Through the use of Exits and Processor Groups, it is possible to automatically re-compile the changed objects, and re-link any components which require those objects. Endevor also has several optional system features such as External Security, and alternate RACF user ID support.
Starting with Release 39, Endevor provides licensed users a powerful Endevor Services API (ENA$NDVR). This interface permits full-function access to read or update source objects residing in an Endevor repository. During Server initialization, Mainframe Access will attempt to load this interface into memory. If this API interface is available through the standard search order (STEPLIB, JOBLIB, or SYS1.LINKLIB at the customer site) then Endevor services will be offered. Startup messages will indicate if Endevor is available. It is a customer responsibility to provide a suitable STEPLIB concatenation for selection of the desired release and version of the Endevor components. Mainframe Access will examine the Endevor C1DEFLTS table to determine the version of Endevor being used. This is necessary because the control structures used by the Endevor API versions are not fully downward-compatible. Mainframe Access must build the API request using the format demanded by the version in effect at your site. If no C1DEFLTS table is found, Endevor support will not be enabled.
//STEPLIB DD DSN=hlq.MFA.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR
// DD DSN=CAI.NDVRR16.CSIQAUTU,DISP=SHR
// DD DSN=CAI.NDVRR16.CSIQAUTH,DISP=SHR
//CONLIB DD DSN=CAI.NDVRR16.CSIQLOAD,DISP=SHR
Note that the Endevor API was designed to be a batch-oriented service. It is a file-based interface, not a record-based interface. That is, an object is moved from an Endevor-managed repository, to a specified work file; or vice-versa. Mainframe Access will dynamically create the necessary files as required. A transaction history log is likewise written to a log file. Mainframe Access may optionally be configured to retain a full Endevor transaction log to be used as an audit trail. Access to the Endevor interface is serialized since Endevor does not support concurrent accesses from the same address space. At the same time, all Endevor user exits and packages are operational. This means that site customization will affect the response time for an end-user accessing Endevor data under Mainframe Access. This may require adjustments to the timeout parameters on the clients.
Since all data movement is facilitated through temporary files, Mainframe Access is not able to support the Dsname Validation feature of Endevor. The temporary file used by Mainframe Access is deleted as soon as the transaction (Import or Export) ends. For those sites employing this feature, users could use the Endevor dialog tools under TSO to move their members into their own PDS. Then Mainframe Access could be used to move the PDS member from the mainframe to the workstation, and vice-versa. A subsequent promotion to Endevor would then indeed come from the exact same PDS that received the file at sign-out.
Mainframe Access does maintain the user ID security context for each active thread using the standard IBM security environment and standard SAF calls. Mainframe Access will always invoke the Endevor API interface using the security credentials of the end-user as provided during client logon. To minimize some administrative overhead, Micro Focus recommends the adoption of an Alternate RACF user ID to simplify the administration of RACF access rights for the user population. Access security remains a SITE responsibility. This is no different than standard BATCH or TSO access under Endevor. Mainframe Access will not schedule any Endevor access using the Mainframe Access started-task profile. Also be mindful that some change control "processors" might better be managed by specialist personnel using the Endevor ISPF panels rather than being triggered repeatedly by online Mainframe Access users.
Endevor support is available for R14 and later.