQL table columns by clicking with the mouse. Uppercase translation can occur at the global or field level. More support is provided for subroutines that are fully defined online including descriptions and definitions for all subroutines. The subroutine source code may be browsed online. Subroutines may be arranged in groups to facilitate selection. General purpose subroutines may be defined and ‘dropped’ into the editor including all defined parameters. All supplied subroutines are written in COBOL-II (ANSI ‘85).

Ø Network Features

Casegen has been designed to work on a network. Full support for network access is included in the product including all locking. Casegen users on the network can be monitored by the System Administrator.

Ø Program Generation

Programs may be instantly generated while specifying the program from within the product using either the keyboard or the mouse. Small programs can be generated in as little as one second. There is no requirement for IMPORT or EXPORT as this happens automatically when the program is loaded or saved. Full ‘CHECK DEPENDENCIES’ support is provided for referential checking of the program specification before the generator is called, which therefore rarely fails. A ‘COMPILE’ option allows for automatic saving, check dependencies, generating, compiling and linking of both the program and map all by clicking a single button.

The generated code is generated to the higher standard of ANSI ‘85 than CA-Telon (in COBOL-II or COBOL/370) without any full stops in COBOL (other than to allow the compiler to work). The code is commented as necessary, and does not contain extensive unused working storage variables, and is kept as simple as possible. A single screen buffer (‘SCR-’ fields rather than ‘TPI-’ and ‘TPO-’ fields) makes program specification easier. Code is indented correctly, target variables and working storage definitions are all aligned and negative conditional tests are avoided. Almost all sections can be replaced with a copy book defined by the Project Administrator, as well as adding code to the beginning or end of the section. Full support is provided for QUOTE or APOST (single or double quotes).

Ø Database Call Specification

The VSAM, DL/I, SQL, SQL JOIN or CICS TS/TD queue call generation facilities are highly intuitive and demonstrate the call to the programmer who can then accept it or change it at the click of a mouse button. All calls are achieved by just specifying the call type and the database, table or file name from a list. The call is then displayed, and the programmer changes the call just by clicking on the part of the call that is incorrect. Complex SQL calls can be completely edited, if necessary, using the built-in ISPF-compatible editor from the latest SQL specification for the call.

Ø The Casegen Editor

The Casegen editor is very similar to ISPF, but has extended line commands to allow COBOL verbs to be entered and expanded. Pull-down menus give the programmer access to all SQL table columns, screen fields, variable names, Casegen section exit points and variables, CICS and IMS statements, user-defined skeleton code, manual SQL/DL/I/VSAM/SEQ/QUEUE call paragraph names and all program defined working storage. Clicking on any of the displayed text causes it to be dropped into the editor, preventing mistakes in typing Native Code (Custom Code). Comments are shown in a different colour and the editor scrolls horizontally and vertically. The current column in the editor is also displayed.

Multi-member editing is supported, members can be selected from a list by clicking on the mouse. An external editor is also provided from editing any file on the network (if allowed).

Ø Additional Casegen Features

Casegen has the following features not found in CA-Telon: