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Creating and Maintaining the VSAM Interface File

ChangeMan ZMF does not create the VSAM Interface File and cannot add new records to it. The non-ChangeMan ZMF user application must create this file and add the appropriate change records to it.

Note

The VSAM File Interface differs from the INFO Option in this respect.

Once the target VSAM Interface change record exists, ChangeMan ZMF can and does maintain it.

The following data sets are shipped with ChangeMan ZMF to help you create and maintain the VSAM Interface File:

  • hlq.COPYBOOKS(CMNINFVS) provides an Assembler Language copybook that describes the record format for the VSAM Interface File.

  • hlq.CNTL(CMNINFVS) provides sample JCL to create and initialize the VSAM Interface File.

  • hlq.CNTL(CMNINFSD) provides sample JCL to load the needed records into the VSAM Interface File.

You should have experience in creating and maintaining VSAM files to perform these tasks.

VSAM Interface File Format

hlq.COPYBOOKS(CMNINFVS) provides an Assembler Language copybook that describes the record format for the VSAM Interface File. The following table describes these fields and identifies the associated fields in a ChangeMan ZMF change package record.

Note that the VSAM Interface change record has some fields that are not in the corresponding ChangeMan ZMF change package record; likewise, the ChangeMan ZMF change package record has some fields that are not reflected in the corresponding VSAM Interface change record.

Field Name Format a Description Corresponding ChangeMan ZMF Change Package Field
INFVINF# 8 Certification Number Work Request Id
INFVSYS 8 Application Id (ChangeMan ZMF recognizes only the first 4 characters) Application ID
INFVDEPT 4 Department Code Department
INFVAPRV 1 Certification Overall Approve
A = Approve
P = Pending
R = Reject
Any other value has the same effect as P (Pending). See Updating the VSAM Interface Change Record for a discussion of the effect of field values on the change-package approval process in ChangeMan ZMF.
ChangeMan ZMF checks the value of this field during the change package approval process to obtain approval, rejection, or pending response from the target VSAM interface change record.
None
INFVREQ 25 Requester Name Requester’s Name
INFVFONE 15 Requester Phone Requester’s Phone
INFVCERT 8 Certification Date For user application use only. No corresponding change package field.
INFVINST 8 Installation Date
(yyyymmdd)
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the earliest Installation Date specified for the remote sites.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Installation Date specified for the package.
Install Date
INFVSTAT 2 Status For user application use only. No corresponding change package field.
INFVUS01 3 user field For user application use only. No corresponding change package field.
INFVIFTM 4 Installation From Time
(hhmm, in 24-hour format. For example, 1300 is 1:00 p.m.)
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the earliest Installation From Time specified for the remote sites.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Installation From Time specified for the package.
From Time
INFVITTM 4 Installation To Time
(hhmm, in 24-hour format)
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the earliest Installation To Time specified for the remote sites.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Installation To Time specified for the package.
To Time
INFVCNAM 25 Coverage Name
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the Primary Contact Name associated with the remote site where the earliest installation is scheduled.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Primary Contact Name specified for the package.
Primary Contact Name
INFVCFON 15 Coverage Phone
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the Primary Contact Phone associated with the remote site where the earliest installation is scheduled.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Primary Contact Phone specified for the package.
Primary Contact Phone
INFVCNA1 25 Coverage Name 2
ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the Backup Contact Name associated with the remote site where the earliest installation is scheduled.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Backup Contact Name specified for the package.
Backup Contact Name
INFVCFO2 15 Coverage Phone 2 ChangeMan ZMF or the user interface can populate this field. If this record does not represent ALL sites, this field contains the Primary Contact Phone associated with the remote site where the earliest installation is scheduled.
If this record does represent an ALL site, this field contains the Primary Contact Phone specified for the package.
Backup Contact Phone
INFVCDAT 8 Current Date For user application use only. No corresponding change package field.
INFVCTIM 8 Current Time
(hhmmssxx, where xx is hundredths of a second)
For user application use only. No corresponding change package field.
INFVDESC 72 Description Package Title
INFVPKG# 10 ChangeMan Package #
ChangeMan ZMF assigns a value to this field at the time the change package is created. The user application should not update this field.
Package Id
INFVCMST 3 Status
ChangeMan ZMF assigns a value to this field (DEV, FRZ, APR, and so on) when the status of the package changes. The user application should not update this field.
Package Status
INFVTPKG 1 Package Type
1 = Planned
2 = Unplanned
Package Type
INFVLPKG 1 Package Level
1 = Simple
2 = Complex
3 = Super
4 = Participating
Package Level
INFVCRDT 8 Package Create Date
Populated by ChangeMan ZMF.
Package Create Date
INFVCRTM 4 Package Create Time
(hhmm)
Populated by ChangeMan ZMF.
Package Create Time
INFVCTSO 8 Package Creator
ChangeMan ZMF assigns a value to this field at the time the package is created. The user application should not update this field.
Package Creator
(TSO userid)
INFVRLSN 8 Package Release Name
If you have licensed the ERO Option, this field identifies the name of the release to which the package is attached.
Release
INFVRARE 8 Package Release Target Area
If you have licensed the ERO Option, this field identifies the target release area for the package.
Area
INFVSW1 1 Date/Time Updated Switch
See Update Switch Usage Notes
No corresponding change package field
INFVSW2 1 Control Information Update Switch
See Update Switch Usage Notes.
No corresponding change package field
INFVSW3 1 Status Updated Switch
See Update Switch Usage Notes.
No corresponding change package field
INFVSW4 1 Release Updated Switch
See Update Switch Usage Notes.
No corresponding change package field
INFVSTE# 2 Number of Sites. Calculated number that reflects the number of remote sites. The user interface populates this field when the record is created and there are remote sites. ChangeMan ZMF updates this field if remote sites are added or deleted. None

a All fields in a VSAM Interface change record are character format.

The following fields can occur up to 36 times. The first occurrence contains information about the primary installation site. The next 25 occurrences contain information about up to 35 remote installation sites.

Field Name Format a Description Corresponding ChangeMan ZMF Change Package Field
INFVSITE 8 Remote Site Name Site Name
INFVRDAT 8 Remote Site Install Date
(yyyymmdd)
Site Install Date
INFVRFTM 4 Remote Site Install From Time
(hhmm)
Site Install From Time
INFVRTTM 4 Remote Site Install To Time
(hhmm)
Site Install To Time
INFVRNAM 25 Remote Coverage Name Name of the Primary Contact at the remote site
INFVRFON 15 Remote Coverage Phone Phone of the Primary Contact at the remote site
INFVRNA1 25 Remote Coverage Name 2 Name of the Backup Contact at the remote site
INFVRFO2 15 Remote Coverage Phone 2 Phone of the Backup Contact at the remote site

a All fields in a VSAM Interface change record are character format.

Update Switch Usage Notes

When the ChangeMan ZMF user updates selected information about a change package, ChangeMan ZMF updates the appropriate switch with an asterisk and other fields in the target VSAM interface change record with the appropriate values.

The user application should periodically check the value of these switches, take the appropriate action, and re-initialize the switch with a blank. The next time selected information about the target change package changes, ChangeMan ZMF again updates the appropriate switch with an asterisk. The user application can, in that fashion, track and respond as appropriate to changes to the target change package.

Date/Time Updated Switch (INFVSW1)

ChangeMan ZMF updates this field with an asterisk whenever an install date or time (including the install date or time at a remote site) is changed. If this field contains an asterisk, the user application should check all install date and time fields in the target VSAM Interface change record and take the appropriate action.

Control Information Update Switch (INFVSW2)

ChangeMan ZMF updates this field with an asterisk at the time the associated change package is first created.

ChangeMan ZMF also updates this field with an asterisk whenever the Package Id is updated. This can occur only if all of the following conditions are true:

  1. You have deleted, in ChangeMan ZMF, the change package that was identified in the target VSAM interface change record.

  2. The target VSAM Interface change record is reused by a new change package. This is only possible if the following prompt on the Global INFO VSAM Interface Options panel (CMNGVINF) is set to YES:

    CMNGVINF                  Info VSAM Interface Options 
    Command ===> _____________________________________________________________
    
    Enter "/" to select option   
    _ Reuse INFO record number for deleted packages   
    _ INFO Management cannot reject packages   
    _ Create temporary package if INFO record not found   
    _ Approve package if INFO record is approved   
    _ Bypass INFO record updates during housekeeping
    

    The first option allows the reuse of INFO numbers previously used by deleted packages. Once the number is reused by another package the package in a DEL status cannot be undeleted.

    The seccond option if turned on will ignore any INFO record approval status except the actual approval (A).

    The third option if turned on will force the creation of an unplanned temporary package with a duration of 1 day if the INFO number specified is not found. If the duration was filled in for a longer period this duration will be used.

    The fourth option if turned on will automatically approve the package for the INFO entity INFOMGMT if INFO has already approved the change request when install JCL is built.

    The fifth and last option if turned on will bypass any calls for INFO record updates during the housekeeping process or the package aging process.

  3. You have created a new change package in ChangeMan ZMF and have specified this VSAM Interface change record key as the Work Request Id for the new package.

If this field contains an asterisk, the user application should take the appropriate action and reinitialize the switch with a blank.

Status Updated Switch (INFVSW3)

ChangeMan ZMF updates this field with an asterisk each time the Package Status is changed (goes from DEV to FRZ, for example). The user application should check the Status field (INFVCMST) in the target VSAM Interface change record, take the appropriate action, and re-initialize the switch with a blank.

Release Updated Switch (INFVSW4)

ChangeMan ZMF updates this field with an asterisk whenever the name of the release or release area is changed in ChangeMan ZMF. The user application should check the values in the Package Release (INFVRLSN) and Package Release Target Area (INFVRARE), take the appropriate action, and reinitialize the switch with a blank.

Creating the VSAM Interface File

Sample JCL for creating the VSAM Interface File is provided in hlq.CNTL(CMNINFVS).

Customize this JCL according to your installation standards and submit the job to create the VSAM Interface File.

Populating the VSAM Interface File

Sample JCL for populating the VSAM Interface File with change records is provided in hlq.CNTL(CMNINFSD).

You can customize this JCL according to your installation standards and submit the job to populate the VSAM Interface File with the change records that your application needs. VSAM Interface File Format describes the record format.

Detaching/Attaching the VSAM Interface File

Once you have identified the name of the VSAM Interface File to ChangeMan ZMF and recycled the ChangeMan ZMF started task, the started task attaches the VSAM Interface File and holds it open for use.

You must either bring down the ChangeMan ZMF started task or detach the VSAM Interface File when your non-ChangeMan ZMF user application needs to access the file for processing or maintenance.

The following table gives the command to detach and attach the VSAM Interface File and stop and start the ChangeMan ZMF started task. If you have the authority to issue console commands in the System Display and Search Facility (SDSF), you can issue these commands in SDSF:

Enter this Command in SDSF ... To Perform this Function ...
/F stc_name,CMN,DETACH,INFO Detach the VSAM Interface File from the ChangeMan ZMF started task.
/F stc_name,CMN,ATTACH,INFO Reattach the VSAM Interface File to the ChangeMan ZMF started task.
/F stc_name,sh,1 Bring down the ChangeMan ZMF started task gracefully.
/S *stc_name Start the ChangeMan ZMF started task.

where stc_name is the name of the ChangeMan ZMF started task. Use the System Display and Search Facility (SDSF) to bring up the SERPRINT display for the ChangeMan ZMF started task to verify the success of these commands.