IMS Fast Path Advanced Tool

IMS Fast Path Advanced Tool (also referred to as FPA) provides various key functions for managing offline DEDBs and Fast Path secondary index databases in just one step.

You can run the functions of this tool by using simple JCL statements that follow an easy-to-understand format. You can omit certain DD statements from the JCL statements. When these DD statements are omitted, the tool dynamically allocates the data sets. The tool enables you to use the same JCL statements for various functions by simply changing the control statements.

This tool improves performance (that is, elapsed time and CPU time) by using the data space for IOVF and SDEP parts, by using fast I/O call against DEDB areas, by concurrently processing multiple DEDB areas, and by reducing the time required for I/O with the use of internal sort.

With most of the functions, you can take image copies, validate database pointers, and obtain statistical information reports of the processed databases in a single job step. These functions can use image copies of a DEDB as their input. IMS Fast Path Advanced Tool helps you maintain the health of your databases, improve your productivity, and achieve a smaller maintenance window.

IMS Fast Path Advanced Tool provides the following functions:

  • The Unload function unloads multiple DEDB areas to QSAM data sets. If necessary, a sort step can be included in the Unload process.
  • The Reload function reloads multiple DEDB areas from the QSAM data sets. If necessary, a sort step and an analyze step can be included in the Reload process.
  • The Change function restructures multiple DEDB areas. If necessary, an analyze step can be included in the Change process.
  • The Reorg function reorganizes a set of UOWs in a DEDB area on the basis of a ranked set of UOWs.
  • The Analyze function provides complete DEDB integrity verification of all IMS pointer values, free space element chains, VSAM control fields, and space utilization in DEDBs. It also provides complete integrity verification of pointer segments in secondary index databases. In addition, it supplies the comprehensive analysis information that is required to effectively manage the DEDB space utilization, performance characteristics, and physical attributes.
  • The Tune function simulates changes in the DBD parameters, randomizers, and segment edit/compression routines, and reports the effectiveness of the new database attributes.
  • The Extract function extracts segment data from multiple DEDB areas and writes the output to QSAM data sets. The extracted data can be used for batch application processing.
  • The DMAC Print function provides maps for DMAC blocks by using IMS mapping macro and the dump of DMAC in multiple DEDB areas.
  • The Build Index function builds the secondary index databases from multiple DEDB areas.
  • The Resync function synchronizes secondary index databases with the DEDB when they are out of synchronization.
  • The Freespace Reclaim function reclaims the control intervals (CIs) in secondary index database data sets.
  • The Initialize function efficiently initializes a single DEDB area. It can also concurrently initialize multiple DEDB areas.