gtps4m1zSystem Generation

System Test Compiler

The system test compiler (STC) is a multi-purpose tape-file generator of both the PTV test unit tapes (TUT) and for standard data file (pilot) tapes (SDF). It is also available to create pilot tapes containing user required application data records, including global records. STC is executed under the control of MVS. Additional information about how to code STC input, plus operating instructions for the package, may be found in the TPF Program Development Support Reference.

As part of a user's generation procedure, the user will have to load and perhaps update two files associated with STC. These are the SDMF and the DRIL files. The release tapes for TPF contain both of these files but they should be reviewed and may need updating prior to the execution of STC.

  1. The data record information file (DRIL) contains an entry for all system data records and message formats. Use of this file allows input to STC to be symbolic vs. absolute.

    To use symbolic addressing for user created data records requires that the DRIL file be updated with a description of each new data record. The updating and loading of DRIL is described in the TPF Program Development Support Reference. The DRIL file itself is described in data macro DR1IL.

  2. The standard data/message file (SDMF) goes a step further than DRIL and allows not only symbolic addressing but the actual placement of data within the records defined. For example, fixed file records could be placed into SDMF with the record ID preset. As a result, STC users would not have to initialize the record ID. Any field within a record can be pre-specified in SDMF. The STC user has the opportunity to override the SDMF information. This capability is useful when generating large volumes of records. The updating and loading of SDMF are described in the TPF Program Development Support Reference. See data macro SDFPF for a description of the file.