Current Mailing Address
Dear Folks, Sam Golob's current (snail mail) mailing address has changed. It is now: Sam Golob, P.O. Box 702, Pomona, NY 10970 I am trying to change all occurrences of the old address on the CBT Tape, but it is difficult. Therefore this notice. Thanks. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Xephon stuff is back online - correction
Correction to Xephon's former website address: www.xephon.com -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Xephon stuff is back online
Dear Folks, As you may know, the Xephon magazines (from 2005 and previous) are back online at www.cbttape.org. The VM stuff was courtesy of SDS (who had bought the VM rights from Xephon and had given us permission to post the magazines with attribution to them) and the rest of it was courtesy of Bob Thomas, who runs Enterprise System Media. The collection of PDF magazines was unreachable for a while, because of a system change at the ISP. Sam Knutson found the problem, and it is now back online. I am sure that many of you have tried to access the material, and have been disappointed without reporting that to us. So it's good now. Enjoy.! At the present time, as far as I know, and from what Bob Thomas told me, you can ignore Xephon's scary old copyright notices and use the material that is in the magazines, I believe without limitation. As far as I know, Xephon is defunct. Its old website address www.xephon.ccom (for a time) belonged to some Chinese company, and it seems that the domain is now for sale. (Any buyers?) Use the stuff in good health and happiness! Sincerely, Sam (G) P.S. There is more XEPHON material on the CBT Tape itself - Files 943. 944, 945, 956, 947 (and maybe in a few other places). -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Version 506 has been cut
Dear Folks, It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that CBT Version 506 has been cut. Many thanks to the Creator of the world that many people were able to contribute to this update, in many ways. There were at least 50 file updates in this version. All updates (on the Updates file) till next time, will belong to Version 507. Everything is available at www.cbttape.org . Use it all in good health and happiness. (It is nice to have tools.) All the best of everything to all of you, and to your families. Sincerely, Both Sams -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Sam Golob articles are now directly online
Dear Folks, Sorry for the mixup, but I moved my System Programming articles on the CBT Tape Web Site (www.cbttape.org) to their own directory. The CBT Tape home page has been changed to reflect this. To find my articles now, please go to www.cbttape.org/articles . There are about 230 articles, which we hope, will benefit everyone. You can also get there from the home page by scrolling down to "Sam Golob's Articles...". Kindly look at the several short members at the beginning, which describe the naming convention of the file names (by publication or composition date), and which describe any copyright notices, etc. with other stuff you should also know. Thanks very much for bearing with me. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Sam Golob articles are now directly online
Dear Folks, Recently I received a request to put my (over 230) articles about MVS Systems Programming, directly online. They had previously resided (and still reside) on CBT Tape Files 014 and 120, which are in zipped XMIT-format, and therefore they are not so readily accessible. So I finally did it. The older articles also had outdated email addresses and URL's, which I tried to correct as well (as much as possible). So these articles can now be found on www.cbttape.org/xephon (sorry about that), and then you click on sgolob.articles to see them all. I certainly hope that these articles will contribute to people's system programming knowledge, at all levels, and I'm grateful to Shmuel Metz, who suggested that I do this. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Xephon MVS magazines from January 97 thru May 97
Dear Folks, I'm not sure if it is well-known, but a great many XEPHON magazines can now be found on the CBT Tape website, at www.cbttape.org/xephon , and all that material may be used in good conscience by anyone, since Xephon has been defunct for a long time. The VM and VSE magazines were made available with the permission of SDS, and the others were made available through Bob Thomas, who was their final publisher. We have most of the MVS magazines, but we are missing paper copies of January thru May of 1997, which we want to scan and post. MVS issues from before 1997 may be found on CBT File 830. The availability ends with December 2005. For any questions, please email me. If anyone has copies of the XEPHON MVS issues from January thru May of 1997, please write to me at sbgo...@cbttape.org and let me know. Thanks to Alan Field for supplying June thru December. I think that in order to scan the magazines, they will have to be cut in half, so please be informed of that. However, they will be made readable on our website, so you won't lose access to the material, and everyone will gain. Thanks in advance, if you can help us with this. All the best of everything to everyone. Sincerely, Sam P.S. If you look at our website and notice that any issues of ANY type of XEPHON magazines are missing, please notify me, so I can go looking for them. The early issues from December 1996 and before, can be found on CBT Tape files. We also have: File Description 943 Xephon CICS Update articles - Sep 87 thru Jan 93 944 Xephon SNA Update articles - Mar 91 thru Dec 92 945 Xephon VSAM Update articles - Apr 91 thru Jan 93 946 Xephon VM Update articles - Sep 87 thru Jan 93 (SDS) 947 Xephon VSE Update articles - Mar 91 thru Dec 92 (SDS) -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Steve Myers whereabouts
Dear Folks, Does anyone know how to get in contact with Steve Myers? Please contact me off list if you can get in touch with him or you know how to contact him. Thanks much. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam Golob. www.cbttape.org -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Version 503 has been cut
Dear Folks, The CBT Tape Version 503 has been cut. Its "official" date is July 20, 2022. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Contributions to CBT snce 02/22/22
Dear Folks, I have been laid up since Feb 22,2022 and did not have access to my emals (which are overloaded with Spam). If you have sent any CBT contributions between then and now, please resend them, if you want them to be posted. Thanks. Sorry for any inconvenience. All the best of everything to you and your families. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape Version 502 has been cut
Dear Folks, CBT Tape Version 502 has been cut. It is a large incremental change from V501. Please enjoy All the best of everything to all of you Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Now it's easier to find stuff on the CBT Tape
Dear Folks, There is now a new ISPF dialog which makes it much easier to find and download materials from the CBT Tape. The dialog is called CBTVIEW, and it can be found on File 043 of the Updates Page of the CBT Tape (www.cbttape.org/updates.htm). When this dialog is working, almost every suggestion on how to EASILY find and obtain a CBT File, which hadn't been implemented (until now), has been implemented. Searching and sorting is easy, getting the new updates is easy, and looking at the files is easy. The dialog also works for the CBT Overflow Tape, which alone has 315 additional files. Use it well.. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape Updates
Dear Folks, I have a dilemma. The dilemma is: How often should I make new CBT Tape Versions? We make about 2 or 3 CBT Tape Version updates per year, and we have been doing that for the past 16 or 17 years now. This is in contrast to when Arnie was doing the CBT Tape. Arnie (Casinghino) had to put all his updates on a REAL TAPE REEL, and therefore, in order to keep the people relatively current, he had to make about 15 version updates per year. The problem is as follows: Now that we have the website, www.cbttape.org, all the updated files that are "between the tape releases" can go into a separate section on the website, called the "Updates" page. That allows us to have some leeway. We ARE NOT FORCED TO UPDATE the "Tape Version" to keep people current, but on the other hand, many of the people are used to the old system, and they don't look at the Updates page at all. Therefore, they are losing out on having "the latest and the greatest", and sometimes they introduce unnecessary errors, by not downloading the latest software. So. First. I have to emphasize that you should ALWAYS look at the Updates Page first. But since a sizable number of people still don't do so, I am wondering that maybe I should make more updates per year. It takes about 3 days' worth of solid work, to make a CBT Tape Version update. My question is: "Can you live with the current system, use the Updates Page all the time, and not always make the mistake of going to the "CBT" page only? Or should I make 4, 5, or 6 or more smaller updates per year?" "To make version updates, or to not make (so many) version updates? THAT is the question." (from Shakespeare?) Please let me know (on list or off list) what you think. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
I need sample tapes in AWS disk format
Dear Folks, I am trying to improve my COPYMODS program (CBT Tape File 229), and I need some sample tape-images to look at. The tape-images should really be disk files, tape files in AWS format, so that I can look at their data and program accordingly. The tape images I need are: SL tapes with 256K block size, and ASCII Tapes (type 4 or even type 3). If you have one type but not the other, that's fine. The 256K block size tape is more critical for what I need to do. Please make sure that the data is not sensitive. I only care about handling the block size, and the tape labels. I don't care about the particulars of the data. Please attach the data to an email to me. If you have any questions, please write to me off-list. THANK YOU... Sincerely, Sam Golob P.S. The COPYMODS program, even as it is now, can do many things with tapes that you may not have thought possible. On CBT File 229, there is a help member COPYMOD#, which explains the options that are possible. Basically, the program can copy tapes, and change or fix them in the copied tape. But it can also initialize tapes and do a bunch of other good stuff. It pays to have a look. Currently the program is limited to 64K block size, but since the operating system can now easily produce 256K blocked tapes as well, it's time to try and catch up. The other thing to note, is that tape copying programs and tape MAPPING programs are closely related. And COPYMODS has PARM=READ, to examine a tape, without copying it to another tape. (You need to set the proper options, in order to get the appropriate tape content information.) -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Version 501 is completed
Dear Folks, I think I've finished updating the website www.cbttape.org with the proper changes for Version 501. Use it in good health and happiness. All the best of everything to everyone Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
www.cbttape.org is updated with CBT Version 501 (partially)
Dear Folks, The CBT Tape Version 501 has been cut, and the www.cbttape.org website has been partially updated. I hope to finish the update of the website tomorrow. Meanwhile, all the new files have been loaded into the CBT directory, so you can get to them now. Also, File 001, in all its copies, has been updated on the website. However, nothing else has been updated (i.e. the Tapemaps, and the Changes, and the DFDSS and FDR backups, etc.). Sorry about that. But the website is usable, and if you need anything (new or old), it is there in the list of files, on the CBT directory. Thanks for bearing with me. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Disassemble an object deck
Dear Folks, Is there a FREE tool to disassemble an object deck directly (without linkediting it first)? I know that STARTOOL READOBJ can do it, but that's an expensive "pay product". Thanks much for any ideas or programs. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
PRECIS Tape Mapping Program from UNC
Dear Folks, I just put up an old tape mapping program named PRECIS from "UNC", which I presume is the University of North Carolina. The load module was linkedited in 1986, so it is old. But it works beautifully, the report is concise, and it displays the beginning of each data block, which most tape mapping programs don't do. I posted it on File 1004 of the CBT Updates page. www.cbttape.org I am looking to see if anyone has source code for this program, because I try to fix all the tape mapping and tape copying programs to read the largest tape block size possible, and in order to do that, I have to muck with the I/O. It is much easier to do that when you have source code. So if you have source code for the PRECIS tape mapping program, please send it to me, and we can have a better product for everyone to use. Meanwhile, enjoy it the way it is. Below is some sample output from this program. Thank you very much. All the best of everything to all of you... Sincerely, Sam UNC TAPE PRECIS UTILITY--OPTIONS: SKIP 000, PROCESS ALL. VOLUME C500MU, PAGE 001. DATA BLOCK NO. 01: VOL1C500MU SAMGOLOB EDDFCFFFDE444ECDCDDDC444 563135004400021476362000 DATA BLOCK NO. 02: HDR1FILE0001 C500MU00010001 020353 9800IBM OS/VS 370 CCDFCCDC4CFFFDE44FF4CCD4DE6EE4FFF444 8491693500010350044000100010002035309800924062152037 DATA BLOCK NO. 03: HDR2F32728000SBGOLOB1/COPY1 B 0 CCDFCECCDDDCF6CDDEF444C444F4 84926327280002276362113678100020 TAPE MARK NO. 001 ENCOUNTERED AFTER 03 DATA BLOCKS - SMALLEST BLOCK READ WAS 00080 BYTES - LARGEST WAS 00080 BYTES. DATA BLOCK NO. 01: //MVSMODS1 JOB 527TEC000S0003,TEC,CLASS=8,MSGCLASS=5,PRTY=10, DOC FILE 66DEEDDCEF4DDC4FFFECCFFFE6ECC6CDCEE7F6DECCDCEE7F6DDEE7FF6444CDC4CCDC 11452464210162052735300020003B353B33122E8B42733122E5B7938E10B00046306935 -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Separating CSECTs from a load module
Dear Folks, We have just made a development to help isolate a csect from a load module. The tool which can help, is the latest version of the PDS 8.6 product from the Updates page of www.cbttape.org. The latest version of the PDS 8.6 program from CBT File 182 (see the Updates page of www.cbttape.org), together with the CSECTS rexx exec on that file (please use only the latest one), now makes isolating an object deck from a load module very simple, provided that the PDS program is set up with its proper bells and whistles, under ISPF. What to do: Bring up a member list for your load library, which includes the load module that you want to look at. (BTW if the load library is a PDSE, use IEBCOPY to copy (at least) that load module to a pds load library. The PDS COPY command with the NEW parameter makes this very easy.) Then bring up PDS against that load library. Make a Member List (ML subcommand) which includes the load module in question. Then use the CS line command against the load module name in the member list. If the proper version of the CSECTS rexx exec is installed (included in CBT File 182), then a new panel will come up which will display all that module's csects. A line command of 'O' which really stands for "Object", will delink the csect (running David Noon's DELINKI program) and present you with its object deck. Just copy off the object deck and use it in a new linkedit stream, or in any way you want. I hope this helps. Please note that (we hope) all auxiliary programs needed or called by the PDS program, are included in File 182 under the member UTILXMIT. All the best of everything to all of you... Sincerely, Sam Golob (on behalf of John Kalinich, who did the work) -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Learning the basics of SMP/E
Dear Folks, I was just reviewing an article I wrote in 1988 (a long time ago) that encapsulates and summarizes my original efforts to learn SMP/E. Many of us systems programmers don't have a chance to do system maintenance, leaving it to "the designated person (or people)". And also, when breaking in a new person, that person is often given the job of doing the SMP/E system maintenance. In my experience, the first exposure to SMP/E is a daunting task. And it is even somewhat forbidding (to learn SMP/E) for very experienced systems programmers also, who (somehow) never ever got exposed to it, in their own LONG experience. My personal feeling (in 1988, after five years as a sysprog) was that, with the PROPER TEACHING, I could have learned, in 3 weeks, what took me 4 years to learn. I didn't want that to happen to anybody else. So I wrote an article. Very carefully. I just read it over, today. That's why I'm writing this piece. IF ANYBODY FEELS THE NEED TO LEARN SMP/E, PLEASE GO TO FILE 014 OF THE CBT TAPE (www.cbttape.org), and READ THE MEMBER, SMPARTCL. Part of the problem in learning SMP/E, is that IBM does not tell you about its history, and where it came from. In order to really understand SMP/E, you first must have a grasp of doing a SYSGEN, to create a new MVS system. We don't do SYSGENs anymore, so this makes it hard to understand the foundation and structure and purpose and method of operation, of SMP/E. Nevertheless, in that article, I tried to recreate the history, the best I could. BOTTOM LINE. If you want to train someone, or yourself, to do SMP/E, please first read this article - CBT File 014 - member SMPARTCL. It is almost guaranteed to make the process simpler. Hope this helps. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Code to verify LOGON password
Dear Folks, I am just trying to get a very old program to work. It is so old, that it mucks with the TSB password field, and I don't want to deal with that. I don't care to reveal the password anywhere. I just want the user to enter a password, and the security system should say "GO" or "NOGO". That's all. Thanks for all your replies. Be well and safe. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Code to verify LOGON password
Dear Folks, Does anyone have user-written code for RACF, so that if the user types in a password, the code will verify if it is the user's actual LOGON password? I'd like to see code that does this, for ACF2 and Top Secret as well, but I'm primarily interested in RACF. Thank you very much. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Additional zap for TASID
Dear Folks, There is an additional zap for TASID that is necessary in the initiator display (option 4). After applying the previous zaps, another zap has to be applied, to show the jobclass for a running job, in the initiator display. The reason for this is that in z/OS 2.1 (we think) the initiator names were changed from one to eight characters. Therefore a new field was created to display the initiator name, which has 8 characters, and the old field was blanked out. Since TASID was written before this time, it only "knew" about one character for the initiator name, and it didn't "know" about the new field containing the initiator name. The new zap (called member ZAPTASCL in CBT File 980 on Updates) displays the first character of the new (8-character) initiator name field, instead of the old field (which is now blank). It is possible that this zap also applies to z/OS 2.1. (I haven't tested it there.) All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TASID ZAP from CBT File 980
Dear Folks, I am pleased to announce that someone has come up with an additional zap to TASID, so the initiator display works for z/OS 2.4, and it also works correctly on 2.2 and 2.3. CBT Tape File 980 has been updated accordingly. Many thanks to the contributor. All the best of everything to all of you.. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TASID ZAP from CBT File 980
Dear Folks, CBT File 980 contains a zap for TASID 5.21, so that the initiator display (option 4) is made to work. I think that the zap is good for z/OS 2.2 and 2.3, but I tried it on z/OS 2.4 and it doesn't seem to work anymore. Does anyone have a fix for z/OS 2.4, or can someone pinpoint what the problem is? Many thanks in advance. I would like to fix CBT File 980 so that the "solutions" that are there, keep working. Thanks to Vladimir Mironov for the original fix. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape V-500 has been released
Dear Folks, CBT Version 500 has been released as of today, at www.cbttape.org. Please note some of the big updates in the "Changes Section". Again, since we have the Updates page for intermediate updates in-between "tape" version releases, we only have to make full "version updates" two or three times per year. So please, if you're looking for files, go to the Updates page of www.cbttape.org FIRST, and if your file number doesn't appear there (meaning that it hasn't been updated since the last version release) only THEN go to the CBT page to look for it. Thanks for your patronage and support. This collection has been in existence now, to help the people, for over 45 years. Also (I guess), Version 500 is a milestone. We haven't varied the format, all that much, from the way Arnie set the tape up originally. Kudos to Arnie (Casinghino). He laid a good foundation. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, "Both Sams" -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
How can you change TCAS defaults using the TSOKEYxx PARMLIB member?
Dear Folks, Thanks to Joe Monk for getting me the correct information. First of all, the parameters, which have to be in "=" format, and not TSO format with parentheses, must PRECEDE the comments, and all of them, except the last one, have to be followed by a comma. For example: USERMAX=39, RECONLIM=1 which is written BEFORE the comments. ALSO, I bounced the TSO address space. The resulting SHOWTCAS display is: (CBT File 731 - www.cbttape.org - Updates page) SHOWTCAS - TERMINAL CONTROL ADDRESS SPACE - FIELDS --- --- - -- Display of Settings and Addresses having to do with the TSOKEYxx PARMLIB member at the beginning of the IKTTCAST macro 8-CHARACTER USERID SUPPORT IS: ON TCAS ADDRESS: 00C2EDC8 addr field value explanation - - --- +0 TCASID TCAS Control block identifier +4 TCASUSEC 0001 Number of active users - HEX 1 Number of active users - DEC +6 TCASUMAX 0027 TSO Maxusers number - HEX 39 TSO Maxusers number - DEC +8 TCASACBP ACB Password +10 TCASRCON 0001 Reconnect time in minutes - HEX 1 Reconnect time in minutes - DEC +12 TCASCLSZ 0084 Buffer Size - HEX 132 Buffer Size - DEC +14 TCASHBUF BB80 High Buffer Threshold - HEX 48000 High Buffer Threshold - DEC +18 TCASLBUF 5DC0 Low Buffer Threshold - HEX 24000 Low Buffer Threshold - DEC +1C TCASCRSZ 01E0 Screen Size - HEX 480 Screen Size - DEC +1E TCASCHNL 04 Maximum Chain Length - HEX 4 Maximum Chain Length - DEC +1F TCASENGT 00 ENGTRANS Value 0-Base,1-Ext,2-None Thanks very much to all of you for your interest, and thanks, Joe Monk, for the correct reply. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam P.S. The SHOWTCAS command has an ALL parameter, which will display the entire real contents (mostly addresses) in the IKTTCAST macro, with all the correct values for your LPAR, below the settings which are displayed here. I figured that most people don't want to see the whole thing. They are just interested in the current settings. So ALL is not the default. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
How can you change TCAS defaults using the TSOKEYxx PARMLIB member?
Dear Folks, Clark understood my question correctly. (Hi Clark--haven't heard from you in a while.) The PARMLIB command deals with the IKJTSOxx member of PARMLIB. I'm interested in the TSOKEYxx member of PARMLIB which deals with TCAS. There doesn't seem to be any member in SYS1.SAMPLIB that deals with the correct syntax to code a non-default TSOKEYxx member. I did bounce TSO. I even IPL-ed several times. I would like some help. Thanks All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
How can you change TCAS defaults using the TSOKEYxx PARMLIB member?
Hi Folks, The TSOKEYxx parmlib member is supposed to have a whole set of parameters that can (supposedly) be changed for TCAS. I was not successful in being able to change ANY of them using the TSOKEYxx PARMLIB member. The defaults always came back, no matter how I changed the TSOKEY00 PARMLIB member which was pointed to by the PARMLIB DD name in the TSO startup procedure. This is perplexing. I have already written a set of authorized TSO commands to change any of the parms in TCAS, on the fly (CBT Tape File 731). And I have an authorized TSO command (called SHOWTCAS) which displays all of the current settings. But I want to know how to change them "the regular way", using the PARMLIB member. No success as yet. Please help. Thanks. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Can you set a FIXED dispatching priority using WLM?
Dear Folks, Question. Can you set a FIXED dispatching priority in WLM, like in the old IPS, ICS, OPT days? Thanks All the best. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 874
Hi Folks, Hope you're all well. Stay safe. This is just a suggestion, but it may help people to find some tools they might need, on occasion. CBT Tape File 874 (www.cbttape.org) - always check the Updates page first - has a collection of TSO HELP members for a sizable collection of useful programs that are available on the CBT Tape. I'd suggest looking through this file, just to see what the different programs can do. Then, if you decide that you'd like to use some of them, you can go to the appropriate CBT Tape file and install them. The ISPF statistics for each help member, indicate which CBT file it came from. Hope this helps. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: HOW DO I VERIFY A USERID'S ACCESS TO A DATASET
Hi Folks, Just wanted to say that I've posted David Spiegel's Assembler program and REXX to File 836 on the Updates page, as 3 members: RACROUTE (assembler program), RACRAUTH (rexx), and RACROUT$ (assembly JCL). I would recommend renaming the RACRAUTH rexx to something like DSAUTH, but for the purpose of posting on that file, I had to keep the member names related to each other. I also changed the load module name to RACROUT, so as not to confuse with the macro. Examples: From userid USER42: dsauth 'USER43.ISPF.ISPPROF' REASON CODE IN DECIMAL IS 0 00 THE USER HAS NO ACCESS. 04 THE USER HAS READ AUTHORITY. 08 THE USER HAS UPDATE AUTHORITY. 12 THE USER HAS CONTROL AUTHORITY. 16 THE USER HAS ALTER AUTHORITY The UACC of profile USER43.* is NONE. Another example: dsauth sys1.linklib REASON CODE IN DECIMAL IS 16 00 THE USER HAS NO ACCESS. 04 THE USER HAS READ AUTHORITY. 08 THE USER HAS UPDATE AUTHORITY. 12 THE USER HAS CONTROL AUTHORITY. 16 THE USER HAS ALTER AUTHORITY This userid has ALTER access to SYS1.LINKLIB. I don't know if that's safe, but that's the fact, and it's nice to know it. In any case, you get the idea. All the best of everything to all of you. Stay safe. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape Version 499 has been loaded
Hi Folks, At www.cbttape.org we have loaded CBT Version 499. Please enjoy. Remember to refer to the Updates Page first, in between version releases. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120
Hi Folks, There's another article in CBT File 120 (Updates Page) on www.cbttape.org. The title is: BM2003MA : Using z/OS System Services Macros, or not I hope you enjoy it. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT 120 revisions
Hi Folks, Just to mention that I can revise my articles at any time. It's a nice luxury to have. It used to be, when I wrote for the magazine, that once I submitted an article to the editor, I had no further control or say, as to the content. I didn't have a chance to correct any changes that the editor made, before publication. (This was sometimes frustrating, because we systems programmers have in-jokes, which I hinted at in the beginning of many articles, and the editor removed most of them, not understanding the message that they conveyed. They were the only parts of the article that were (to her) seemingly not "tech talk", and she told me "an editor has to edit". I disagreed, but to no avail.) In any case, I can now change an article if there is a mistake or an addition. (Yay.) The last article was changed, because I was able to put more security into the program I was writing about, and I wanted the article to reflect the new change. So it might pay to look at the ISPF statistics on the articles, and note if any were later. Thanks for listening. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT 120
Hi Folks, Just to let you know there's another article on CBT File 120 (Updates page). The article is: BM2002FE : ONLCLIP - Changing the VOLSER of a disk pack (while the pack remains online) It isn't needed often, but sometimes it's very useful. The article goes into detail about where and when. Tools for this were written or modified very recently. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Tape Problem
Hi Folks, I once wrote a package to audit tape differences between the IBM 3494 VTS and CA-1. It is on CBT Tape File 519. www.cbttape.org CBT file. It converts the tape inventory of CA-1 and the VTS to a common format, and compares them, reporting discrepancies. Hope it helps. This seems to do what you want. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120 - a new article -please look
Hi Folks, I just wrote another article for the "system doctors" about how to alter, cancel, or change the status of jobs, when necessary, and when the IBM methods might not be working for you. It's nice to have a tool in your pocket when you need it. This article, together with the other new ones, are in CBT File 120 on the Updates page, www.cbttape.org/updates.htm with the following member names: BM1911NV : THE VALUE OF TOOLS, NEW AND OLD - PART 1 BM1912DE : THE VALUE OF TOOLS, NEW AND OLD - PART 2 SOME NEWER TOOLS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT BM2001JA : 8-CHARACTER TSO USERIDS IN Z/OS 2.3 BM2001JB : SAVING AND RELOADING IPL TEXT-A NEW TECHNIQUE BM2001JC : CNCLPG - ALTERING AN ADDRESS SPACE - FOR FREE (the new article) It is a considerable effort for me to write these. I used to do one a month for the magazine. This month, I've written three. The reason is that these are techniques which have helped me over the years, and which have given me an "edge" in certain situations. It's better to "fly through a situation" with a solution, rather than to struggle and scrape and scratch your head. We're all clever people, and we almost always wind up solving whatever we have to, but sometimes a new suggestion is helpful. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam P.S. Please obtain these articles from File 120 in the Updates page of www.cbttape.org -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT 120 - new article
Hi Folks, Regarding my new article, please download File 846 from the Updates page of www.cbttape.org. When writing the article, I made several fixes to the file. So please use the Updates page for Files 846 and 312, as well as for File 120. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120 - new article
Hi Folks, This is to announce a new article, member BM2001JB, which is about a new technique of backing up and restoring and loading IPL text. The technique is based on CBT File 846 and it comes from two programs written by our friend somitcw, and two other programs written by me. A simple technique for detecting IPL text on all (or some of) your disk volumes, developed by Lionel Dyck, is included. Enjoy. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120
Hi Folks, I've written another article. It's about the impact of the 8-character TSO userid change in z/OS 2.3. I hope you enjoy it. The member name is BM2001JA. Thanks to all the people who appreciate my concern for the appropriate audience here. This stuff is intended for sysprogs and (principally z/OS) developer types. All of us know the responsibility that we have for maintaining expensive computer installations, and if we think about it, that responsibility extends here as well. Your cooperation and understanding is much appreciated. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120 - A new article - Member BM1912DE
Dear Folks, Please leave the distribution of my articles as is. If you want to see more of them, please think responsibly and don't post them. Get them from where they are. Thanks much. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120 - A new article - Member BM1912DE
Hi Folks, I've just completed a new article which you might find interesting to read. It is on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org on File 120, as member BM1912DE. The article talks about some newer programs, many of which I have had a part in writing. In all likelihood, you have not heard about most or all of them. I hope that you find this article informative, or at least entertaining. Thanks for your support. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120
Hi Folks, If and when I write more articles for CBT File 120, I promise to post the notice about them here. The naming convention for the articles will be BMyymoMO. Example: BM1911NV which means BM year 19, month 11, NV for November. So that's the pattern, and you can look there to see if there are new articles. Please remember to look for File 120 on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org first. Thanks much.. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120
Hi Folks, Correction. The new article is member BM1911NV. Sorry about the error. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 120
Hi Folks, I've started writing articles again, but this time it isn't for "Technical Support" magazine. Rather than make a blog, I decided to just put them out in CBT File 120, because the (interested) audience would most likely be systems programmers, software developers for z/OS and MVS, and possibly system-type application programmers. The new article is member BM1011NV, and is entitled: "THE VALUE OF TOOLS, NEW AND OLD - PART 1". I hope it is helpful to all levels of expertise, in some way. Thanks for your (past and present) support. Please let me know if you find this useful. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Version 498 has been cut
Hi Folks, I'm happy to announce that CBT Version 498 has been cut, dated 12/01/19. Please note the following announcement: In between version changes, please download files from the "Updates Page" to get the latest software. If your file number is not in the Updates Page, ONLY THEN download it from the "CBT" page. I only do a few version changes in a year, and in-between versions, LOTS of software gets updated. This all goes into the "Updates Page" until a full version is cut again. So the "latest and (hopefully) greatest" is always in the Updates page, provided that it has been recently updated. Files that have not been changed since the last version cut, are in the "CBT" page as usual. There has been some confusion about this, because in former times, when the CBT collection was distributed on tapes, Arnie would probably cut 15 new versions a year, because then, cutting a new version was the only way to distribute the new changes. But now, on the www.cbttape.org website, I don't have to cut a new version, to be able to distribute updates. There is the "Updates Page" now, so I only have to make a couple of full version cuts a year. I hope this avoids confusion. Usually the Updates on the Updates Page are ready to go. Sometimes, though (rather infrequently) they are in flux, but not usually so. If they are in flux (rarely), they should be "stable" within a couple of days, because at such a time, we are usually working rapidly to fix things. Best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TSO USERS program which also displays ACTIVE jobs
Hi Folks, Just to let you know about this program. The ACTIVE part does not work on XA systems and above, without some tweaking, because the CSCB control block (mapped by the IEECHAIN macro) was moved above the 16M line, and that is what contains most of the information about currently active jobs. I have fixed the disassembly so it works on z/OS, and I have put the modified disassembled source on File 300 of the Updates page of www.cbttape.org (member USERS). It's just nicer when you have REAL source, and you can change things without worrying about displacements. Thanks again, in advance, for any help you can give me. All the best Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TSO USERS program which also displays ACTIVE jobs
Hi Folks, Thanks to all who have helped me so far (especially Frank). I am trying to locate original source code for a program I have that displays TSO USERS, and also TSO ACTIVE jobs. I only have a disassembly, and it is a somewhat complex program. From looking at the IKJPARMs in it, I could tell that it was written at Standard and Poor's located at 55 Water Street in New York City. Dated before 1980 or so. If anybody has the source for this program (TSO command) I would appreciate them emailing it to me. It is so old, that whatever company where it was written (I guess S), probably won't mind. I think I saw it for the first time, at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the early 80's. Many thanks, if you can help. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam sbgo...@cbttape.org -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
A bit of nostalgia
Hi Folks, Almost ever since I started using TSO, if I wanted to see who else was logged on, I would use the USERS command. It was second nature. At one point, maybe ten years ago, I started looking around for the source code for USERS. And I couldn't find it. It wasn't on the CBT Tape, or in any of my archives. So I disassembled the load module, and kept the disassembled source around, just in case.. There was another good program which served the same purpose: DUSER on CBT File 300. So I started using that program instead. Recently, (like last night), I got around to looking at the disassembled source and tried to get it to work properly. I was always wondering why the main CSECT in USERS was not called USERS, but it was called ACTIVE. Not only did I get it to work and assemble, but I discovered that if you gave the load module an alias of ACTIVE, you'd get a "Display Active" display, whereas if you ran the program as USERS, you'd see the TSO users who were logged on. So my mind was relieved, and even though the source code doesn't have labels, I fixed the ACTIVE command to be AMODE 31 and to display the right stuff. You can now find the result as members USERS and USERSACT on CBT File 300. There are better programs. The DA command on File 300 (I think) shows a better "Display Active" type display (and it can show the TSO users with a parm of T). The DUSER command (also on File 300) shows a fine TSO users display. But my old "buddy" the USERS command now has a semblance of correct source code to support it. Gives me a "sense of security" inside, and I'm going to start using it again. So for those of you who have the same nostalgia, the USERS command is now available in "assemblable source" on CBT File 300 on the Updates page. Have fun...!!! All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Another tool
Hi Folks,
Just want to make aware of a new tool that I stumbled into
writing. But it looks to be more useful than I originally thought. So
I figured to mention it and maybe some people will get mileage out of
it. It is called LISTMOD and it is on File 994 of the Updates page of
www.cbttape.org. You don't need to be APF-authorized to use the tool.
What LISTMOD does, is to display load modules in a readable format,
in an ISPF-like 3-line hex display with ruler. The header gives "some"
useful information to be able to find stuff, but I think that the main
purpose is to make a load module just a bit more accessible and just a
bit more readable, so you can actually STUDY the darn thing. Works for
the more "ordinary" PDSE load modules too, and makes them readable.
Here's an example of the first few lines. The actual display goes
all the way to the end of the load module, beginning to end. If you
want to start from the entry point specified, instead of from the
beginning, use the ENTRY keyword, as in TSO TSOV IEFAB4A0 ENTRY.
Leaving out the ENTRY keyword forces a display of the entire load
module, beginning to end, but the header tells you where to start
looking at the entry point. With or without the ENTRY keyword, you get
the same header information.
The command entered was: TSO (TSOV - to capture and ISPF VIEW the
output) LISTMOD IEFAB4A0
Loaded Program Name: IEFAB4A0
-
Module is from LPA. LPDE Address: 00C742D0 Alias of: IEFW21SD
Length of loaded module Hex: 000DD450 Decimal: 906320
Length after entry address : 00070D08 Decimal: 462088
Displacement of entry point: 0006C748 Decimal: 444232
-
x4 IEFDB400 18248 UA97287 ^ / {{ 0 W { xY m
AF001CFFF4F4ECF015161ACC0014034F0E50C3B000B001AE3910
740E6956424000182480419728708F818067D0100680042B002A0078F49E
---+---+---+---1---+---+---+---2---+---+---+---3---+---+---+---4
x {0 00 x4 x4 x4 { i0 {0 00 x 0040
A20211CF00135FF1000EAF02AF00AF01C100128F00BF12110710CF00115FF1A7
74018D658008705F740A74047405689008FD08B1A82E6E800C74
---+---+---+---1---+---+---+---2---+---+---+---3---+---+---+---4
\ { i0 {0 00 x P &} 8 5 & 4 0080
FE4E00C100118F00BF12110710CF00105FF2A7FD1B11105DB042BF1F1D54BF52
FA1000659008FD0BB1A82E6B800074F781868A000420B8858B000480
---+---+---+---1---+---+---+---2---+---+---+---3---+---+---+---4
(70817 lines in ISPF. This is a big module.)
A nice thing about this tool is that you don't have to know what
library the load module resides in. You just LISTMOD the name, and the
whole display blaps out in front of you. As I said, it makes load
modules just a little more accessible to look at them. You need a place
to contain the display for large modules, and that's why I included the
"output capturiing tools": TSOB (browse), TSOV (view), TSOE(edit) and
TSOR (REVIEW from CBT File 134, which also works in TSO READY mode), so
you can scroll up and down the (sometimes big) outputs on the screen.
You can also capture a big output file using TSO-in-batch (example
included in File 994).
So to make a load module a little more readable, try this thing
out. It is very easy to use. Please let me know if you like it.
All the best of everything to all of you.
Sincerely, Sam
--
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CBT File 120 revisited
Hi Folks, For almost 20 years, I wrote a monthly column for NaSPA's magazine "Technical Support", which was entitled "MVS Tools and Tricks of the Trade". The administrators of NaSPA had kindly allowed me to distribute these articles on File 120 of the CBT Tape. (See www.cbttape.org Updates page, File 120.). I am very grateful to Scott Sherer and to all of their officers (from that time) for giving their permission. A few years have passed since I touched this file, and upon looking there, I noticed that time has brought some changes. First, at the time many of the articles were written, you had to order the CBT Tapes, in physical form, from NaSPA. Now, you just have to go to www.cbttape.org and download what you want (check the Updates Page first!!!) A few other changes have also occurred, such as my contact address, and so forth. So I tried to fix File 120 accordingly, at least a bit. Nevertheless, a lot has not changed. Many of these articles are just as relevant today, as they were the day they were written. Therefore I'm bringing this file to your attention, so you can see what you can glean from it. Hope it helps All the best of everything to all of you.. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
New CBT Version 497 is cut
Hi Folks, CBT Version 497 is now available on www.cbttape.org. Over 60 files changed. (They were available on Updates before.) Use it well... All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The 64-bit version of LOOK from CBT File 264 is finally out
Hi Folks, I guess I have to clarify the situation about the LOOK program. It's intent is to help in system-level code development, and as such, I'd probably say that it shouldn't be installed in any place where there might be a problem of an "unauthorized" person "snooping" at what's in storage. However, the LOOK program has been on the CBT Tape since around 1980, and its capabilities have always been similar. Nobody seems to have worried about its capabilities or non-capabilites. It has been sitting on the CBT Tape all along. All we wanted to do, was allow it to see storage above the bar, and we have been very grateful that we have been able to accomplish that. That's what we wanted to announce. I must emphasize that LOOK cannot change any storage. Everybody has their own tools which they use "to help them do the job". I use LOOK to look around in storage. Since LOOK also has control block formatting capability, it makes life much easier when you need to repeatedly follow a control block chain. Even when the storage is unformatted, since the screen is displaying 256 bytes of storage in the general area where you're looking, and you can go forward or backward 256 bytes at a time, you get to discover a lot of information about the general area of storage, nearby. This makes it much easier to "scope out" control blocks, to see what they're doing. Obviously the tool is very useful for system-level code development. I just wanted to point out that now, you can use it to see storage above the bar, as well. And you now have a way to do indirect addressing above the bar, using the G command instead of the J command. I'll explain. Suppose you're looking in a control block, and you see something that looks like a 4-byte address at, say +14 from where you are. You can command J+14 and go there. If it isn't a valid address, you just press F9 (history backward) and go back to where you were. Now (the new thing is) if you see something that looks like an 8-byte address at +10 from where you are, you can say G+10 and go there. If it isn't a valid address, you press F9 and you're (hopefully) back where you were. This kind of thing is very handy when you're trying to figure out how to program something. Again, I must emphasize that this program "has always been around". It's just that we have been able to improve it, and Joe was able to build in better recovery capability in case you hit some storage that you can't get to. The announcement was merely to let people know that the new LOOK can see storage above the bar. Same as anything on the CBT Tape, it's (thank God) there if you need it. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The 64-bit version of LOOK from CBT File 264 is finally out
Hi Folks, It worked out well that we had the previous problem when incorrect ASID's were over-typed in LOOKN. Turns out that LOOKJ (the 31-bit version) had the same issue, and we just fixed it there, too. I just reloaded File 264 to the www.cbttape.org Updates page, and also File 035, which contains load modules for LOOK. All should be fine, hopefully. Please download the newest copies, if you downloaded between yesterday and today. Again, thanks for your forbearance. We're trying to bring you the best product we can. All the best of everything to all of you... Sincerely, Sam and Joe -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The 64-bit version of LOOK from CBT File 264 is finally out
Hi Folks, I think we fixed the problem. We were checking the validity of the over-typed ASID, and when it was wrong, it was possible to feed a wrong ASID into the SRB that gets the data from the other address space. The fix was, that in the case of an error when the ASID was being over-typed, we now always feed our own ASID into the SRB, to guarantee that the SRB won't run in error. Then, when we try to over-type the ASID again, we'll have another chance to get it right. I think you can now safely beat up LOOKN, and see if you can find other issues, or else you can just enjoy it. Thanks very much for bearing with us. Sincerely, Sam and Joe -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The 64-bit version of LOOK from CBT File 264 is finally out
Hi Folks, For now, LOOKN is in Beta status. It seems to work fine in regular operation, but for now, don't try to switch to an invalid or inactive ASID. We'll try and fix the issue as soon as we can. Thanks for bearing with us. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The 64-bit version of LOOK from CBT File 264 is finally out
Hi Folks, I'm happy to announce that the 64-bit version of the LOOK program from CBT File 264 is finally out, on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org. It has been a long time in coming. Now you can browse virtual storage and and navigate control blocks in all three: 64-bit, 31-bit, and 24-bit storage, and in ANY ADDRESS SPACE. I know that many of you have other ways of doing this, but the 64-bit LOOK command, named LOOKN to distinguish it from the 31-bit version, has been a mainstay for many programmers, and for me. My friend Joe Reichman did most of the development, and he modernized many parts of the program: SCHEDULE was replaced by IEAMSCHD in synchronous mode, and much more was revamped by Joe, including recovery. Right now I think that LOOKN works very nicely, switching back and forth between 64-bit and 31-bit storage and so forth. But I'd like the people to use it, beat it up, and report any problems to me, so we can fix them. LOOK does not change storage. It gives you the opportunity to see the data you're programming for. The old versions of LOOK are still around on File 264, so that folks using pre-z/OS systems can still have a their source codes. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Help in updating old programs
Hi Folks, I have been working on updating some old programs to run on z/OS. Origin of these programs is CBT Tape File 830 (use the one on the Updates page). These are old Xephon program contributions written from the mid-1980's thru the mid-1990's. There are a lot of them, and many of them are useful today. Some of them address different issues than what is already on the CBT Tape. I am picking some of these programs, one by one, to try and get them to work under z/OS. Some of them are handier tools than the ones we already have; some do similar jobs, but they are nicely written. The destination for the "fixed programs and packages" is CBT File 836. You are welcome to look at the current version of File 836 that I have posted, on the www.cbttape.org Updates page. Since there are many members in CBT File 830, each representing an article in the MVS magazine, it would be nice if some people would help us find programs that are useful to them, and would fix them to run on z/OS. Usually not too much fixing is needed. Assembler programs need to have "register equates" (e.g. macro YREGS from SYS1.MACLIB) added to them. YREGS was not available 25 or 30 years ago. Looking at this material is a big job for me, and I'd appreciate it if you'd help yourselves by picking a few programs for yourself, getting them to work, and sending the results to me, to be posted in your name, on File 836. This material is no longer controlled by the (now defunct) Xephon. Control of them was given to Bob Thomas of Enterprise System Journal, and when he stopped publishing the magazines, he gave support control of the materials to www.cbttape.org. You can now use all these materials in good conscience. So please give it a try, and see if you can get some of the material to work for yourselves, and help others by sending the (fixed) code back to me. This will be much appreciated by all. All the best of everything to all of you Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
R.F. Perretta
Hi Folks, Does anyone know the whereabouts of R.F. Perretta, who used to write articles for the Xephon magazines? I very much enjoy his coding, and the subjects of his articles, and I would like to get in touch with him. Anyone who has information, please write back to me, either on the list, or off-list, and let me know. Thank you very much. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam Golob sbgo...@cbttape.org -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 483-contact the author
Dear Folks, Sorry to bother you about this kind of thing. I have had to modify several items on CBT File 483 from Thomas Ramseier, and since it is "his file", I would like to contact him. Last I heard from him was in 2001, when he worked for the Swiss Federal Office of Information Technology (FOITT). If you know his whereabouts, please let me know (maybe do it offline, to preserve his privacy) at sbgo...@cbttape.org. Thanks much. BTW File 483 contains some really useful items, and it's worth looking into. I "fixed" QSMS to stop it from going into an infinite loop, and I created a program DTOD from Thomas' program QTOD, so it takes a 16-bit parameter which is an STCK output in "display" format, and tells you what time it denotes. Example: TSO DTOD D565353F6689C002 Output: Date: Tuesday, 18th of December 2018 (12/18/18 2018.352) Time: 02:56:28.1 These things can be useful, and I want to discuss the file with the author, as I usually try to do. Thanks much for your cooperation. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam P.S. If any of you is in contact with Jan Jaeger, I'd like to speak with him too. Thanks again. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape Version 496 has been cut
Hi Folks, The CBT Tape web site, www.cbttape.org, has just been updated with CBT Version 496. The updates will (hopefully) now go to Version 497. Please check the site to make sure things were done correctly, and all the updates that were supposed to be there, are there. Thanks much for your cooperation. Suggestions and observations are welcome. All the best of everything to all of you.. Use it well. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Bad Design but nobody cares
Hi Folks, I hope this post isn't considered a waste of everyone's time. I came across this "design element" (so to speak) in my work concerning the Broadcast Dataset (aka SYS1.BRODCAST, in its more restrictive sense). Question: When you are reformatting the active Broadcast Dataset (SYS1.BRODCAST) with the SYNC command, you create space for 100 global Notices (the messages that everybody sees when they LOGON). How do you change this number? Answer: You probably would never want to change this number, because 100 notices is adequate for most purposes. But what if you really DO want to change this number? Then IBM tells you to zap a fullword field at the beginning of TSO initiation module IKJEFXSR, and re-IPL (maybe with CLPA, just to be safe). Again, you'd probably never want to do this, because 100 notices is adequate for almost everyone. Where is that number (100, or F'64') kept? It is actually a fullword in the CVT itself, at displacement X'5A8'. It is not "chained off the CVT". It is actually a fullword IN the CVT... Wow! So how would a fullword in the CVT be changed? Presumably only at IPL time. That's why IBM's method of changing it is so cumbersome, since (I think) IKJEFXSR, which starts up TSO, has to put that number into the CVT. Anyway, if someone REALLY wants to change this number (temporarily, for the duration of the IPL), I wrote an authorized TSO command called BDMNNOTC, which will take a number as a parameter, convert it to fullword binary, and zap it into CVT + X'5A8'. This command is on CBT File 731 (www.cbttape.org). It works instantly. So you say: BDMNNOTC 50, or BDMNNOTC 150, and if you do a SYNC afterwards, that number of NOTICES records will be formatted into the (active) Broadcast Dataset. If you are really doing this, please see the notes in the program source, on CBT File 731. I submitted a request to IBM quite a few years ago, that maybe an entry should be put into PARMLIB member IKJTSOxx, with the format NUMNOTICES(nnn), which would change this number whenever you do a PARMLIB UPDATE(xx) TSO command or a SET IKJTSO=xx console command. Since this requirement probably has the lowest priority that could ever be assigned to an enhancement request, I'd guess that it probably would never get done. But meanwhile, the sysprog community has my BDMNNOTC solution, if they want it. I guess I've taken enough of your time. Hope it's food for some thinking--and maybe it'll eventually lead to some productive progress somewhere. Thanks for listening. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Small and useful CLIST - error
Hi Folks, Just a handy thing (in one place) that can make life easier. I wrote it as a CLIST to keep it really simple: It is called LASTT (you can name it more appropriately, e.g. TIMES) PROC 0 LOGTIME /* CBT FILE 133 */ LASTIPL /* CBT FILE 300 */ LASTCLPA /* CBT FILE 133 */ And its output looks like: LOGON TIME WAS ON MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2018 (18.288) AT 15:18:55 LAST IPL WAS ON MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2018 (2018.288) AT 14.39 LAST CLPA WAS ON MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2018 (18.288) AT 14:39:27 This info (sometimes) is a good thing to know. Hope it helps in the daily work. All the best Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Small and useful CLIST
Hi Folks, Just a handy thing (in one place) that can make life easier. I wrote it as a CLIST to keep it really simple: It is called LASTT (you can name it more appropriately, e.g. TIMES) PROC 0 LOGTIME /* CBT FILE 133 */ LASTIPL /* CBT FILE 300 */ LASTCLPA /* CBT FILE 133 */ And its output looks like: -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT File 312 IPLCHK changed to IPLTCHK
Hi Folks, Lionel Dyck's program to report on which disk volumes contain IPL text, in CBT File 312, has been renamed from IPLCHK to IPLTCHK (IPL Text Check). Since this problem was discussed on IBM-Main about a week ago, and Lionel's solution was reported here, I just needed to say that he changed the name of the program to more accurately describe what it does. And he also added an additional twist, making the output JCL (to execute ADRDSSU PRINT function) a temporary file instead of a permanent one, and showing that you need a jobcard. Have fun with this one. It is extremely easy to try out. (It just needs access to the DUDASD program from CBT File 612, to report the names of the disk packs on your system.) All the best of everything to all of you Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Ken Tomiak's recent work
Dear Folks, It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of our dear friend, Ken Tomiak. As a tribute to him, and I think this is the best tribute we can offer him, I am making available his very considerable amount of work, which he did in his last couple of years. The reason I'm making his raw files available, is because there is too much valuable material there for me to sort through and post on the CBT Tape, and I want all the people out there to have a good look at his results, methods, and organizational precision in general. Therefore, please look at: ftp://cbttape.org/pub/collections where you will see three files: ktomiak.intro, ktomiak.restore, and ktomiak.zip (which contains all his materials) I'm sure you'll be glad you looked there. Ken produced beautiful stuff. It was meant to be used. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Finding all DASD volumes containing IPL text
Hi Folks, Lionel Dyck posed the question of how you can determine which of your disk packs have IPL text on them, and what IPL text do they have? Lionel solved his own problem (with Bob Richards' help). Please see his exec called IPLCHK on CBT File 312 on the UPDATES page. If you also have the DUDASD program from CBT File 612 installed (to get the list of volsers for your DASD volumes), then this EXEC produces JCL for ADRDSSU (PRINT function) to dump the contents of Track 0 for all the volumes chosen. It's neat and fast. And you see all the IPL text (if it is there) dumped out. Cool.. A happy ending to another problem. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
URL Table for MOSHIX mainframe YouTube videos
Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. I updated the $MOSHIX member (doco) with this URL, but with the explanation that sometimes a URL accessed by a web page, does not include all possible (in this case) videos. So we have to access the video with a direct URL in order to find it. All the best Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
URL Table for MOSHIX mainframe YouTube videos
Hi Folks, CBT File 977 is only on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org. Sorry I omitted that information. All the best of everything to all of you. Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
URL Table for MOSHIX mainframe YouTube videos
Hi Folks, I have created File 977 on the www.cbttape.org which contains a table of all the URL's of the current MOSHIX mainframe videos. It is member MOSHIXT in the pds, and it contains printable EBCDIC characters only. The member should be downloaded with ASCII to the PC and looked at with a browser. Paste and Go whichever URL of the video you want to look at. I know this may not be the most elegant presentation of the material - HTML would be better. But I wanted to get it out there as quickly as possible, and as compactly as possible - FB80 definitely is compact. We hope to improve the presentation later. Use it and learn a lot. It is for all levels of expertise. It is amazing what Moshix is doing, especially for beginners. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TSO messaging command called TO
Hi Folks, I hope that this message will be useful to a large number of people, and will make communication between logged-on TSO users easier. We have just resurrected an old TSO command to conveniently send messages to another TSO user. The "TO" command is much easier to use than the SEND command, and it sends the message via a TPUT to the other user's ASID. Syntax of the TO command is: TO tsouser Unquoted message with any number of spaces The TO command (version on File 300 of the Updates page of www.cbttape.org) has been updated to accept 8-character userids as the destination for the message. In TSO READY mode (for which the command was originally designed), you can include quotes in the message, and it will be sent as is. Also, in TSO READY mode, the message can and will remain, in mixed case. However, ISPF sometimes does tricks to TSO commands and messages, and some (but not all) ISPF screens will uppercase the entire command before it is sent. Also, ISPF will usually demand an even number of quotes, which TO sends asis. So if you send the message under ISPF: TSO TO userid It doesn't matter then ISPF will demand an even number of quotes, and will not send the message. On the other hand, if you say: TSO TO userid It doesn't matter ' then the message is sent asis, with the two quotes there, as coded. And the recipient will get the message as follows: It doesn't matter ' IBMUSER This is just a peculiarity of ISPF and it doesn't have to do with the coding of the TO command. I hope this will help people to communicate with other logged on TSO users more easily. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
NY Metro NaSPA Chapter Meeting, Wednesday, 18 April, 2018
Dear Folks, This is to announce Mark Nelson's (of IBM) technical meeting in New York on April 18, 2018, which is at the IBM Building in New York, 590 Madison Avenue, on the 12th Floor, starting at 10 AM. Prior registration is required--no big deal--just email Mark Nelson <mar...@us.ibm.com> and tell him you want to come, so he'll register you. When you show up in the lobby, tell the guards your name, and they'll give you a badge to go up. There is no cost. (And there are restaurants in the Sony Building lobby across the street on E. 56th Street.) This meeting occurs twice a year, usually in April and October, and in my experience it is an extremely worthwhile thing to go to. It is like a day's worth of SHARE sessions, usually four or five of them, given usually by IBM'ers or former IBM'ers. Even if the topic is something you never heard of, it will (sooner or later) come in handy if you know something about it. And if the topic is something you're really interested in, then you'll get a chance to talk to IBM experts about it. So I'd recommend that you go, if you can. It is very worthwhile. For details, please write to Mark Nelson at mar...@us.ibm.com. All the best of everything to all of you Sincerely, Sam Golob -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
EMPTYTST postscript and thanks
Hi Folks, I was very heartened by the response to my previous post about our writing the EMPTYTST program (CBT Tape File 971 on the Updates page, www.cbttape.org). This is a batch program which was designed to run in a jobstream where some data in a dataset may, or may not, have been produced by a previous job step. And you now want to test that dataset to see whether any data is really there, or whether the dataset is actually empty. The EMPTYTST program, as it now is, produces the following return codes: RETURNS CODE = 0 IF DATASET IS NOT EMPTY. RETURNS CODE = 4 IF DATASET IS EMPTY. JCL ERROR IF A SEQUENTIAL DATASET (DSORG=PS) DOES NOT EXIST. RETURNS CODE = 8 IF PDS MEMBER DOES NOT EXIST. RETURNS CODE = 12 IF SYSUT1 DDNAME IS MISSING. RETURNS CODE = 16 IF SYSUT1 POINTS TO A DATASET CONCATENATION. Much of this action, which the EMPTYTST program now performs, was suggested by readers of this forum, and that is why I am writing this note, to give them the credit that is due them, and to thank the readers of this list in general, for being interested. I want to thank Sri Kolusu of IBM (DFSORT development), for letting us know (in a private email) that the program might be confused if the SYSUT1 DDNAME (the input file) is a concatenation. Really, we only want to be concerned with a single dataset, if data was produced in it or not. A concatenation would confuse and muddle the issue. If, for example, one jobstep produced two datasets to check, we could have two EMPTYTST steps after that in the jobstream, one checking each dataset separately, and each step producing the appropriate return code. Thank you, Sri. Because of you, the program now checks for a concatenation, and produces a severe error (code 16) if there is one. I want to thank one of the dear readers of this forum, who took it upon himself to dig into the EMPTYTST source code, as a result of my post. His name is clearly mentioned in the file (thank you Gerhard). He produced a much-improved program that took care of quite a few deficiencies, adding several hundred lines of code. Upon further testing, we still found a few flaws, so this person teamed up with the original author to have "both pairs of eyes" on the program, and to clear up even more problems. Finally, I stepped in and added a description of all of their improvements, to the program documentation and to the help file. All of this stuff, came about directly as a result of my previous post regarding the EMPTYTST program on this forum. So you see, that besides being useful for answering people's questions, this forum also contributes directly to the quality of software which is being made available for the public's use. (Of course, all disclaimers apply.) Thanks to all of you, folks All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
EMPTYTST program - Test if a non-VSAM dataset is empty
Hi Folks, Because of some interest on this list, we just wrote a tool that might help people in long jobstreams. It is called EMPTYTST and it is a batch program which can tell if a PS dataset or a PO member is empty or not. EMPTYTST uses SYSUT1 for the input dataset, and returns a code of 0 if that dataset is not empty, a code of 4 if it is empty, and a code of 8 if a pds member does not exist. If the SYSUT1 DD name is missing, it returns a code of 12. EMPTYTST has two optional additional outputs--a WTO to the log, and a SYSPRINT output, either or both of which can help if you are looking through a long jobstream. EMPTYTST is on File 971 of the Updates page of www.cbttape.org and (of course) it is free. All CBT Tape caveats and disclaimers apply, as with everything else in the CBT Tape collection. We hope it will help. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Free PDS86 V151
Hi Folks, If you are using PDS86 on a z/OS 2.3 system, please install the latest version from CBT Tape File 182, if you plan on turning on the 8-character userids and prefixes. The latest release has been fixed for that. It has also been fixed for ISPF userid's of length 8. Thanks for asking, Dave. All the best of everything to all of you.. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape URL is www.cbttape.org
Hi Folks, Most people know the URL for the CBT Tape, but in case somebody doesn't know it, it's www.cbttape.org. There may be some people who are new to this list, and who don't (yet) know that they can get many marvelous tools for z/OS there (all for free). (Of course, all disclaimers apply, but we try and keep things as reliable as we can. We work very hard at it.) All the best Sam G -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT Tape Version 495 has been cut
Hi Folks, The CBT Tape Version 495 has been cut (finally). There have been over 60 file changes made since the last version was cut last March. I believe that this is the single biggest increment in changes between file versions. The tape was cut yesterday, and the website updates were made today. Please look at the Changes section in the "CBT page", to see all the changes. Please also note that my sbgo...@attglobal.net email address has gone away irrevocably, and I can not retrieve any messages sent to there. Please use sbgo...@cbttape.org to contact me, or alternatively, sbgo...@att.net. Use the materials safely, and in good health and happiness. All the contributors hope they will make your working life easier. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Converting programs to accommodate 8-character userids and prefixes
Hi Ed, Ah, nostalgia!!! Funny thing is, UADS was studied in depth by Jim Marshall in the early 90's. And although it's not too wise to use it (via the ACCOUNT command) to define working userids in a production system, but on a development system the knowledge of SYS1.UADS can come in very handy. See Jim's files: CBT Files 300 and 316. Very neat stuff. Jim also got me involved in studying SYS1.BRODCAST at that time, and that knowledge from him, helped get me started to develop my SYS1.BRODCAST package (free version on CBT File 247). Of course I didn't do it just for fun. Our installation was (effectively) a service bureau, in which we had to preserve one of our subsidiary data center's BRODCAST messages, and we couldn't just wipe BRODCAST with the SYNC command the way IBM "requires". We had to do it intelligently--not just burn down the barn and rebuild it, every time it got dirty. So I wrote programs to back SYS1.BRODCAST up, print messages from the backup copy, and do all kinds of other things to it, with the help of Vinh Vu. So for me the UADS (and BRODCAST) experience is more recent than the 1970's. But MAN..!!! Do I enjoy listening to people who have EXPERIENCE..! Thanks, Ed. I remember those days too. Had some real fun, (adventures, and all-night IPL's). All the best of everything to all of you... Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Converting programs to accommodate 8-character userids and prefixes
Hi Folks, I'm commenting on Ed Gould's comments. Thanks Ed. Much obliged. I've used MVT in the old days, but I'm not an expert from then. A few years ago, I was experimenting with the ACCOUNT command to create new userids in SYS1.UADS (on z/OS), and I noticed that the size of each member was dependent on the BLKSIZE of the SYS1.UADS dataset. For example, if your SYS1.UADS had a block size of 800, each member could be only one block, and therefore it had to be limited to 10 records. But when I blocked SYS1.UADS at 8000, each member was 100 records. In the old days, it was customary to block SYS1.UADS at 800 bytes. So those userid members, being only 10 records long, sometimes needed several members to accommodate the information from several accounts, or logon procedures, or passwords, connected with a single userid. Hence the USERID0, USERID1, USERID2 members, etc. In any case, it was quite a restrictive system, and the 7-character limitation has lasted, in TSO, for a very long time. Until now. Now, hundreds of programs have to be updated. We are working on it. If any of you has fixed something related to this (or NOT related to this), please send it to me for inclusion on the CBT Tape, in order to benefit everyone else. Thanks much We appreciate all the help we can get. One way of getting around it is not to turn on the 8-character id support. But people in IBM have told me that they want to eventually make 8-character id support the default, so we've got to get there sooner or later. All the best of everything to all of you... Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Converting programs to accommodate 8-character userids and prefixes
Hi Folks, (I'm sorry that my previous post was sent incomplete--pressed the wrong key) As you probably know by now, z/OS 2.3 has introduced the possibility of having 8-character TSO userids and 8-character TSO prefixes. These name fields were previously limited to 7 characters, ever since TSO came into existence. (I think the reason for the limitation was that the SYS1.UADS members, representing the definition of TSO userids before RACF, ACF2, Top Secret etc. had to have a number at the end of them, e.g. IBMUSER0, IBMUSER1, etc. So the id itself was limited to 7 characters in length.) Many programs, especially TSO commands, look to find the TSO userid in the PSCBUSER field (7 characters long) of the PSCB control block (mapped by macro IKJPSCB). Also, the TSO prefix for your session is usually found in the UPTPREFX field (also 7 characters) of the UPT control block (mapped by macro IKJUPT). General 8-character userid support, in z/OS 2.3 (and presumably above) is turned on or off by a switch. It was explained to me, that the support is quite complicated, so the installation has to be able to decide whether to turn it on, or not. The installation's control is in PARMLIB member IKJTSOxx, in the LOGON parameter: LOGON USERIDMAX(8) . The place where this switch is located, is +6 bytes off the beginning of the TSVT (TSO Vector Table) mapped by macro IKJTSVT. The setting is x'00' for pre z/OS 2.3, x'07' for z/OS 2.3 with support OFF, and x'08' for z/OS 2.3 with support ON. With the switch on, and if you have defined an 8-character userid, then the PSCBUSER field and the UPTPREFX field cannot contain the userid or the prefix, since they are only 7 characters long. So there are 2 new fields, at 2 new locations in the PSCB and UPT control blocks, respectively. The display below shows where they are. Also, the length fields in the PSCB and UPT are both new, when you have an 8-character userid. The displays below will show the location and content of all the relevant fields. They were produced by the LPSCB program (parameter U) from CBT File 300, and by the ALLIDS program (CBT File 731) both on the UPDATES page of www.cbttape.org . So without further ado, here are the displays. You should be able to use this information to do almost any conversion that you'll need to do. There's more of course, but this is the basic layout. If there is an 8-character userid defined, then the old fields (PSCBUSER and UPTPREFX) will contan the characters '>7BYTES' with a length of 7. Thanks for listening. Output of LPSCB U , TSO command from CBT File 300 This program shows field layouts for PSCB and UPT. 8-CHARACTER USERID SUPPORT IS: ON 6F80 PSCB ADDRESS +0 PSCBUSER 6EF7C2E8E3C5E2 >7BYTES +7 PSCBUSRL 07 +8 PSCBGPNM E2E8E2C1D3D3C4C1 SYSALLDA +10 PSCBATR1 E100 OPER ACCT JCL CONS +12 PSCBATR2 +14 PSCBLTIM D395E64338C46389 2017.348 09:57.47.143238 +1C PSCBSUBH 00 +1D PSCBSUBC 00 +1E PSCBSUBM 00 +1F PSCBSOUT 00 +20 PSCBU8L 08 +21 PSCBDRBA 00 +24 RESERVED +28 PSCBDEST +30 PSCBRLGB 7EF8 +34 PSCBUPT 8FC8 +38 PSCBUPTL 0038 +3A PSCBCHAR 00 +3B PSCBLINE 00 +3C PSCBRSZ 000F4240 +40 PSCBU +48 PSCBEXWD +48 PSCBEXK +4C PSCBEXL 0004 +50 PSCBEXD +54 PSCBUID8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D9C3 IBMUSERC +5C RESERVED 8FC8 UPT FROM PSCB 8FC8 UPT FROM CPPL +0 UPTLEN 0038 +2 UPTUSER +C UPTSWS 00 +D UPTCDEL 00 +E UPTLDEL 00 +F UPTVERS 01 +10 UPTPREFX 6EF7C2E8E3C5E2 >7BYTES +17 UPTPREFL 07 +18 UPTPLANG C5D5E4 ENU +1B UPTSLANG C5D5E4 ENU +1E UPTLNGFL +20 UPTSWS2 00 +21 UPTPREF8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D9C3 IBMUSERC +29 UPTPRF8L 08 +2A RESERVED Output of my ALLIDS TSO command - CBT File 731 ALLIDS - SHOW TSO USERID OCCURRENCES - V1.2 -- --- -- --- old len new len field gth field gth My PSCB Userid is >7BYTES 07 IBMUSERC 08 My UPT Prefix is >7BYTES 07 IBMUSERC 08 My JCT Userid is IBMUSERC My JMR Userid is IBMUSERC My TIOT Userid is IBMUSERC My ASCB Userid is IBMUSERC My ASXB Userid is IBMUSERC My ACEE Userid is IBMUSERC 08 My LWA Userid is 08 IBMUSERC My TSBX Userid is IBMUSERC My CSCB Userid is IBMUSERC My CSCX Userid is IBMUSERC My OUCB Userid is IBMUSERC My JSAB Userid is IBMUSERC Jobname IBMUSERC My CAUB Userid is IBMUSERC 8-CHARACTER USERID SUPPORT IS: ON -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Converting programs to accommodate 8-character userids and prefixes
Hi Folks, As you probably know by now, z/OS 2.3 has introduced the possibility of having 8-character TSO userids and 8-character TSO prefixes. These name fields were previously limited to 7 characters, ever since TSO came into existence. (I think the reason for the limitation was that the SYS1.UADS members, representing the definition of TSO userids before RACF, ACF2, Top Secret etc. had to have a number at the end of them, i.e. IBMUSER0, IBMUSER1, etc. So the id itself was limited to 7 characters in length.) Many programs, especially TSO commands, look to find the TSO userid in the PSCBUSER field (7 characters long) of the PSCB control block (mapped by macro IKJPSCB). Also, the TSO prefix for your session is usually found in the UPTPREFX field (also 7 characters) of the UPT control block (mapped by macro IKJUPT). General 8-character userid support, in z/OS 2.3 (and presumably above) is turned on or off by a switch. It was explained to me, that the support is quite complicated, so the installation has to be able to decide whether to turn it on, or not. The installation's control is in PARMLIB member IKJTSOxx, in the LOGON parameter: -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Preparing for 8-character TSO userids
Hi Folks, I forgot to mention that IBM did supply a compatibility PTF for older systems, to tolerate some of the 8-character id stuff. So at a fairly recent PTF level, z/OS 2.2 and 2.1 users can have some tolerance for sharing with 2.3 systems having the 8-character ids and prefixes. But it came around July of this year, and people whose maintenance is from before that, don't have that compatibility stuff. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Preparing for 8-character TSO userids
Hi Folks, I'd like to just clarify my point of view, as opposed to Ed Jaffe's. It seems to me that his view, as a vendor, is to make his code compatible with IBM's new operating system. When he supplies a version of (say) EJES for z/OS 2.3, it was coded especially to work for z/OS 2.3. And it was probably assembled on a 2.3 system. If his new load module is running on an older system, then he codes for that, to bypass the new stuff. My view is a little different. I have to try and make sure that older utilities will continue to work with IBM's new operating system. But I know that my clientele (users of the CBT Tape) will probably have to assemble the tools for themselves. And they won't necessarily yet, be on the system level for which these changes are being made. The changes I'm making to the code, are to make sure that their old load modules will continue to work on the new system, once they get there. But they aren't necessarily there NOW. They probably have an older version of the IKJUPT and IKJPSCB macros, and they don't have the new versions with the new field labels, to assemble with. That's why I made my suggestion to hard-code the displacements when they fix the old utilities to append an 8-character prefix, and so forth. When a new operating system comes out, the vendors probably have an advance copy of it. But the users (i.e. "customers") don't. So if the customers have to assemble, it's different than when the vendors assemble. The customers are assembling on an older operating system. It is hoped that by laying out the exact plan of the new fields, as opposed to the old fields, this will help people know what they are doing, when they maintain their user written code. All the best of everything to everybody. Sincerely, Sam P.S. By the way, if any of you will be fixing code that came from the CBT Tape originally, please send a copy of the fixes to me, so that we can get the remedy to everyone. Thanks much...!! -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Preparing for 8-character TSO userids
Hi Folks, z/OS 2.3 is here. 8-character TSO userids are here. And 8-character TSO dataset prefixes are here too. How do we prepare for them, and fix our programs? Part of the problem is that the PSCBUSER field (7 bytes) and the UPTPREFX field (7 bytes) have been around for generations--over 40 years. People wrote programs using these fields, without thinking twice. But the fields are useless for 8-character userids. What did IBM developers do? Here is a picture of the new fields: (illustration uses the LPSCB TSO command from CBT File 300) In the first illustration, the userid is 7 characters or less. 8-CHARACTER USERID SUPPORT IS: ON (displacements are in hex) 6F80 PSCB ADDRESS +0 PSCBUSER C9C2D4E4E2C5D9 IBMUSER +7 PSCBUSRL 07 +20 PSCBU8L 07 +54 PSCBUID8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D940 IBMUSER 8FC8 UPT FROM PSCB 8FC8 UPT FROM CPPL +F UPTVERS 01 +10 UPTPREFX C9C2D4E4E2C5D9 IBMUSER +17 UPTPREFL 07 +21 UPTPREF8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D940 IBMUSER +29 UPTPRF8L 07 Here is a picture of how the fields are filled in, when you have an 8-character userid: 8-CHARACTER USERID SUPPORT IS: ON (displacements are in hex) 6F80 PSCB ADDRESS +0 PSCBUSER 6EF7C2E8E3C5E2 >7BYTES +7 PSCBUSRL 07 +20 PSCBU8L 08 +54 PSCBUID8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D9C3 IBMUSERC 8FC8 UPT FROM PSCB 8FC8 UPT FROM CPPL +10 UPTPREFX 6EF7C2E8E3C5E2 >7BYTES +17 UPTPREFL 07 +21 UPTPREF8 C9C2D4E4E2C5D9C3 IBMUSERC +29 UPTPRF8L 08 Now you can program accordingly. Look to see if the first byte in the old field is C'>' and if it is, then use the new fields. Things should be the same, if the userid or prefix is 7 bytes or less. I hope this helps. BTW, if you are still at z/OS 2.2 or below for the assembly, then use the hard-coded displacements of the new fields, off the beginning of the PSCB and UPT, so the assembly doesn't fail because IKJPSCB and IKJUPT macros (at the old level) don't contain labels for the new fields. All the best of everything to all of you.. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Please do not use my attglobal.net address. Use att.net instead.
Hi Folks, Sorry to bother you with administrivia, but people do want to write to me about the CBT Tape, and I felt it was important enough to make this announcement here. sbgo...@attglobal.net seems to be gone forever. In its place, is sbgo...@att.net. My main email address remains sbgo...@cbttape.org Thanks for listening. Sorry again to take up list space with this kind of thing. (But how are people expected to know...???) All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
My attglobal.net email was moved to att.net
Hi Folks, To write to me about CBT Tape information, the proper email address is: sbgo...@cbttape.org. My attglobal.net email went away, and all emails sent there, are now lost. But I was able to replace it with: sbgo...@att.net. So both the sbgolob.cbttape.org and sbgolob.att.net addresses are now valid. I'm trying to make it easier to reach out for CBT Tape information, and to contact me. Thanks for bearing with me. Dealing with this was a pain in the neck. I think that AT is trying to get rid of the attglobal.net domain altogether. Now I have to try and change all the references in the CBT Tape documentation (yecch). So at least this message gives you a heads-up. My cbttape.org email address is pointed to, on the home page of www.cbttape.org, as is Sam Knutson's email. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
My attglobal.net email address has disappeared
Hi Folks, When writing to me (Sam Golob), please do not use my attglobal.net email address. It has disappeared, and it isn't coming back. Instead, please use sbgo...@cbttape.org to write to me. I now have the large job of removing this address from the entire CBT Tape. I'll let you know if I get another address instead of this one, but the sbgo...@cbttape.org address is the one to use. Please update your own information and your own records about writing to me. Thanks much. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
CBT STEPLIB from File 452
Hi Folks, The CBT STEPLIB from File 452 has not only been tested on z/OS 2.3, but it has been running for a long time on that company's z/OS 2.3 advanced system (that is available to that company). It has heavy use on that system. Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
PCRE2 10.30 released on CBTTAPE (file 939-updates page)
Hi Folks, I just posted this new version of PCRE (Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions) Version 10.30 ported to z/OS by Ze'ev Atlas. It is on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org File 939. http://www.cbttape.org/ftp/updates/CBT939.zip Use it in good health and happiness... Ze'ev is available for feedback at: zatl...@yahoo.com Sincerely, Sam Golob -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TSO Relogon Buffer via the ECT
Hi Folks, A while back, there was a discussion on IBM-Main about how to access the ECT (Environment Control Table) which is a TSO control block pointed to by the CPPL (Command Processor Parameter List) pointed to by Register 1 when a TSO command gets control. Binyamin Dissen pointed out that there is a pointer to the ECT at +X'100' in the TSO Relogon Buffer. This got me interested in the Relogon Buffer. The relogon buffer is pointed to from the PSCB, using address field PSCBRLGB at PSCB+X'30'. We now have developed several tools to manipulate the thing. They can be found on the CBT Tape Updates page www.cbttape.org/updates.htm on File 731. Please bear in mind that the data portion of the relogon buffer should normally contain only LOGON or LOGOFF commands, to my knowledge. To display what is in the RELOGON buffer, we have the SHOWRLGB TSO command. An example of an empty TSO Relogon Buffer is shown below: TSO RELOGON BUFFER --- --- -- Relogon Buffer Address: 7EF8 0100 Header Dec +0 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +35 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +70 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +105 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +140 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +175 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +210 4040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040404040 +245 40404040404040 ECT Addr: BB88 ECTLOGF is OFF Another tool we have, is a TSO command called BYE, to load the Relogon Buffer with anything, and to turn on the ECTSWS switch with X'10', so that when you go to TSO READY mode, you will automatically be logged off, and the contents of the Relogon Buffer will be executed. For example, if you execute the TSO command: BYE LOGON yourid/password and you go to READY mode, then your session will be logged off, and a new LOGON with your password, will be executed. To ONLY turn OFF the ECTSWS,X'10' switch, we have a NOLOGOF command. To ONLY turn it back ON again, we have a YESLOGOF command. These four commands should give you complete control of the Relogon Buffer. I forgot to mention something. If you execute the TSO command BYE with NO OPERANDS, you re-initialize the command buffer, and you turn the ECTSWS,X'10' switch OFF. So you can easily undo what you have done using the BYE command, WITH operands. I hope that these tools will be constructively useful for some of you. Use them well, but use them carefully. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Useful recent changes to CBT File 300 (TSO commands)
Hi Folks, We've been quietly trying to get a bunch of old programs (that used to work) to work now, under z/OS 2.2. I've got a list below, and you are welcome to explore them, on the UPDATES page of www.cbttape.org, File 300. This list may not be complete. Try to look at the latest ISPF statistics for the members, on the Updates version of File 300. This is an ongoing public service. One example is a SCRATCH TSO command that scratches a dataset without uncataloging it. IEHPROGM is awkward to use, and sometimes you need a quick TSO command to do this job. Just one example. DSMF is another. Here's a list of some of the updates we've done. AUCMD 01.9917/02/19 13:59 609 SBGOLOB AUCMD$ 01.0317/02/19 13:5729 SBGOLOB CMD01.9916/12/04 10:49 609 SBGOLOB CMD$ 01.1016/12/04 12:2529 SBGOLOB CMDLOFF01.0917/07/04 0:32 154 SBGOLOB COPYSDS01.3216/09/04 1:37 1976 UPDATED COPYSDS# 01.0316/09/05 18:5053 UPDATED COUNT 01.5616/09/04 0:52 1293 UPDATED COUNT# 01.0216/09/05 19:1418 UPDATED EKKO 01.0016/11/05 13:57 413 CBTUSER EKKO$ 01.1016/11/06 20:2127 SBGOLOB FINDFIL$ 01.0716/06/14 11:2130 SBGOLOB FINDFILE 01.0416/06/11 8:28 315 UPDATED IKJT9FIZ 01.0116/02/16 2:54 1259 ZOSTEST IKJT9LBZ 01.0116/02/13 22:54 557 ZOSTEST IKJT9LGZ 01.0016/02/20 0:06 476 ZOSTEST IKJT9Z$$ 01.0016/02/20 0:4469 ZOSTEST LISTVTOC 02.0017/02/21 20:31 1029 UPDATED LM 01.0817/02/19 13:44 1258 SBGOLOB LM$01.0317/02/19 0:1128 SBGOLOB LOGTIME01.3916/11/25 10:09 1382 SBGOLOB LOGTIME$ 01.1516/11/25 10:1229 SBGOLOB LPSCB 01.9917/03/13 11:04 1317 SBGOLOB LPSCB$ 01.0817/03/13 11:1630 SBGOLOB OPERA 01.0517/02/27 1:26 504 UPDATED OPERA$ 01.0417/02/27 16:1028 SBGOLOB QLIST 01.0216/09/04 1:14 1377 UPDATED SCRATCH01.4617/08/12 16:54 709 UPDATED SCRATCH$ 01.1117/08/14 0:2433 SBGOLOB SCRAT2401.4317/08/12 16:22 657 MVS38 TO 01.0816/12/14 13:16 418 SBGOLOB UNITS 01.6017/01/10 23:52 455 UPDATED UNITS$ 01.0817/01/11 1:4731 SBGOLOB I hope you find some of this stuff useful. Maybe there are some old commands you are nostalgic for. If there are some other commands you'd like updated, please write me. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
TSO Relogon Buffer and the ECT
Hi Folks, As a result of the recent discussion about finding the TSO ECT control block, and because of the fact that the ECT address can be found after the end of the TSO Relogon Buffer (pointed to by PSCBRLGB), we came up with a set of programs to display and manipulate the TSO Relogon Buffer. These can be found on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org, File 958. Use them safely, and in good health. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Re. Whacking a Job, or Getting rid of an Address Space
Hi Folks, I just wish to thank all the contributors to this thread. I feel that every single contribution added to our general knowledge. Thank you all. This is what the IBM-Main forum is all about. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Whacking a Job, or Getting rid of an Address Space
Hi Folks, I want to point out that not all versions of CNCLPG on CBT File 826 have BURN or KILL capability for JOBs or STCs. The earlier versions of the program (included in the file) have less power. You have the choice of installing one of the earlier versions of the program (1.10, 1.11, or 1.20) if you only want to make jobs non-cancelable or non-swappable (1.11 and 1.20). So then you can use one of the earlier versions. My point is to let you know that in an emergency, the power is there. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re: Whacking a Job, or Getting rid of an Address Space
Hi Folks, I just want to tell you that I very much appreciate this discussion. Very much depends on POINT OF VIEW, and when all the points of view get together, real progress is made, and everybody becomes wiser. There are at least three separate points of view here on this forum: 1. The systems programmers who have to set up and run the system software in data centers. 2. The professional "system level" programmers who usually work for vendors. 3. The IBM programmers who design and build the system software. There may be other people here also, such as application programmers and "programmer toolmakers" and more types, as well. Everybody has a separate point of view. In summary, here they are: People who run data centers, have to make sure everything run smoothly, and they have to deal with "the problems of the non-ideal world". Something breaks--fix it. Keep the system up. Make sure the system levels are correctly set for what we are doing, and for what we need. Professional "system level" programmers dig deep into the system. "Authority" is not what is usually on their mind, unless they are dealing with a security-related product. For example, doing cross-memory programming is usually "a piece of cake" for them. But changing some fields in another user's control blocks, which might be easy for THEM to do, is a nightmare from the system administrator's point of view, so you already see a difference in point of view between these two groups. Finally, the IBM designers and programmers have a big responsibility of delivering a consistent and reliable system, but they may tend (depending on the individual person's actual experience) to be a bit separated from the system programmer's "real world" problems, and the things that actually come up in a real data center, day by day. I am glad that my post is bringing these 3 points of view together, in a productive and fruitful way. If I did not write about this topic, then some sysprog might be without a necessary tool in his/her toolbox. When the emergency came up, they would be as helpless as I was, many years ago. On the other hand, we know that the tool can be used improperly, either by the right people or the wrong people. So I had a quandary: "To say, or NOT to say. That was the question." I opted to "say". I remember the pain in my heart, when JES2 couldn't be removed, and we had to IPL in the middle of the day. It was easy to fix if we could just cancel JES2, and restart it. I had already proven that to myself, at that time. But I was helpless and adrift. We had to IPL. NEVER AGAIN! I won't let that happen to someone! NEVER!!! So there. I trust we've all been helpful... All the best of everything to everyone. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Re. Whacking a Job, or Getting rid of an Address Space
Hi Folks, Of course, you're right, Peter. Jobs or STCs are marked NON-CANCELABLE for a very good reason. Under normal circumstances, they should not be cancelled, because it would endanger the system. That's what the PPT is for. Almost always, the safeguards that are there, are there for a very good reason. And I'm on management's side all the way. The idea is to keep the systems running as flawlessly and smoothly as possible. That having been said, the system doctor sometimes has to deal with things that go wrong. It's nice when the system is working as designed. But sometimes, the NON-CANCELABLE job or STC goes awry, and it has to be restarted. In such a case, as in the middle of a day's production, you want to avoid an emergency IPL. And so you need a tool in the toolbox, to cancel the job or STC. Sometimes the only solution is to blow it away. The expensive multi-utility packages all contain such tools. You wouldn't criticize Omegamon (TM) or RESOLVE (TM), would you? But a shop which can't afford to buy them is sometimes stuck, and is forced to IPL and lose a lot of production time. That's why I wrote CNCLPG 20 years after I had such an emergency, which I never forgot about. Systems programmers do not live in an ideal world. Problems come up, in running the data center, which can be very unforeseen. The doctor needs to have a scalpel. Most doctors don't often need to use the scalpel. But when you need it, and nothing else works, it's nice to know that it is there, sitting in the toolbox. This is where I come from. It's all for the purpose of keeping the shop running smoothly. Thanks for listening. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely,Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
Whacking a Job, or Getting rid of an Address Space
Hi Folks, Hopefully this info will help get you out of a jam sometime.. Sam GETTING RID OF AN ADDRESS SPACE (or WHACKING A JOB) In my career as a system doctor, I've had trouble, more than once, in getting rid of an address space that was malfunctioning, and starting over. Sometimes the address space was marked "NON-CANCELABLE" and I've even seen address spaces marked "NON-FORCIBLE". Mentioning this problem to fellow sysprogs, I've gotten answers like: "You've got to learn how to use FORCE correctly." Or they'd say some similar nonsense. Sometimes they're right. But a bunch of times, there are a couple of bits in the way. And if you can't get past them, you can't get rid of the job or other address space. I've seen this situation force an IPL in the middle of the day. (NO GOOD!!!) So what do you do? There are two free APF-authorized TSO commands which can help you. One is called CSCF, and it is on CBT File 954. The other is called CNCLPG, and it is on CBT File 826 (Updates Page). CSCF can get rid of the main offending bits. CNCLPG (with the KILL option) can do that, and then whack the job or address space. Both of these commands do multiple functions. But to get rid of a job or system task, you first need to change its status to CANCELABLE or FORCIBLE, and then you need to CANCEL it or FORCE it. Sometimes, you can just "whack it". To do so, use the KILL subcommand of the CNCLPG command (Updates page of www.cbttape.org). The KILL subcommand of CNCLPG will do a CALLRTM TYPE=MEMTERM operation on the address space, but before it does so, it turns off the ASCBNOMT and ASCBNOMD bits in the ASCB. ASCBNOMT is what makes a job "NON-FORCIBLE", and ASCBNOMD off, makes it FORCIBLE even if the error was a DAT error. THEN the KILL subcommand does the CALLRTM MEMTERM. In that way, KILL makes sure that nothing will get in the way of the "FORCE" operation, and the address space will be duly "whacked". Then you can start it over. One note of caution: You have to whack or alter he correct address space. If you don't, you can cause havoc. WHY? Both CNCLPG and CSCF have to run the CSCB chain. This is a chain representing all the active jobs, system tasks, and TSU's in the system. Sometimes there are many address spaces with the SAME name. And there can be more than one address space with the SAME ASID (I bet you didn't know that). So in order to make sure you are altering the correct address space, you have to specify BOTH the ASID and the JOBNAME when you run CNCLPG. How do you get that information in the first place? Run CNCLPG with the DISPLAY command. The DISPLAY command will show all matches and all occurrences. So if you run CNCLPG jobname DISP, you will see all the CSCB entries matching your jobname, and you can specify the one with the correct ASID by using the ASID(hex) parameter together with the jobname parameter. Do this first, and you won't be sorry later. Do DISP several times, until you see only one entry--the entry that you want to alter. Best of everything. Use this in good health.. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
PCRE 10.23 port for z/OS now available on Updates Page
Hi Folks, Consistent with Ze'ev Atlas' announcement of yesterday, I have posted File 939 on the Updates page of www.cbttape.org which contains Version 10.23 of PCRE (Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions), ported to z/OS. You can now find it there. Please remember to go to the UPDATES page of www.cbttape.org to get the latest version, NOT to the CBT directory, which contains the older version. All the best of everything to all of you. Sincerely, Sam -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
The www.cbttape.org website is back
After almost a day out, the www.cbttape.org website is back. Sam Knutson and HIS tech support worked on it. Good news. -- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
