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Using the AR/CTL checkpoint call

To initiate checkpoint processing, an application program can issue a checkpoint call to AR/CTL. A checkpoint call is appropriate to issue at the following points during processing:

  • immediately after the restart call
  • at the end of any logical unit of work (UOW)
  • immediately before termination

AR/CTL automatically generates and increments the checkpoint ID when the application program issues the AR/CTL-format checkpoint request.

The application program can issue a checkpoint call with or without defining working storage areas to save. If the checkpoint call omits working storage areas, AR/CTL saves the working storage areas defined in the restart ( ARCXRST ) call.

Warning

Note

For ease of maintenance, BMC Software recommends that the program specify user areas on the restart call and omit them from the checkpoint calls.

The formats of the ARCECHK checkpoint call in COBOL follow:

CALL 'ARCECHK' USING arc-arb
CALL 'ARCECHK' USING arc-arb, beginarea-1, endarea-1,
      beginarea-2, endarea-2,...beginarea-n, endarea-n

The formats of the ARCCHKP call in COBOL follow:

CALL 'ARCCHKP'
CALL 'ARCCHKP' USING beginarea-1, endarea-1,
      beginarea-2, endarea-2,...beginarea-n, endarea-n

ARCECHK or ARCCHKP

Required. The literal that identifies the call as the AR/CTL checkpoint call.

arc-arb

Required on the ARCECHK call; not valid on the ARCCHKP call. The name of a fullword-aligned field that contains the address of the application request block (ARB). The ARB is defined in the working storage of the application program. For more information, see 'Coding the checkpoint ARB' on page 181.

Before issuing the ARCECHK call, the application program can set the field in the ARB that indicates the function to use ( FORCE ), as shown in the following COBOL example:

MOVE 'FORCE' TO ARB-FUNC.
Warning

Note

It is not necessary for any of the following user areas to begin or end on a fullword boundary; however, the addresses of the user areas must be aligned on a fullword. Usually, this alignment is performed automatically in high-level languages.

beginarea-1

Optional; if omitted, AR/CTL saves the first area identified with the restart call. The name of a field that contains the beginning address of the first application program data area to save in the checkpoint record.

endarea-1

Optional; if omitted, AR/CTL saves the first area identified with the restart call. The name of a field that marks the ending address of the first application program data area to save in the checkpoint record. This field is not included in the save area.

beginarea-n

Optional. The name of a field that contains the beginning address of the next application program data area to save in the checkpoint record. You can specify a maximum of seven areas.

endarea-n

Optional. The name of a field that marks the ending address of the next application program data area to save in the checkpoint record. This field is not included in the save area.

Warning

Note

AR/CTL saves data from the beginning address up to, but not including, the ending address. The user areas do not need to begin or end on a fullword boundary.

AR/CTL does not return any status codes for the ARCCHKP call; checkpoints can be bypassed because of checkpoint pacing without the application program being notified.

 

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APPLICATION RESTART CONTROL 4.1 (ARCHIVED)