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DMSFile

tslater2006 edited this page May 9, 2018 · 7 revisions

DAT files are ASCII encoded files that contain the exported contents of PeopleSoft records.

Encoding

The files use a unique encoding scheme in certain sections of the file.

This encoding can be found in generally 2 situations:

  • Binary blobs
  • Row data that is non-ascii

Throughout this wiki the use of the encoding scheme on a given element will be denoted by the use of an asterisk (*)

Format Overview

The DataMover DAT file format consists of 5 broad sections

  1. File Header
  2. TableSpace List
  3. Default DDLs*
  4. Export Blocks
  5. File Footer

File Header

This is a plain ascii section that consists of 7 lines which denote:

  • DataMover Version
  • System Endianess (LE or BE)
  • PeopleSoft Base Language
  • Database Name
  • Export Start Time

Here is an example of this header:

SET VERSION_DAM  8.5:1:0
      
SET ENDIAN LE
SET BASE_LANGUAGE ENG
REM Database: DMODB
REM Started: Tue Feb 14 12:31:55 2016
EXPORT  RECORD/SPACE.x

TableSpace List

Immediately following the File Header is 1 to many tablespace entries. Each entry is a list of 3 values separated by commas. The 3 values denote the following:

  • Table Space
  • Database Name
  • Unknown

This is a sample of what these look like:

EOEIAPP,PSPADMOO, 
EOECWRK,PSPADMO1, 
EOLARGE,PSPADMOC, 
PTRPTS,PSPTDMO, 
PTTREE,PSPTDMO, 
PTAUDIT,, 
EOIUAPP,PSPADMOO, 
PAPILRG,PSPADMOC, 
PTPRC,PSPTDMOT, 

Default DDLs

Bundled along side the exported data, is a copy of every DDL defined in the system. This information is stored in a binary block that is encoded. The format of this section is quite advanced and has been fully documented here

Export Blocks

After the Default DDLs section comes the actual exported data. This occurs as zero to many Export Blocks. An export block is a mixture between ASCII markers and comma separated encoded blocks.

The format of these Export Blocks is documented here

File Footer

The footer consists of a single line stating the end time of the export process.

REM Ended: Tue Feb 14 12:31:55 2016

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