An overview of a system for automatic generation of file conversion programs

This paper describes a processor which automatically produces file conversion programs based on non‐procedural user specification. The processor accepts, as input, descriptions of a source file and a desired target file with some auxiliary descriptions of associations between the two. This is specified by a user in a Data Description Language (DDL). To specify validation criteria, complex conversions not built in to the system, security criteria or summary processes, the system also accepts specifications in a Data Manipulation Language (DML). It produces, as an output, a conversion program in PL/1 capable of converting the described source file into the desired target file. The paper describes the structure, system design, capabilities and applications of the DDL/DML language and processor, including an illustrative example.