gtpp1m0iProgram Development Support Reference

System Test Compiler (STC) Offline Tape Generation Utility

The system test compiler (STC) is an offline tape generation utility (referred to as the STC utility in the remainder of this book) that:

The data record information library (DRIL) is a tape file of the record types and data macros selected by you. You can enter or modify data in any field or subfield, within any logical record of a multivolume file that is defined in DRIL. The STC utility accesses DRIL to create or change the records specified by you. If the specified record format is available in DRIL, then you can use symbolic field names instead of absolute displacements. The STC utility determines the displacements and attributes from the symbolic field name. This reduces the possibility of errors because you code fewer statements. To create records for DRIL you must be familiar with the format of a DRIL record, especially columns 59 through 72. Also, column 19 determines the size of the record. The layout of these columns is described in detail in DRIL Record Layout.

Note:
A DRIL file is distributed with each release of the TPF system. It is your responsibility to select the DRIL records required for installation and to add new DRIL records. The DRIL file must be created and may be maintained through the IBM MVS IEBUPDT(E) utility program.

Test unit tapes (TUTs) contain one or more test units. Each test unit is identified by a RUNID record and defined by user-coded input to the STC utility. The STC utility writes the data records, messages, and testing options onto the TUT. If data generation is specified, the STC utility will construct data records and/or messages, and record them on the TUT. The TUT becomes the primary input to the program test vehicle (PTV) utility. The PTV utility directs testing according to the information the STC utility recorded on the TUT.

Pilot tapes (SDF) are used to load data records. A pilot tape may contain one or more pilot systems; each pilot system contains a different set of data records, which are defined by the user to satisfy online or testing requirements. Each set of data records can represent a different mode of operation, a different application program, or a different point in time. The pilot tape will be loaded onto the online file modules during system initialization or loaded by PTV to supplement the data used during testing.

The standard data/message file (SDMF) is a tape file of predefined data records and input message records. The STC utility uses SDMF to obtain records for pilot and test unit tapes and to modify SDMF itself. Individual records or groups of records can be called from SDMF.

The STC utility also enables you to create, modify, or delete SDMF records. This STC function is known as standard data message update (SDMU). See Standard Data Message File Update (SDMU) Program for more information about the SDMU function.