Application Debugging Tools

This chapter describes facilities available for debugging CA Ideal PDL applications.

DEBUG Command

This command initiates the debugging of a program. When you issue the DEBUG command, an initialization breakpoint appears on the screen that lets you specify (or alter) Debug commands. When a breakpoint is encountered, application processing stops, any commands attached to the breakpoint execute, and the Debug screen displays at the terminal. For complete syntax of debugger commands, see the Programming Reference Guide. For a description of use of the debugger, see the Creating Programs Guide.

In batch, follow the DEBUG command with Debug commands for the session and end with a GO command. When the GO command is encountered, execution of the program begins. When a breakpoint is encountered, any attached commands execute and application processing resumes. Output is written to the Debug print file.

Issuing the DEBUG command alone invokes the DEBUG prompter. DEBUG * debugs the current program.

This command has the following format:

      {*                         }
DEBUG {pgm-name [VERSION version]}
      {                          }
                  
      [UPDATE [DB] {Y}]
      [            {N}]

      [{PARAMETER} 'string']
	  [{MCPARM}		   ]	

      [            {MAIL 'email-id'      }]
      [            {LIB                  }]
      [DESTINATION {SYS name             }]
      [            {NET name [COPIES num]}]

      [            {KEEP   }]
      [DISPOSITION {RELEASE}]
      [            {HOLD   }]

      [MAXLINES n]

      [DESCRIPTION 'string']

      [         [{*                }]]
      [COMMANDS [{member [USER uuu]}]]
      [         [{                 }]]

DEBUG *

Debugs the current program.

pgm‑name

Specifies name of the program being debugged.

Version

Specifies version of the program being debugged.

nnn-One‑ to three‑ digit version number assigned to the program.
PRODUCTION-Production‑status version.
LAST-Latest version of the program created, that is, the version with the highest version number.

UPDATE

Either updates or bypasses updating the database.

Y-Updates the database.
N-Does not update the database.

PARAMETER or MCPARM 'string'

Define this parameter in the parameter definition fill‑in for the program being debugged as one alphanumeric (type X) character string defined for input only. (It cannot be a group item.) A single string passed to the program.

The length of the string is limited to the space available in the prompter. When you issue the DEBUG command in the command area, the command with parameter string is limited to one command line.

DESTINATION

Applies to all reports this program generates unless this destination information was overridden for one or more reports with the ASSIGN REPORT command. This clause differs from the more typical DESTINATION‑clause in that NAME name is excluded. The one‑ to eight‑character report name becomes the output name. Select from the following:

MAIL 'email‑id'-Delimited 1‑ to 60‑character name of an CA eMail+ destination.
LIBRARY-Output library.
SYSTEM name-System printer name.
NET name-Network printer name (not available in batch).

COPIES num

Specifies the number of copies a system or network printer in an online environment is to print.

Limits: Cannot exceed site maximum.

Note: This clause is ignored in batch.

DISPOSITION

Select the disposition clause from the following:

KEEP
RELEASE
HOLD

For more information about DISPOSITION, see the Working in the Environment guide.

MAXLINES n

Specifies maximum number of lines for any one report that a program can produce. The upper limit for MAXLINES is established at CA Ideal installation or by a SET OUTPUT SITE OPTIONS fill‑in, and only applies to reports going to the output library. Any report reaching this maximum stops the run. This entry does not affect reports produced and printed in batch.

DESCRIPTION 'string'

Describes 1‑ to 32‑ character length description as an output. The description displays as part of the output status (described in Working in the Environment). The default description DEBUGGER OUT applies if the user does not provide a description in the DEBUG command.

COMMANDS

Specifies the name of the data member to use for debugging commands:

*-Current member from the status line.
Member-Name of the data member to use for the debugging commands. The default is DEBUG.
uuu-User ID of the data member. The default is the current user.

The operands of the command when specified act as follows:

Online-If no member name is specified, member DEBUG is used. If member DEBUG already exists, the contents of the member are saved.
Batch-If no member name is specified, a member unique to this run is used.

In both online and batch, if a member name is specified, it is created if it does not already exist. If this member already exists, the content of the member is saved.