Simple, interoperable metadata
SortCL: Data Definition and Manipulation 4GL
IT and data departments rely on metadata to understand their own systems and align their tools and processes. However, some tools use:
- cryptic metadata that is not easily understood
- hidden metadata, so they cannot be changed
- binary metadata that other tools cannot use
Named after its roots in 1992 after VMS„ “Sort Control Language", SortCL has since benefited from the clarity, speed, reliability, and extensibility of that syntax. And today, the SortCL syntax and job management are available in the free Eclipse IDE for all IRI product users, the IRI Workbench, fully supported.
SortCL enables application, DW, business, and data governance teams to describe their structured data sources, transformations, and reports in a simple, common language. SortCL reduces definition complexity and the need for extensive metadata maintenance through a simple, common syntax that can be used in text files and Eclipse is managed, shared in the cloud can be and is compatible with mapping automation and metadata conversion technologies from AnalytiX DS (now Erwin) and MITI (MIMB).
SortCL defines the layout and manipulation of your data sources, processes, and targets for a wide variety of applications and IRI software products. Whether you are using IRI software to accelerate and/or combine data transformation, migration, protection, or reporting, SortCL metadata defines it.
SortCL Data Definition Files (.DDF) define the structure and appearance of source files and database tables. SortCL Specification Files (.SCL) or job scripts refer to the .DDF layouts. .SCL files use the source field names as symbolic references for manipulating and mapping target fields.