Dataset ENQ and CONtention

If you are trying to edit or view a dataset and you get a message "data set in use", how will you find who is using it? ISRDDN is the answer.

Type TSO ISRDDN (in some shops its just ISRDDN - no TSO prefix required) and hit enter. Then type ENQ and hit enter.

You will get a screen like this:


Type your dataset name (or prefix) in "Minor name prefix" and hit enter.

You'll get a list of all the users/jobs that are viewing/editing the
dataset(s) under the Job Name field. These are color coded to indicate the following ENQue status:

GREEN - Shared
REVERSE GREEN - Waiting for shared
RED - Exclusive
REVERSE RED - Waiting for exclusive

For the System ENQ List you may specify specific Major, and Minor prefixes, as well as specific job or user prefixes to reduce the size of the list.

You can use the RESET command to reset these values to defaults.

On the ENQ display screen, you can type ALL to view all system ENQs or RESET to view the SYSDSN enqs for your user id.

The System ENQ Contention display (command Con) shows all ENQ contention on the system.

Fast Load abend - IEC146I 513-04

You are running Platinum Fast Load job and the job fails on you with an "IEC146I 513-04" error.

IEC146I 513-04 means
"An OPEN macro instruction was issued for a magnetic tape data set allocated to a device that already has an open data set on it. Make sure that the first data set is closed before the second is opened, or allocate the second data set to a different device. This error may be due to a
previous abnormal end associated with the same unit in the same step. If so, correct the error causing the previous abnormal end."

Problem:
As per the above message, you are trying open the dataset for two different purposes in the same job step.

In your LOAD card, see what you've specified for INDDN. In my case, I had specified INDDN SYSREC.

Fast Load user guide says "If you will be performing an OUTPUT-CONTROL ALL type load, and you want to specify INDDN SYSREC, you must also specify UNLDDN and change its default value. Otherwise, Unicenter Fast Load will try to use SYSREC as an input and a work file."

OUTPUT-CONTROL ALL is the default. I noticed that I didn't have a UNLDDN DD name in my JCL.

Fix:
Either specify a UNLDDN DD in your JCL step or change INDDN to something other than SYSREC. I changed it to SYSULD and it worked.

CA Intertest (Batch) Tips

If you use CA's Intertest for Batch to debug your batch COBOL programs or stored procedures, read on.

There are a few commands that you use frequently. Set them commands in PFKEYS for ease of use:

STEP 1 - Set steps to go in each run to 1 (I usually set it to PF4)
GO - Run as many steps as described in the STEP command (I usually set it to PF5)
RUN - Run until the next breakpoint (I usually set it to PF6)
KUP - Scroll Up in the Data Display Window (I usually set it to PF17)
KDOWN - Scroll Down in the Data Display Window (I usually set it to PF18)