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June 22, 2026

# Research Best Practices

This guide collects workflows that work well for **business analysts** and **architects** using Zengines Data Lineage. Developers can use the same paths when validating logic for migration or rewrite scope.

If COBOL or RPG terminology is new to you, read [COBOL Basics for Lineage Research](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/cobol-basics-for-lineage-research?hsLang=en) <https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/cobol-basics-for-lineage-research.md?hsLang=en>or [RPG Basics for Lineage Research](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/rpg-basics-for-lineage-research?hsLang=en) first.

### Start from edges, not isolated fields

Within a module—and across **called modules** when they are in the project—trace **edge to edge**:

1. Find an **input edge** (table read, file read).
2. Follow links to **variables** and the **top variable** / record structure.
3. Walk transforms through paragraphs, subroutines, or related children.
4. Find the matching **output edge** (table write/update, file out).

You are usually researching a **group** (a table row, a file record, a business outcome), not one elementary item alone.

See [Tracing Data Lineage in Explore](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/tracing-data-lineage-in-explore?hsLang=en).

### Choose the right front door

| You know… | Start here |
| --- | --- |
| Business question, not program names | Dashboard → **Ask a Lineage Question** |
| Table or column names | **Fields** tab (filter by table) or **Tables** tab |
| Program name | **Modules** tab |
| Job or data set name | **Jobs** or **Files** tab |
| Variable name (usually from a Zengines spreadsheet Link) | **Variables** tab |

### Fields-first for data model experts

Many analysts prefer the **Fields** tab:

1. Filter to one **table**, adding a **module** filter if applicable.
2. Review every column the module touches.
3. Open a field → jump to **module** and **variable** for lineage detail.

This is often faster than opening programs at random when the data model is already familiar.

### Modules-first for program experts

When you know the COBOL name:

1. Open **Modules** → select the program.
2. Review table and file edges on the detail view.
3. Sort **variables** by **child count** to find record-level working storage.
4. Link into **Variables** for paragraph- and statement-level detail.

### Batch and file research

When data moves on files:

1. **Jobs** tab → filter by **module** if you know the program.
2. Open the job → follow **variable** links for record layouts.
3. Use **Files** tab to see all jobs and modules for a data set name.

Include **job language** sources (JCL, CL, CLLE, and related) in ingestion for the richest file graph. See [Understanding your Data Lineage Project](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/understanding-your-data-lineage-project?hsLang=en).

### Using AI without skipping proof

| Tool | Best use |
| --- | --- |
| **Ask a Lineage Question** | Discovery and orientation; open module links in a **new tab** to keep the answer visible |
| **Summary** | Quick business read of one module, variable, or job |
| **Tell Me More** | Deeper AI summary; click links to verify in Explore |
| **Explore links** | Verification and audit-ready paths |

Ask **specific** questions when you can (“overdraft fees”, a module name, a table). Broad questions work; narrow follow-ups save time in large projects.

**Recently asked questions** on the dashboard is **local to your browser**.

### Sample project examples

Zengines sample projects use generic banking-style COBOL (accounts, retail posting, fees). Example prompts that match training scenarios:

- “Tell me about overdraft fees” → often one computing module
- “Does the retail summary program interact with any files?” → module-scoped answer with file/table links

Use sample projects to practice edge-to-edge tracing before your production project is loaded.

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