Add messages to a file

You use the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command to describe your predefined messages and to add them to the message file you created.

On the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command, you specify the message identifier, the name of the message file into which the message is to be placed, and the message description. In the message description, you can specify:

Message text (required) with optional substitution variables
Message help text with optional substitution variables
Severity code
Description of the format of the message data to be used for the substitution variables
Validity checking values for a reply
Default value for a reply
Default message handling action for escape messages
Creation level
Alert options
Entry in the error log
Coded Character Set ID (CCSID)

The following commands are also available for use with message descriptions:

Change Message Description (CHGMSGD): Changes a message description.
Display Message Description (DSPMSGD): Displays a message description. (A range of message identifiers can be specified in this command.)
Remove Message Description (RMVMSGD): Removes a message description from a message file.
Retrieve Message (RTVMSG): Retrieves a message from a message file.
Merge Message File (MRGMSGF): Merges messages from one message file into another message file.
Work with Message Descriptions (WRKMSGD): Displays a list of messages in a file and allows you to add, change, or delete message descriptions.

Assign a message identifier
The message identifier you specify on the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command is used to refer to the message and is the name of the message description.
Define messages and message help
You can define two levels of messages on the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command. The text of the message is required and should identify the condition that caused the message to be issued. Message help is optional and should explain the condition further or explain the corrective action to be taken.
Define substitution variables
On the FMT parameter on the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command, you can specify substitution variables for either first- or second-level messages.
Assign a severity code
The severity code you assign to a message on the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command indicates how important the message is.
Specify validity checking for replies
On the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command, you can specify the type of reply that is valid for an inquiry or notify message.
Example: Send an immediate message and handling a reply
This example shows how a procedure sends an inquiry message and handles the reply.
Define default values for replies
The Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command allows you to specify a default value for a reply to your message.
Specify default message handling for escape messages
For each message you create that can be sent as an escape message, you can set up a default message handling action to be used if the message, when sent, is not handled any other way.
Example: Describe a message
This example shows how to create a message to be used in an application.
Define double-byte messages
To define a message with double-byte text, you can write a CL procedure or program using the Add Message Description (ADDMSGD) command. The defined message is put into a message file and then sent normally.

Parent topic: Define message descriptions