Migrating from Batch to Interactive Processing in an IBM Mainframe Environment

Easy. direct access to data by users is a key business requirement. With windows-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) tools being the norm, batch-processing tools do not meet today's expectations of the non-programmer user. However, there is no reason that 'power users' shouldn't have easy to use tools as well. SAS System for personal computers (PC/SAS) coupled with SASfCONNECT is a powerful pair of tools for gaining interactive access to mainframe data. This presentation will identify the challenges and rewards involved in introducing interactive processing into a primarily batch MVS reporting environment. The challenges included securing approval for licensing, and installation, configuration and testing of SASfCONNECT. Additionally, the SASfCONNECT tearn recreated, in the TSO environment, many of the standard utilities that existed in the batch wo~d. The project team also prepared training resources to educate users in the basic techniques of the new tools. The predominate triumph is thai users and programmerfanalysts alike now share GUI access to data that had previously been 'locked' up on the mainframe. Users also acquired a tool for easily mixing and moving data across operating platforms and chOOSing where processing occurs. Finally, this project was a catalyst that brought together SAS users from different departments to rejuvenate our in-hOUse user group.