SNAP Compare tool for Natural/Adabas

Snap

What is Snap?

How has the change made to the system affected the data or the report? Are the results what I expect? Are there any conditions which have not been anticipated?

These are a few of the questions which may be answered by the Snap.

The Snap utility provides a simple means of comparing two databases, flat-files or PRINT files. It operates on both record an field level and will highlight any differences between the files making it possible to accurately assess the impact of any system changes. It will also compare a Database file with an unloaded version of the file.

How does the Snap work?

The product runs as a batch utility and compares the baseline file to another file. Parameters specified in the command file control the execution of the utility and can be customised to installation requirements. Differences are identified as changes, insertions or deletions. The utility can “look ahead” to resynchronise itself when records have been added or are missing. Large, cumbersome reports can be avoided by specifying a limit to the maximum number of differences to be processed.

For databases:

Files are compared directly at source – No need to unload and decompress
Field level comparisons are supported
Fields can be selectively included or excluded from the comparison
Files can be compared to unloaded versions of the same files

For Flat-files:

Parts of the record, where differences are expected, may be excluded from comparison by masking
Field level comparisons are supported
Record level comparisons are supported
Fields can be selectively included or excluded from the comparison

For Printfiles:

Compares can be synchronised on top of page or number of lines
Heading lines may be excluded
Line numbers to be excluded may be specified
Parts of the report line, where differences are expected, may be excluded from comparison by masking

What are the benefits of using Snap?

Easily verify that system enhancements or software upgrades have not impacted the results produced by a system
Ensure that system changes only have the expected impact
Large volumes may be compared easily and accurately