Abend panels provide diagnostic information

When ISPF processing ends abnormally, diagnostic panels are available for displaying:

Task abend code
Reason code
Module name
Entry point address
Program-Status Word (PSW)
Register content at the time of the abend

This information is used in logged abend messages. A tutorial panel displays a list of the common abend codes.

On abnormal ISPF termination, the Error Recovery panel shown in Figure 1 indicates the abend code and reason code.

Figure 1. Error Recovery Panel (ISPPRS1)

                                 Error Recovery
 Command ===>


      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
      * *               ISPF processor ended abnormally               * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * *          System abend code        0C1                       * *
      * *                       Reason code 01                        * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * *  Note: The ABEND and REASON codes displayed above are       * *
      * *        HEXADECIMAL values for "SYSTEM" abends and DECIMAL   * *
      * *        values for "USER" abends.                            * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * *  Enter HELP command for list of common ABEND codes.         * *
      * *  Press ENTER key for additional DIAGNOSTIC information.     * *
      * *  Enter END command to display primary option menu.          * *
      * *                                                             * *
      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If the SDWA (System Diagnostic Work Area) Reason Code is not supplied, that is, the SDWA reason code flag bit is OFF, the Reason Code panel field is blank. If the abend code documentation indicates that the reason code is in a particular register, see the contents of that register, which can be displayed on the Additional Diagnostic Information panel as shown in Figure 2.

If you enter HELP, ISPF displays a list of the common abend codes. To return to the Error Recovery panel, enter END from the Common ABEND panel.

If you press Enter from the Error Recovery panel, the Additional Diagnostic Information panel is displayed. Figure 2 shows sample data where the SDWA extension is installed. The format for the register content is slightly different if the SDWA extension is not present.

Figure 2. Additional Diagnostic Information panel (ISPPRS3)

                       Additional Diagnostic Information
 Command ===>
                                                                    More:     +

               System abend code        = 0C1
                            Reason code = 01

          ISPF Release Level : 5.7.0000

          Module name  . . . : ASMTEST
          Entry point address  0000D488

          PSW  . . . . . . . : 078D1000  0000D4BC

          Register content:

          R0  00000000 - 16308E22 R1  00000000 - 00048EA4
          R2  00000000 - 0000D4D0 R3  00000000 - 00048AC0
          R4  00000000 - 00048AAC R5  00000000 - FFFFFFFF
          R6  00000000 - 00000000 R7  00000000 - 00000001
          R8  00000000 - 00000000 R9  00000000 - 00039060
          R10 00000000 - 00048AA8 R11 00000000 - 00000000
          R12 00000000 - 0000D488 R13 00000000 - 0000D4D0
          R14 00000000 - 80FCC860 R15 00000000 - 0000D488

Entry point, PSW, and register values are in hexadecimal. Abend code and reason code are in hexadecimal for system abends and in decimal for user abends. Meanings for the entries on the Additional Diagnostic Information panel are:

Abend code: Abend completion code, identified on the panel as "user" or "system".
Reason code: Component reason code or return code associated with the abend.
ISPF Release Level: ISPF version/release/modification level.
Module Name: Name of abending program or *NOT SPECIFIED* if no name is available.
Entry Point Address: Entry point address of abending program.
PSW: Program-Status Word at time of error.
Register content: General Purpose register content at time of error.

If the Recovery Termination Manager (RTM) could not get storage for the System Diagnostic Work Area (SDWA) or an error occurred within the error routine, all fields on this panel will contain 0's, with the exception of the abend code and ISPF release level. Those fields will contain the correct data.

You can enter the HELP command from this panel as well to display the list of common abend codes. Information associated with an abend is available from the ISPF log file.

Press the END function key to return to the primary option menu.