Inspecting and modifying data

The inspection function is controlled by the VERIFY statement. VERIFY allows you to check the contents of a specific location in a load module member of a PDS, a program object member of a PDSE or a z/OS® UNIX file, a specific physical record of a direct access data set, or a record of a member of a data PDSE before you replace the contents. If the contents at the specified location do not agree with the contents as specified in the VERIFY statement, subsequent REP operations are not performed.

Note: A PDSE containing data other than a program object will be referred to as a PDSE data library.

The SPZAP modification function is controlled by the REP (replace) control statement. The REP control statement allows you to replace instructions or data at a specific location in a load module member of a PDS, a program object in a PDSE or a z/OS UNIX file, a physical record in a direct access data set or a record of a member of a PDSE data library.

To avoid possible errors in replacing data, you should always precede any REP operation with a VERIFY operation.

SPZAP is often used to inspect and modify the contents of executable programs to correct errors. Executable programs can be in one of two forms:
Note:
  1. All subsequent references in this topic to a program object in a PDSE also apply to a program object in a z/OS UNIX file.
  2. For program objects located in a PDSE, SPZAP only supports CSECTs assembled with the GOFF or SECTALGN(>8) options.
In addition, SPZAP can be used to inspect and modify data other than executable programs. Examples of such types of data are:
There are several types of data sets that are not supported by SPZAP:
See the following topics for more information: