IT17832: PCOM: AUTSESS.DLL CRASH RUNNING MACROS ON WINDOWS 10 LTSB

IBM Personal Communications 12.0.2
Personal Communications 6.0.19

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• We are getting the C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\Personal
  Communications\autsess.dll error with version 12.0.0 on Windows
  10 Long Term Servicing Branch LTSB 64-bit with Office 2016
  32-Bit.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Using HACL Automation objects of IBM Personal Communications *
  * on Windows 10 Environment                                    *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * Invoking PCOMM HACL Automation object calls from a VBA       *
  * application could crash the calling application.             *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Environment: IBM Personal Communications v12.0 on Windows 10
  
  Invoking PCOMM HACL Automation object calls from a VBA
  application could crash the calling application.
  For instance, when a VBA macro is run from a Microsoft Excel
  application to connect to an existing PCOMM emulator session,
  the Excel application may crash reporting access violation
  inside the AutSess.dll module.
  
  A possible exception information would be as below:
  
  Faulting application name: EXCEL.EXE, version: 16.0.4366.1000,
  time stamp: 0x56e81993
  Faulting module name: autsess.dll, version: 12000.0.16050.170,
  time stamp: 0x56c6e94d
  Exception code: 0xc0000005
  Fault offset: 0x000050cb
  Faulting process id: 0x184c
  Faulting application start time: 0x01d1ac27693cf939
  Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft
  Office\Office16\EXCEL.EXE
  Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\Personal
  Communications\autsess.dll
  Report Id: dc4e42a7-181a-11e6-9bdf-64006a517d8c
  
  The problem is intermittent and may occur only on a few Windows
  10 environments.
  

Problem conclusion

• Investigation showed that the exception was reported while
  unloading AutSess.dll. However, there was no concrete evidence
  to show that AutSess.dll was at fault. However, using .NET
  Framework 4.6.1 to build the PCOMM's HACL Automation libraries
  resolved the reported abnormal termination.
  
  In addition, investigation showed a couple of first chance
  exceptions inside PCSCLIB.DLL and PCSWKBD.DLL. Code changes have
  been made to address these exceptions.
  
  The fix for this reported crash includes addressing the
  exceptions and building HACL Automation libraries using .NET
  Framework 4.6.1.
  
  Fix scheduled for PCOM 12.0.2.0 and 6.0.19 Refresh Packs.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• AUTSESS
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  PCOMM COMBO-ENC

• Fixed component ID

  5639I7000

Applicable component levels

• R60G PSY

     UP

• RC00 PSY

     UP