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Facilities

Abend-AID intercepts and analyzes application program failures to provide comprehensive fault diagnostics reacting specifically to the type of error, the language of the failing program, and the types of files or databases in use. A concise, easy-to-read report, available online or in printed form, presents the most important information first and includes only the data necessary to solve the problem.

Abend-AID provides diagnostics for Db2, IMS, and IDMS databases as well as COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, C, and VS FORTRAN languages. This support includes those versions of COBOL and PL/I that can be run with Language Environment.

For COBOL, PL/I, and Assembler errors, Abend-AID merges actual source code and diagnostic data into a single report. Online, menu-driven access enables quick and accurate problem resolution. The specialized diagnostics for Db2, IMS, and IDMS environments enable programmers to resolve errors independently of the DBA staff.

New with Release 10.2, the Abend-AID Viewer provides online access to your Abend-AID reports and fault diagnostics.

Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ is now offered as an Abend-AID option, not a separate product. If your site is licensed for the Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ option, no additional installation procedure is required.

The Abend-AID report consists of these sections, which are displayed in the hardcopy sent to SYSOUT:

  • Header: Includes environmental information about the program in error, the operating system release level, the date and time when the error occurred, job name, step name, and JES ID.
  • Error Analysis section: Includes a comprehensive explanation of the error condition, specific information about the fields contained in the statement in error, and suggested courses of action whenever possible.
  • Error Location section: Provides information for locating the statement in error. When using Extended Language Support, identifies the exact location of the error. The compile date and length of the program in error are also identified.
  • Call Trace Summary section: Provides the Call Trace Summary and the Application Program Attributes. The Call Trace Summary includes a trace of called/linked programs on the save area chain and indicates the program in error. The Application Program Attributes include the program name, language, compile date, and length for each application program.
  • Supporting Environmental Data section: Provides supporting environmental data. This information includes the abending Program Status Word (PSW), program PSW, entry point and load point addresses, and the contents of the registers at the time of the error.
  • Program Storage section: Formats program storage for application programs on the calling chain. Program storage is formatted based on the programming language.
  • Program Listing section: Available only with COBOL, PL/I, or Assembler extended language support. Provides the procedure divisions for COBOL programs on the calling chain and source listings for PL/I or Assembler programs on the calling chain with the current statement indicated.
  • File section: Gives a status of each open file along with formatted current and previous records.
  • Specialized Database Support section: Provides database-specific support for DB2, IMS, and IDMS if the Abend-AID database support facility for that environment is installed on the system.
  • SORT section: Includes the current COBOL internal sort information. Available only for COBOL programs with internal sort.
  • COBOL Data Locator section: Lists occurrences and identifies locations of all or specified data or date strings and formats. Available only during online viewing of COBOL extended language support.

  • Abend-AID

     for WebSphere MQ section: Displays MQSeries batch or MQSeries IMS information created by Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ.

  • Language Environment Information section: Includes information about:
    • Language Environment run-time options in effect at the time of the error: Run-time options are obtained from many sources including JCL overrides. These options affect job performance and how a job terminates if an error occurs. Includes how and where the option was set.
    • User heap storage: A storage allocation map shows allocated and free storage elements. Overlay errors are identified down to the element in error. Supporting data around the element in error is present to assist in debugging storage overlays.
    • Significant run-time control blocks (CAA, CIB, EDB, MSIB, PCB, RCB): In addition to dumping the entire control block, Abend-AID displays important fields in each block, along with the hexadecimal values of those fields.
  • Epilog section: Includes report print and IBM dump information, if applicable.

Extended Language Support

With Extended Language Support (XLS), you get source code in pertinent sections of the Abend-AID report showing where the fault occurs, listing the conditions under which it occurs, and telling why it occurs. XLS is available for COBOL, PL/I, and Assembler (HLASM) programs.

XLS contributes the following information to the report:

  • Analysis of Error section: Shows the source statement that is in error. For data-related errors, also shows the contents of COBOL fields, PL/I variables, or Assembler variables in the statement at the time of the fault.
  • Error Location section: Shows the source statement being executed.
  • Program Storage section: Shows the names and contents of all individual COBOL fields, PL/I variables, or Assembler variables in storage.
  • Program Listing section: Shows the procedure divisions for COBOL programs on the calling chain or the source listings for PL/I or Assembler programs on the calling chain, with the current statement indicated.

Report Viewing

The Abend-AID Viewer gives online access to Abend-AID reports and SVC dump diagnostics. See Abend-AID Viewer for more information. The report can be printed during viewing.

Source Viewing

Abend-AID’s language processors for COBOL, PL/I, and Assembler enable XLS by capturing the pertinent source code from the compiler listing. The language processors store the source in a special, self-maintaining source listing data set. For XLS, Abend-AID inserts applicable information from the source listing data set into the report sections.

The Abend-AID user can set up a language processor to store the source listing in the source listing data set either before or after an Abend-AID report is written to the report data set. One or more source listing data sets are prepared by the installer during installation for this purpose. A source listing data set can be used by other BMC products such as  Code Debug TSO.

The COBOL language processor produces an enhanced compiler listing that gives diagnostic information not available in a standard listing. The enhanced listing enables developers to further review program conditions associated with report diagnostics.

Distributed Viewing

Distributed viewing enables application developers to merge Abend-AID report and source listing data sets that are on different MVS images that do not share DASD or to access the data sets individually. Users access the data sets through the Abend-AID Viewer, as they normally would.

Working from individual local systems, any number of users can access report and source listing data sets that both reside on other MVS images. The distance between MVS sites has no effect on the speed or reliability of the extended language report presented to a user.

Database Support

Abend-AID provides comprehensive support for Db2, IMS, and IDMS databases. These database support facilities are available as additional cost options.

Abend-AID for Db2

Abend-AID for Db2 solves difficult S04E and S04F abends, as well as application program problems associated with unexpected negative SQL codes. With Abend-AID for Db2, you no longer need to wade through Db2 dumps and message manuals. Abend-AID pinpoints what happened, as well as when, where, and why a Db2 abend or error occurred. Furthermore, Abend-AID for Db2 usually offers a solution to the problem.

Abend-AID can diagnose Db2 problems regardless of the environment in which the program is executing, and it is applicable to TSO, CAF, RRSAF, SPAS, IMS, and DL/I attach mode environments. It alleviates the complexity of Db2 as a result of cross-memory services, multiple address spaces, and the different execution modes.

Abend-AID for IMS

Abend-AID for IMS features special diagnostic routines for application failures in IMS DB and TM environments. Abend-AID for IMS reduces the complexity surrounding the IMS environment by giving you comprehensive, easy-to-understand diagnostics on IMS user abends in addition to specific database information. The Abend-AID Viewer enables immediate, online access to the Abend-AID report that would not normally be available until the region is brought down.

Abend-AID for IDMS

Abend-AID for IDMS provides diagnostics for failures unique to the CA-IDMS database system. IDMS application failures are thoroughly analyzed by special modules that produce output reports that accurately describe the cause of the error. With Abend-AID for IDMS, you no longer need to rely on manuals or reference cards when debugging IDMS errors.

SNAP-AID

The SNAP-AID facility produces Abend-AID output without terminating the application program. This facility provides a controlled environment for debugging logic or data errors. For example, SNAP-AID can be very beneficial in the Db2 environment when you want Abend-AID diagnostics for a negative SQL code without terminating the program. SNAP-AID is invoked by a call to the SNAPAID module in the application program. The amount of output can be customized by using a parameter list in the SNAP-AID call.

Batch Dump Capture Address Space (BDCAS)

The Abend-AID batch dump capture address space (BDCAS) is required for all sites installing Batch Abend-AID. This continuously running MVS address space is similar to the Abend-AID for CICS transaction dump capture address space (TDCAS) and must be active when Abend-AID is active. The dump capture and processing occur in the BDCAS, and the parsed information is sent to the user’s address space for report generation and subsequent viewing.

Abend-AID Viewer

The Abend-AID Viewer gives you online access to your Abend-AID reports and SVC dump diagnostics. The Abend-AID Viewer requires additional installation procedures that must be performed by your site’s installer.

Abend-AID Web Browser Interface

The Abend-AID Web Browser Interface provides access to batch and transaction abend reports and SVC dump analysis via a Web browser interface. Complete report information and fault analysis that is available through the Abend-AID Viewer on the mainframe is available for viewing through the Abend-AID Web Browser Interface using an Internet browser.

Installation requires configuring specific viewing server parameters and ensuring that the viewing server is active on the mainframe

Japanese Language Facility

Abend-AID’s Japanese language capability uses the IBM double-byte character set (DBCS) to present over 90% of the Abend-AID report in Japanese when viewed online through the Abend-AID Viewer. Japanese language is available for Db2, IMS, and COBOL diagnostics. Abend-AID Viewer panels, tutorials, and messages can be displayed in Japanese.

Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ

Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ provides enhanced debugging capabilities for IBM WebSphere MQ batch and IMS applications. Beginning with Release 10.2, Abend-AID for WebSphere MQ is now offered as an Abend-AID option that you can order through your BMC sales representative.

Accessing File-AID

Abend-AID users can keystroke directly into a BMC AMI DevX File-AID product from an Abend-AID report:

  • From the File section you can access File-AID/MVS.
  • From the Db2 section you can access File-AID for Db2.
  • From the IMS section you can access File-AID for IMS.

Edit and Browse commands in the report take you into File-AID edit and browse modes within a data set or database. A current version of the applicable File-AID product must be available on the operating system.

Data Locator

An online report section for COBOL diagnostics presents all data-related source and fields, including Millennium Language Extensions modifications if MLE is active. Selecting COBOL Data Locator on the output menu shows you all formats used and flags data or formats that may be invalid.

Access the Data Locator section as you would any report section. Data locator specifications may be customized for any data strings or fields.

Source Comparison

A BMC AMI Common Shared Services (CSS) batch utility command enables you to compare any two source listings in a source listing data set. The Flag command identifies any lines in a more recent listing that differ from a previous listing. You can also compare listings in different source listing data sets.

CSS Utilities

With CSS Utilities, you can modify compile JCL to preprocess or postprocess source code for XLS, or create and format report and source listing shared directories and associated files, all by entering specifications on ISPF panels. These operations previously involved JCL preparation and were typically done by a systems programmer. Access to the utilities may vary depending on how this facility was installed at your site. See CSS-Utilities for more information.

For detailed information about using the CSS Utilities, refer to the Common Shared Services User/Reference . This space is available on the BMC Support .

 

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