Compare List

When you request the Compare List, the Log Compare Utility prints a separate report for each device being compared. An example of this report is shown in Figure 1. Each report matches the sequence numbers of DSPY records from the MASTER log data set against DSPY records from the TEST log data set and describes the results of the comparing process.

Each report contains the following columns of information:

MASTER Sequence Number
TEST Sequence Number
Checkonly
Mask
All Mask
Result
Reason for Difference.

The MASTER Sequence Number and the TEST Sequence Number columns identify the sequence numbers of the MASTER and TEST DSPY records used for an individual comparison. However, the sequence number listed for the TEST DSPY record may not always be the same as the MASTER record's number. Following synchronization, for example, the Log Compare Utility may resume the comparing process using a MASTER DSPY Record with sequence number 20 and a TEST DSPY record with sequence number 44.

The Checkonly column indicates which CHECKONLY command, if any, was used for this individual comparison. The number that appears in this column is identical to the number listed in the Command Number column of the Active Command List. For more information about the Active Command List, refer to Active Command List.

The Mask column indicates which MASK command, if any, was used for this individual comparison. Like the number listed in the Checkonly column, the number appearing in the Mask column is identical to the number listed in the Command Number column on the Active Command List.

If you code a Mask command with only the MASKLOC operand, the utility masks every panel used at the specified location. This is called an all mask operation. When you specify "all mask," an asterisk (*) appears in the All Mask column. For more information about the MASKLOC operand, refer to MASK command.

When the Log Compare Utility compares two DSPY records, one of two possible results are listed in the Result column: EQUAL or NOT EQUAL. EQUAL indicates that the utility found the two DSPY records to be identical relative to how you coded the commands. NOT EQUAL, however, means that some difference was detected between the records. Whenever NOT EQUAL appears, the utility provides an explanation of the difference between the two records in the Reason for Difference column.

The Reason for Difference column describes a comparison that resulted in a NOT EQUAL message in the Result column. Although the most commonly occurring reason for a difference can be DATA DIFFERENCE DETECTED, other reasons may include messages for unequal panel size or an attribute difference. When the Compare List shows that a data or attribute difference existed between two records, you can obtain additional information from the Differences Report, as discussed in the following section.

To receive the Compare List following a run, specify the REPORT command with the COMPARES operand. Refer to REPORT command for information about the REPORT command.