Capabilities

The myid.PARMLIB.NOTES file, member WORKFLOWS, gives an overview of the tool's capabilities. The following is an enhanced version of that file.

The Parmlib Processing tool provides several functions.

The tool can be used as a LOADxx processor by specifying:
  • Member Name = desired LOADxx value
  • Do Symbol Substitution = N
  • LOADxx Member = blank
This brings up the LOADxx processing panel, which allows the following types of data validation:
  • Syntax Checking

    Syntax checking examines the LOADxx parmlib member, looking for data specification errors such as missing commas and illegal keywords. Syntax checking is performed when an existing supported LOADxx parmlib member is selected for EDIT or BROWSE mode. Any errors detected are listed before the EDIT or BROWSE panel is initialized or displayed. Only data that is valid and recognized by the tool is displayed on the EDIT or BROWSE panel.

  • Range and Type Checking

    Range and Type checking examines the data that is extracted from the LOADxx parmlib member, looking for value and type specification errors such as alphabetic characters being used when numerical data is required and numerical data that is not within a required range. The ISPF Panel and associated REXX program perform range and type checking. No range or type checking is done during syntax checking.

  • Data Verification

    Data verification is performed by typing VERIFY on the command line of the BROWSE or EDIT panels. Data verification takes the valid data from syntax, range and type checking and examines what they mean in the current system environment. For example, one of the fields in a LOADxx parmlib member may contain a pointer the another parmlib member. Data verification checks to see if that member exists in the specified parmlib.

GRSRNLXX PROCESSING: The tool can be used as a GRSRNLxx syntax checker by specifying:
  • Member Name = desired GRSRNLxx value
  • Do Symbol Substitution = Y - substitution must be specified in order to have syntax checking performed
  • LOADxx Member = blank
  • Syntax Checking

    Syntax checking examines the GRSRNLxx parmlib member, looking for data specification errors such as missing commas and illegal keywords, invalid QNAMEs, and duplication of entries. Syntax checking is performed when an existing GRSRNLxx parmlib member is selected for EDIT or BROWSE mode and symbol substitution is specified. Any errors detected are noted in ISPF EDIT or BROWSE messages that state the type of error and the record number containing the error.

Note: GRSCNFxx parmlib member syntax checking is not supported by the tool.
The tool can be used as a parmlib symbolic preprocessor by specifying:
  • Member Name = the name of a parmlib member containing symbolics to be processed
  • Do Symbol Substitution = Y
  • LOADxx Member= Desired LOADxx member. LOADxx is where a Symbol set is specified via the IEASYM statement.

The tool performs the following steps as a Parmlib Preprocessor:

  1. Verifies that the LOADxx member exists where it is supposed to.
  2. Reads the LOADxx member and examines its statements.
  3. Reads the IEASYMxx members and thoroughly processes each one using the same code that is used at IPL time. Any errors are noted with the same messages used during IPL. If no IEASYMxx members can be found, a message will be issued.
  4. Reads the IEASYSxx members and thoroughly processes each one. Any errors are noted with appropriate error messages. If no IEASYMxx members can be found, a message will be issued.
  5. Searches for the input member and opens it if found.
  6. Processes the input member through the symbol table built from reading the IEASYMxx members and the panel input fields. Any symbols that cannot be substituted are highlighted.
  7. If DOALL is invoked, each line of the IEASYSxx member will be read to see if other parmlib members are implied. If these members are not found, an error message will be issued. If these members are found, they will be processed as described in Step 6. Any apparent processing problems for IEASYSxx are also noted.
The tool can be used to obtain a parmlib member selection list by specifying:
  • Member Name = blank
  • Do Symbol Substitution = Y
  • LOADxx Member = blank

This places you in a panel displaying the different types of available parmlib members. When you select a parmlib member type the tool shows you a list of all members of that type in your parmlib data set, as specified on the main panel.

The tool can be used to obtain a parmlib member selection list from a concatenation of parmlibs by specifying:
  • Member Name = blank
  • Do Symbol Substitution = Y
  • LOADxx Member= LOADxx (where that LOADxx member has defined a concatenated parmlib via the PARMLIB keyword)

The parmlib processor places you in a panel displaying the different types of available parmlib members. When you select a parmlib member type the tool shows you a list of all members of that type in your data set concatenation, as determined by the LOADxx member specified on the main panel.

Parent topic: Symbolic Parmlib Parser