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  • 1.  Link-edit error during trial using remote sample COBOL program

    Posted 06/28/20 05:01 AM
    Edited by Meng Chai 06/28/20 05:02 AM

    Disclaimer: This post is migrated from IBM Developer Answers that is no longer in use. Its original author is BigTFromAZ , posted on Feb 09,2020.

    We have recently installed and are trying out IDz 14.1. The z installation passes validation and we can connect with the IDz 14.1 Eclipse version. Our first step was to build the remote sample COBOL app. The sample app is composed with two programs, STARTAPP (entry point) and PRINTAPP (subroutine). We created a sub project and set about building the sample. The sub project is using the ELAXFCOC proc.

    Both programs are compiling condition code 0 but there is a problem with the link-edit. 

    The link-edit step fails to create a usable load module. The following two DD generated statements, taken from the job listing, show the cause.

    75 //LINK.OBJ0000 DD DISP=SHR,DSN=xxxxx.COBOBJS.OBJ(PRINTAPP)

    76 //LINK.OBJ0001 DD DISP=SHR,DSN=xxxxx.COBOBJS.OBJ(PRINTAPP)

    It seems clear that we have managed to include the same program twice rather than each program once.

    Is this a bug or is there something we did wrong?

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    Question asked by BigTFromAZ on Feb 09, 2020
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  • 2.  RE: Link-edit error during trial using remote sample COBOL program

    Posted 06/28/20 05:06 AM
    Edited by Meng Chai 06/28/20 05:15 AM

    @BigTFromNJ - I was able to recreate your issue. I assume that you were following the steps documented here https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSQ2R2_8.5.1/com.ibm.rdz.sample.remote.simplecobol.doc/topics/rdz_remote_simplecobol_sample_project.html and therefore you used the Rebuild Project action. Meanwhile I suspect that @rogern was simply using the Generate JCL > Compile Link action.

    We will continue to investigate the issue but I agree this seems like a bug that both OBJ0000 and OBJ0001 are generated to use PRINTAPP.

    I would say that the vast majority of our users compile their programs through their Source Code Management process, or via integration between the IDz Menu Manager feature and their company REXX or CLISTs. Others use the Generate JCL feature and I doubt many use the Rebuild Project action.

    Also I would say that most of our users open Service Requests with IBM Support to get clarification regarding potential issues. https://www-947.ibm.com/support/servicerequest/Home.action We are trying to provide more self service opportunities but it is a work in progress for users who have traditionally only worked with IBM Support. I see that you also found our old RDz Forum, as you asked the same question there. We are still transitioning to this dW Answers Q&A area you are reading now.

    Finally I wanted to make sure you were aware of some other learning opportunities we provide:

    Free Technical Training (available almost daily at the moment) - https://developer.ibm.com/mainframe/idzrdz-remote-training/

    Videos - https://developer.ibm.com/mainframe/videos/category/rdz/

    Blogs - https://developer.ibm.com/mainframe/category/rdz/

    Continue to let us know if there is something we can assist you with in the future.


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    Answered by walexand on Feb 13, 2020
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  • 3.  RE: Link-edit error during trial using remote sample COBOL program

    Posted 06/28/20 05:20 AM
    Edited by Meng Chai 06/28/20 05:23 AM

    We ran into the bug validating the installation using the Remote COBOL sample. Bug aside, we have already determined we will want a different build process than the one offered by the JCL generator. If we are going to customize, then REXX would be our language of choice.

    Currently, we use a number of PROCs. Each source module has entries in separate libraries for source, object, load, and link-edit statements. At the moment a given source library contains all the source code for a release, regardless of language. The full build-job runs the correct compiler for each source member. We use dynamic linking wherever possible but we do have some static link requirements. Languages are COBOL, ASSEMBLER and a little Java on z; lots of .NET and Java code coordinated to the z build.

    We don't have a strong need for team-level source management. Library backups moved to cloud storage are sufficient for short-term high frequency backups. Simple branching is accomplished by copying libraries with release names. Not to shine our own badge but we have so few critical bugs we we rarely have to merge branches, one occurrence in the last two years.

    Are there any REXX samples we can use to get a start? We don't need much. Once we know how to get a script kicked off and arguments passed to it (e.g.source file name), we will build what we need.

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    Replied by BigTFromAZ on Feb 14, 2020
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Link-edit error during trial using remote sample COBOL program

    Posted 06/28/20 05:22 AM
    Edited by Meng Chai 06/28/20 05:24 AM

    I do not have sample REXX at the ready, but I will ask around. You might be interested in this 1 hour session from our virtual conference in 2016. It goes over some Menu Manager basics and then a user shows his implementation: https://developer.ibm.com/tv/using-menu-manager-to-integrate-rdz-with-rexx-execs-and-clists/

    In additional here is a comprehensive document about using Menu Manager: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/files/form/anonymous/api/library/0014b39f-2573-4436-b1d5-7d54e6f86770/document/42ee3298-6939-4726-94ee-02ce0c9f77a4/media/RDz%2520Workbench%2520-%2520Menu%2520Manager.pdf


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    Answered by walexand on Feb 14, 2020
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Link-edit error during trial using remote sample COBOL program

    Posted 06/28/20 05:26 AM
    Edited by Meng Chai 06/28/20 05:32 AM

    @walexand Thanks for the offer although there is no need do do that. All I needed was some help getting the plumbing together to invoke a procedure and pass it relevant parameters.

    I was able to do that after reading what I could regarding the Menu Manager and after a significant amount of trial and error.

    One plan would be be to add menu commands invoking TSO or BATCH REXX commands that allow: single member compilation and link; net change compilation and link (comparing object and source timestamps); and finally full compilation and link.

    Although we can certainly roll our own, we held a discussion yesterday and believe the z/OS sub project/property group approach has merit. In order to proceed down that route, we would need this bug shot, or otherwise mitigated.

    In general though we like the product and will probably continue to use it.


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    Answered by BigTFromAZ on Feb 14, 2020
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    Original Message


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