TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert Y2K Information

This is a brief discussion of Year 2000 (Y2K) compliance and TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert.

TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert is a general purpose tape utility that does a multitude of functions. These functions fall into the following general catagories:

• Map tapes/cartridges (includes printing tape label information).
  
  
• List/dump data from tapes/cartridges.
  
  
• Copy files from tape/cartridge to tape/cartridge.
  
  
• Convert "foreign" tape files to MVS compatible tape files.
  
  
• Copy tape/cartridge files/data to DASD.
  
  
• Copy DASD files to tape/cartridge.
  
  
• Allows user exits to manipulate, copy or convert data from tape/cartridge.
  
  

Basically all functions of TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert fall into one of these seven catagories. We will now cover date concerns for each of these catagories.

• When mapping tapes/cartridges, TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert lists information found in tape labels. This includes creation and expiration dates which are stored in Julian format as CYYDDD. The "C" position is blank for the 1900's. Since these dates are only displayed and not compared or converted, there is no date compatibility problem.
  
  
• When displaying/dumping tape data TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert, only displays the data in the character or hexicdecimal format. It does not convert or compare dates and in fact does not in general know what fields are dates. Thus there is no date problem.
  
  
• When copying files from tape/cartridge to tape/cartridge, TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert either copies labels as data (changing only volume serial, density, file numbers (if needed), and dataset name (if requested)) or by allowing operating system to create new tape/cartridge labels (as any normal user job would). If the operating system is Y2K compliant the dates in the labels will be Y2K compliant.
  
  
• When converting data from "foreign" formats to MVS compatible formats, TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert, simply converts the data from one format to another using data conversion routines without regard to what the data function is. It does not, in general, know what the data function is. The labels on the new tape/cartridge are either simply converting (e.g. if the tape is an ASCII tape) or by letting the operating system generate the label (as would any normal job), hence, once again, if the operating system is Y2K compliant so is the tape output.
  
  
• When copying data to DASD, the disk dataset is dynamiclly allocted using only dataset name and space requirements. The data is then copies as it would be by either IEBCOPY or IEBGENER. There is, once again no date conversion or usage, and thus no problem with Y2K compliance.
  
  
• When copying data from DASD to tape/cartridge the output files are created using standard operating system opens. The data is copied just like it was being copied by IEBCOPY or IEBGENER. If your operating system is Y2K compliant so are the resulting output files.
  
  
• When users exits are copying, converting, or manipulating data this is being done by the user written code and will be Y2K compliant if the user writes it that way. All the user exits supplied by Cache Valley Software are Y2K compliant. Those written by users are the responsiblity of the users.
  
  

Hence, for all of TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert, general function it is Y2K compliant. TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert, internally uses the standard system and system double word dates. The system double word date is given in micro second from January 1, 1900 and is correct until September 2047. When converting from double word date to standard format, TAPEMNGL, the TapeXpert, knows that 2000 is a leap year.

In conclusion, we believe that this displays that TAPEMNGL the TapeXpert is year 2000 compliant.

C.V.S. Year 2000 Page
Another View of Year 2000 Compliance
Y2K Questions and Answers

A Little Y2K Humor
C.V.S. Main Page