PM89231: CICS EP GENERATES EVENT CONTAINER WITH NO CONTENT WHEN LENGTH OPTION IN API IS NOT PRESENT

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• EVENT handling on SEND/RECEIVE MAP capture points produces an
  empty container DFHEP.DATA.00005 if the length is not present.
  The Information Sources is used to decide which part of data is
  to be captured. If length=0 specified, it will capture all data
  from certain offset till the end. Otherwise, it will capture
  the length as specified but if data is missing or the actual
  data area is short than capture length(for non-numeric data),
  it will return 'UNAVAILABLE_DATA'.
  After data captured, CICS EP adapter will format the captured
  data and then emit.
  If there is an API 'SEND MAP' or 'RECEIVE MAP' that does not
  specify option FROM or INTO/SET the CICS Translator defaults
  the FROM argument but not the LENGTH.
  If 'Length=Automatic Offset=0 Length=0' is coded in the
  Information Sources tab an empty DFHEP.DATA.00005 container is
  returned instead returning UNAVAILABLE_DATA.
  

Local fix

• n/a
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: All CICS users.                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: CICS EP generates event container with  *
  *                      no content when length option in API is *
  *                      not present.                            *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  A capture point is set at API 'SEND MAP' and capture data in
  option FROM area. At the time the event is triggered, there is
  no option FROM specified in API. However, FROM area is defaulted
  with xxxxxxxO where xxxxxxx is the map name. LENGTH option is
  not defaulted though. With the default data in FROM area and
  LENGTH unknown, CICS EP returns a container with no content.
  

Problem conclusion

• DFHECEC has been changed to add a check. If API LENGTH or
  FLENGTH attribute is not set and capture specification
  specifies a capture length of 0 we will treat this as data
  unavailable.
  
  CICS information center CICS Transaction Server for z/OS,
  Version 5.1->CICS Event binding editor->Concepts->
  CICS event binding editor tabs-> Specification tab
  ->Capture specification->Information Sources tab
  Below text:
  Length
  The length of the field to be captured. A length of 0 means
  capture up to the end of the data area or container. This value
  is useful when emitting, for example, the contents of a
  container regardless of its length.
  
  Has been changed to:
  Length
  Specifies the length of the field to be captured. Specify a
  length of 0 to capture up to the end of the data area or
  container. Specifying a length of 0 has the following effects:
  - For API commands where the length of the data area is
  specified (or defaulted by the translator) in a separate
  argument on the API command, all the contents of the data area
  or container are captured regardless of its length. For example,
  where COMMAREA and LENGTH are specified on a LINK command, all
  the data is captured.
  - For API commands where the data area being captured does not
  have a length argument, no data is captured. For example, where
  RIDFLD is specified on a READ command, or INTO is specified
  on a RECEIVE MAP command, there is no associated length
  argument, so 0 bytes of data are captured.
  

Temporary fix

• FIX AVAILABLE BY PTF ONLY
  

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PM88392

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

  UK95522

Modules/Macros

• DFHECEC
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  CICS TS Z/OS V5

• Fixed component ID

  5655Y0400

Applicable component levels

• R800 PSY UK95522

     UP13/07/06 P F307

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.