FANG Feature Summary
FANG is a unified tape, file, and element utility package
for Univac 1100 series computers. It includes the facilities
normally found in tape and file utilities such as file dump,
compare, search, and modify, as well as commands which process
program file elements similarly to Univac's FURPUR processor.
The advantages of using FANG rather than other utilities are many.
The key advantages are listed below:
FANG enhances programmer productivity and eliminates common errors
- FANG has a single, free format, and internally consistent
command language which encompasses all its facilities.
Since no other utility does all the things that FANG
does, users of other packages must learn several
different command languages, some of which are less than
straightforward. FANG's ease of use
reduces job reruns due to command errors.
- FANG's powerful element processing features allow a class
of elements to be selected from a file for processing. For
example, all the Fortran programs could be chosen, or all
the programs with specific characters as the first three
characters of the version. Providing this selection in
the processor itself frequently obviates the need for
complicated, confusing, error-prone, and inefficient SSG
streams to do common maintenance tasks.
- FANG automatically adapts itself to use from either Batch
or Demand mode. Output is automatically formatted for
the current mode. There is no difference in the source
language between batch and demand, but the demand user
is prompted with what information is expected, and is
given the ability to correct command errors on-line.
Most other utilities were written either for batch or
demand exclusively, and suffer when run in other than
their native mode.
- FANG provides interactive file editing. This may
be used from either batch and demand, and allows the user to
examine, modify, and update any number of files with either
sequential or random access.
- FANG supports all file types provided by EXEC-8: tapes,
word-addressable, and Fastrand format mass storage.
All these file types are handled in a consistent manner with
few changes in commands required due to file type.
FANG improves system efficiency and throughput
- FANG performs blocked and buffered I/O for all references to
files. This permits much better throughput than the single
buffered I/O done by most FURPUR commands. The I/O buffering
factors and block sizes used may be configured by the site.
- FANG performs the absolute minimum number of dynamic
facility requests (CSF$). At many sites, the facility
queueing generated by redundant CSF$ requests is the
single largest system bottleneck. As an example of the
savings achieved by FANG, copying 50 elements from one
file to another (neither previously assigned) with
FANG generates 4 CSF$ requests. With FURPUR (COPY,S),
a total of 300 CSF$s are done.
- FANG dynamically allocates and releases memory as required by
reentrant portion of the processor.
- FANG will execute multiple commands simultaneously as long
as they reference different files. This unique feature is
conducive to programmer productivity as well as system
throughput, since it permits the programmer to enter
commands which inquire about the status of in-progress
commands. By permitting, for example, multiple files to be
copied at once, this feature can dramatically reduce removable
pack mount time, and wall clock time for many applications. The
number of commands which FANG will execute at once may be
set by the site, and may be restricted to one, if desired. The
execution of multiple commands simultaneously is done without
the cognizance of the user, and will never cause a different
result from purely serial execution of the commands submitted.
FANG offers unique features absent from other packages
- FANG provides automatic data encryption and decryption with
a user supplied key. This allows sensitive
data to be scrambled on permanent storage, and decrypted for
processing.
- FANG offers optional scrubbing of mass storage space released
by the PACK or ERASE functions. All released storage is
overwritten first to prevent disclosure of private
information when the space is reallocated. Combined with
the encryption capability, this can provide secure files.
- FANG permits its general element selection capability to
be used on all commands. Hence, one could prepare a table of
contents in a program file consisting only of a selected
subset of the elements in the file. Many other useful
applications of this facility suggest themselves to the
experienced user of FANG.
- FANG allows alphabetical processing of the elements in a file.
Alphabetic table of contents listings, and listings of source
elements are very useful to the programmer.
- FANG allows complicated data files to be generated via
simple source language data generation statements. This can
prove useful in generating test data for programs.
- FANG allows an entire file to be stored in a compressed format
as an Omnibus element in a program file. This feature permits
a site to reduce the number of catalogued files by storing
archival files in program files. Files so stored can be
manipulated by FURPUR or FANG far more conveniently than
using SECURE on files. FANG can recreate the original file
from the Omnibus element when its contents are required.
FANG is supported
- Unlike many utility packages in use on Univac systems, FANG
is fully supported by its vendor. Prompt response will be given
to errors reported by users of the package.