High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature Increases Programmer Productivity

Software Announcement
December 12, 1995
Announcement Letter Number: 295-498

Table of Contents:



In Brief . . .

The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature supports productivity enhancements by providing:

  • A powerful and sophisticated symbolic debugger

  • A complete set of macro instructions for structured programming constructs

  • A disassembler 
-----------------------------------------
For ordering, contact:
  Your IBM representative, an IBM
  Business Partner, or IBM North America
  Sales Centers at
    800-IBM-CALL  Reference: LE010

The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature is an optional, separately priced feature that provides a powerful set of tools to improve application development, debugging, and recovery on MVS and VM systems. The productivity-enhancing tools include:

  • A powerful and sophisticated symbolic debugger that simplifies and speeds the development of correct and reliable applications written in Assembler and other languages.

  • A complete set of macro instructions that implement the most widely used structured programming constructs (IF, DO, CASE, SEARCH) to simplify coding and eliminate errors in writing branch instructions.

  • A flexible disassembler that helps in understanding programs in object format and helps with recovery of lost source code.
For more information about IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE, refer to Software Announcement 295-006, dated January 26, 1995.



Planned Availability Date: December 15, 1995

------------------------------

This announcement is provided for your information only. For additional information, contact your IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU, or visit the IBM home page at: %+%Start_URL%+% http://www.ibm.com



DESCRIPTION

The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature is an optional, separately priced feature that contains three items: a debugger, a set of structured programming macros, and a disassembler.

The High Level Assembler Toolkit Interactive Debug Facility (IDF) supports a rich set of capabilities that speeds error detection and correction.

  • IDF is designed for debugging Assembler Language programs on MVS and VM systems, and it can also be used advantageously to debug programs written in most high level languages.
  • IDF provides multiple selectable views of a program, including separate "windows" for address stops, breakpoints, register displays, object code disassembly, storage dumps, language-specific support, register histories, non-traced routines, and other information. These views can be used in any order or combination.
  • Execution of a program can be controlled by stepping through individual instructions or between selected breakpoints or routines.
  • When source code is available, IDF can display source statements as the program is executed.
  • At any breakpoint, control can be passed to exit routines written in REXX or compiled languages to determine subsequent actions.
  • Instruction executions can be counted, and an instruction "execution history" can be maintained.
  • Storage areas and register contents can be modified dynamically during debugging by simply typing new values on the displays.
  • A powerful interface to the REXX language allows user-written functions to capture, analyze, and respond dynamically to program conditions.
  • IDF supports a special class of conditional breakpoints called "watchpoints", which will be triggered only when a specified condition has occurred.
  • A command-level record and playback facility allows a debugging session to be re-executed automatically.
  • Extensive tailoring capabilities allow the end user to establish a familiar debugging environment. Most debugging actions can be easily controlled by PF key settings.
The High Level Assembler Toolkit Structured Programming Macros simplify the coding and understanding of complex control flows, and help to minimize the likelihood of coding errors in managing branch instructions. These macros support the most widely used programming control structures without having to code explicit branches.
  • Execution of one of two blocks of code depending on a true-false condition (IF-THEN-ELSE macros).
  • Executing a block of code repeatedly until some limit is reached or some condition is satisfied (DO, DO-WHILE, DO-UNTIL macros).
  • Executing one or more blocks of code selected from a set of such blocks, based on a computed numeric value (CASE macros).
The High Level Assembler Toolkit Disassembler selects control sections (CSECTs) from object or executable modules, and converts them to Assembler Language statements that can be assembled to generate the same object code.
  • A rich variety of control statements can be supplied in the primary input stream to the disassembler, or can be saved in a library and invoked by a COPY statement.
  • Control statements can specify that certain areas of the module are known to contain data only, instructions only, or are uninitialized.
  • Other control statements can define data structures (DSECTs) and assign user-specified labels to designated positions in the program.
  • Symbolic resolutions of halfword base-displacement storage addresses can be requested by supplying control statements giving base addresses and registers to be used for addressing.
  • Registers are given symbolic names, branch instructions use extended mnemonics where possible, and supervisor call (SVC) instructions are identified when known.
  • The disassembler listing provides a full summary of the inputs and outputs of the disassembly.
When the disassembler-generated statements are assembled by High Level Assembler using the ADATA option, the resulting SYSADATA file can be used as input by program analysis and understanding tools.

Together, these tools provide the programmer with a powerful set of capabilities to speed application development, diagnosis, and recovery.



TECHNICAL INFORMATION



Specified Operating Environment

Hardware Requirements: The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature requires the same hardware environments as IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE Version 1 Release 2. Requirements for 24-bit Virtual Storage are:

  • IDF: 600K bytes
  • Disassembler: 100K bytes
  • Plus working storage (depending on the application)
Software Requirements: The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature operates in all MVS and VM environments where IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VS Version 1 Release 2 (MVS & VM Edition) operates. The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature does not operate in VSE environments. (The structured programming macros may be usable under VSE/ESA, but they have not been tested and are not supported in VSE/ESA environments.)

User Group Requirements: This announcement satisfies or partially satisfies two requirements from one or more of the worldwide user group communities, which include Australasian SHARE/GUIDE (ASG), COMMON, COMMON Europe, GUIDE International, G.U.I.D.E. Europe, Japan GUIDE/SHARE (JGS), Guide Latin American (LAG), SHARE EUROPE and SHARE Incorporated.

  • CALANG93029 -- 390 Structured Programming Macros
  • SALANG91615 -- Provide Support for INSPECT in Assembler H



Planning Information

Installability: The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature is planned to be included as an optional, separately priced feature in the first release of the new OS/390 product for MVS customers, as described in Software Announcement 295-423, dated October 10, 1995.

Packaging: The High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature will be available on the same types of media as IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE.



Security, Auditability, and Control

The announced program uses the security and auditability features of the host operating system.

User management is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities.



ORDERING INFORMATION



Current Licensees

This feature can be ordered as an MES for installed users of the MVS & VM Edition of IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE. The charge type selected must be the same as the base program (one-time charge or monthly license charge).



New Licensees

For ordering information on the base program, IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE, refer to Software Announcement 295-006, dated January 26, 1995.

Orders for new licenses will be accepted now. Shipment will begin on the planned availability date.

New users of IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE should specify: 

         Type           Model


         5696           234

Basic License: To order this feature for the basic license, specify the program number and feature number 9001 for asset registration. Specify feature number 0170 for a monthly license charge or feature number 0171 for a one-time charge. Specify the feature number of the desired distribution medium shown below.

Entry Support License (ESL): To order this feature for an ESL license, specify the program number, feature number 9001 for asset registration and the applicable ESL one-time charge feature number. Also specify the feature number of the desired distribution medium. 

                                                ESL
Program                                   One-Time Charge
Number         Description                 Feature Number


5696-234       High Level
               Assembler for
               MVS & VM & VSE                   0172

Note: ESL machines can be determined by referring to the IBM Entry End User/390 Attachment (Z125-4379).

Basic Machine-Readable Material: To order, select the feature number of the desired distribution medium: 

                       Feature
Environment            Number           Distribution Medium


  MVS                  5820             9/1600 Tape
  MVS                  5821             9/6250 Tape
  MVS                  5822             3480 Tape
  MVS                  6100             4-mm DAT
                       Feature
Environment            Number           Distribution Medium


  VM                   5830             9/1600 Tape
  VM                   5831             9/6250 Tape
  VM                   5832             3480 Tape
  VM                   5834              1/4-inch QIC 120
  VM                   6101             4-mm DAT

Customization Options: Select the appropriate feature number(s) to customize your order to specify the delivery options desired. These features can be specified on the initial or MES orders.

Example: If publications are not desired for the initial order, and for future updates, specify feature numbers 3470 to ship media only, and 3480 to ship media updates only. In the future if publication updates were required, order an MES to remove feature number 3480, and the publications will ship with the next release for the program. 

                                                    Feature
Description                                         Number


Initial Shipments


Serial Number Only (suppresses shipment
  of media and documentation)                       3444


Ship Media Only (suppresses initial
  shipment of documentation)                        3470


Ship Documentation Only (suppresses
  initial shipment of media)                        3471


Update Shipments


Ship Media Updates Only (suppresses
  update shipment of documentation)                 3480


Ship Documentation Only (suppresses
  update shipment of media)                         3481


Suppress Updates (suppresses update
  shipment of media and documentation)              3482


Expedite Shipments


Local IBM Office Expedite
  (for IBM use only)                                3445


Customer Expedite Process Charge
  ($30 charge for each product)                     3446

Expedite shipments will be processed to receive 72 hour delivery from the time IBM Software Manufacturing Solutions (SMS) receives the order. SMS will then ship the order via overnight air transportation.

DSLO License: To order this feature for a DSLO license, specify the program number and feature number 9524 for a monthly license charge or feature number 9525 for a one-time charge.

Ordering a DSLO feature will result in IBM maintaining a record of this customer location as a DSLO user only. All material for the DSLO license must be ordered by the basic licensee. If a user selects DSLO, no other feature numbers are valid for this order and no program materials or updates will be shipped.

Unlicensed Documentation: A memo and one copy of the following publications are supplied automatically with the basic machine-readable material: 

                                                    Order
Title                                               Number


High Level Assembler for MVS & VM
 & VSE Toolkit Interactive Debug
 Facility User's Guide                              GC26-8709


High Level Assembler for MVS & VM
 & VSE Toolkit User's Guide                         GC26-8710


High Level Assembler for MVS & VM
 & VSE Toolkit Installation and
 Customization Guide                                GC26-8711


High Level Assembler for MVS & VM
 & VSE Toolkit Interactive Debug
 Facility Reference Summary                         GC26-8712


High Level Assembler for MVS & VM
 & VSE Licensed Program Specifications              GC26-4944

Additional copies of unlicensed publications will be available for a fee immediately after product availability. These copies may be ordered from your IBM representative, through the System Library Subscription Service (SLSS) or by direct order.

Displayable Softcopy Publications: High Level Assembler Toolkit Feature manuals are offered in displayable softcopy form. All unlicensed manuals are included. The displayable manuals are part of the basic machine-readable material. The files are shipped on the same media type as the basic machine-readable material.

These displayable manuals can be used with the BookManager (TM) READ licensed programs in any of the supported environments. Terms and Conditions for use of the machine-readable files are shipped with the files.

Subsequent updates (technical newsletters or revisions between releases) to the publications shipped with the product will be distributed to the user of record for as long as a license for this software remains in effect. A separate publication order or subscription is not needed.



TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The terms for IBM High Level Assembler for MVS & VM & VSE, as previously announced in Software Announcement 295-006, licensed under the IBM Customer Agreement are unaffected by this announcement.



CHARGES

Contact your IBM representative for charges information for this announcement.

For additional information, refer to Software Announcement 295-006, dated January 26, 1995. 

 (TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation



CALL NOW TO ORDER

To order or to request more information, you can contact:

IBM Direct: IBM Direct, our national direct marketing organization, can also arrange to put your name on the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products. 

 Phone:     800-IBM-CALL
 Fax:       800-2IBM-FAX
 Internet:  ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
 Mail:      IBM Direct
            Dept. LE010
            P.O. Box 16848
            Atlanta, GA  30321-0848
 Reference: LE010

To identify your local IBM Authorized Business Partner or IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.