IMPACT Modernization Guide

IMPACT analyzes the potential effects of modifications to application programs. It identifies related programs, copy members, and screen maps that could be affected by a change.

IMPACT is a tool designed to aid application development and maintenance. It provides insights into the relationships between different components of a software system.

Organizations that develop and maintain applications in Assembler, COBOL, or PL/1 on z/OS mainframes can benefit from using IMPACT. These are often large enterprises in industries like banking, insurance, and government.

A company should consider using IMPACT when making changes to application programs to understand the potential ripple effects. This helps prevent unexpected issues and ensures that all necessary components are updated.

Alternatives to IMPACT include manual analysis, custom scripting, or other impact analysis tools. Some competing products are SVCommands, Rational Programming Patterns for System z, CA Vollie, and SCOUT².

IMPACT runs on the z/OS platform. It analyzes application programs written in Assembler, COBOL, and PL/1.

As a mainframe product, IMPACT runs within an LPAR on z/OS. It leverages z/OS facilities for data access and processing.

IMPACT analyzes source code and related files to determine dependencies. It uses standard z/OS datasets for input and output.

IMPACT supports Assembler, COBOL, and PL/1 programming languages. It parses source code to identify dependencies between programs, copy members, and screen maps.

IMPACT helps organizations reduce the risk of introducing errors when modifying application programs. By identifying dependencies, it ensures that all affected components are updated, leading to more reliable software.

By providing a clear understanding of program dependencies, IMPACT reduces the time and effort required to make changes to application programs. This leads to faster development cycles and lower maintenance costs.

IMPACT helps organizations maintain the stability and reliability of their mainframe applications. This is especially important for critical business systems that require high availability.

IMPACT leverages the security features of the z/OS operating system. Access to source code and related files is controlled through standard z/OS security mechanisms.

IMPACT does not directly handle sensitive data. It analyzes source code to identify dependencies, but it does not store or process application data.

IMPACT integrates with existing security systems on z/OS. It uses standard z/OS security protocols for authentication and authorization.

IMPACT is typically deployed on-premise within the z/OS environment. It requires access to source code libraries and related datasets.

Implementing IMPACT requires expertise in z/OS and application development. Familiarity with Assembler, COBOL, and PL/1 is also helpful.

Ongoing operational requirements include monitoring the performance of IMPACT and ensuring that it has access to the necessary datasets. Regular maintenance may be required to keep the tool up-to-date.