Connect: Powerful Capabilities

Widest range of data connectivity
Process unlimited file sizes
Virtual columns implement dynamic transformations
Automated metadata conversion
Stage your data in a fraction of the time
Field definition capabilities
Data Relations implements star schema modeling
Automate common processes with procedures
Maintain existing security

Widest range of data connectivity

Unlike many alternatives, Connect is not limited to accessing your warehoused data. Instead, it specializes in directly connecting you with your native mainframe legacy data. Virtually any data file, regardless of complexity or native data type can be easily assimilated with your Windows applications.

No matter how complex your legacy data, Connect creates a virtual SQL table (rows and columns) that allows your Windows applications standardized access, in real time, without copying the data.

Process unlimited file sizes

Unlike most PC based applications, Connect is designed to work with the large files you typically encounter in a mainframe environment. It can process files of any size supported by the host system.

Where the amount of data your application can store is restricted, then the size of the result set must fit that tool, but with Connect there is never a restriction on the size of the input data set.

Since Connect is highly optimized for speed, you will generally get surprisingly prompt responses, even with large data sets.

Virtual columns implement dynamic transformations

When creating table definitions, you are not limited to describing the physical data. You may also transform and present any calculation or series of calculations as “virtual” columns that fit your needs. For example, if names in your mainframe file are stored as “SMITH, JOHN P” and you need them to appear as “John P. Smith”, no problem. A simple virtual column will process this transformation dynamically, without altering the source data. You can transform or combine columns in any way you wish with Arbutus’s extensive library of operators and functions.

Best of all, you can create entirely new virtual columns that display information not even present in the source data. Add, subtract, multiply or divide two or more columns, use tests to interpret transaction codes, or deal with negative and out-of-range values. Convert a date column to a text column, or use a data mask to present phone numbers in the preferred local format. The more than 80 built-in data manipulation functions allow almost unlimited control over the presentation of data.

Arbutus’s comprehensive semantic and transformation layers allow the implementation of virtually any data interface or business rule. You are not limited to merely exposing the data, but can actually fit it to your needs.

Automated metadata conversion

Create appropriate data definitions using the Arbutus automated metadata conversion capability. Data descriptions stored in COBOL or PL/1 format are automatically converted into the appropriate format for use with Connect. This conversion not only converts the physical field definitions, but also preserves the LEVEL 88 field definitions as well as any REDEFINES or OCCURS clauses. These converted definitions may then be modified as desired to remove, hide or rename any of the field definitions, as well as to add new ones, for use in the application.

Stage your data in a fraction of the time

When mainframe resource constraints make direct access solutions impractical, Arbutus enables you to easily offload your critical processing to open servers.

Unlike typical open server implementations, Arbutus’s open servers (Windows and Linux) are fully compatible with all data set structures and data types encountered on your mainframe. This means that the process of staging data is as simple as a file transfer, with no data transformation required.

The result is you can implement a data mart style solution, with full access to all your Windows applications, in a matter of days.

Field definition capabilities

Combine data from virtually any record type or field type. Connect can handle more than fixed length printable files; it also supports variable length and multiple record type files. Even more, the field type support for over 20 distinct field types means any field type down to the bit level can be supported and included in table data (for example, not just ASCII and EBCDIC, but even custom date formats as well). Redefined or overloaded data values in the same physical space can easily be isolated into distinct values. You can also create or recognize arrays of fields or field groups.

Data Relations implements star schema modeling

Use Arbutus’s Data Relations capability to join any number of disparate data sources in a star schema model, so that the data appear in a single logical view. Where the key values are structured differently between data files, expressions and virtual columns can be used to dynamically harmonize the values.

Automate common processes with procedures

Script whatever procedures you need. There is a full featured language available that supports a wide range of analytic and data manipulation capabilities, looping, sub-processes, conditional execution, variables and run-time user interaction. In addition, for high performance applications, multiple commands may be grouped and executed in a single pass of a data set. Procedure execution may be triggered manually or may happen automatically as a result of accessing specified data.

For a much more comprehensive description of our technologies, follow any of the links in the material above, download one of our white papers, or review the case studies.

Maintain existing security

Connect ensures that existing mainframe security is maintained and respected. All existing security protocols (such as TSO and RACF) are maintained in all interactions with mainframe data – at all times users can only access data for which they have the appropriate security rights