Descriptor codes indicate the significance of a message. Specifically,
descriptor codes let the user know the status of the system itself
or that of a specific task:
- Has it stopped processing?
- Is it waiting for another action to be completed?
- Or, is it continuing to process?
In addition, this code determines how the system displays and delete
the message.
- Code
- Description
- 1
- System Failure
The message indicates an unrecoverable
error. To continue, the operator must reIPL the system or restart
a major subsystem.
- 2
- Immediate Action Required
The message indicates that
the operator must perform an action immediately. The message issuer
can be in a wait state until the action is performed, or the system
needs the action as soon as possible to improve performance. The task
waits for the operator to complete the action.
Note: When an authorized
program issues a message with descriptor code 2, a DOM macro instruction must be
issued to delete the message after the requested action is performed.
- 4
- System Status
The message indicates the status of a
system task or of a hardware unit.
- 6
- Job Status
The message indicates the status of a job
or job step.