Interactive job log considerations

The following information gives suggestions to apply to using interactive job logs.

The IBM-supplied job descriptions QCTL, QINTER, and QPGMR all have a log level of LOG(4 0 *NOLIST); therefore, all messages and both first- and second-level text for the messages are written to the job log. However, the job logs are not printed unless you specify *LIST on the SIGNOFF command. To change the log level for interactive jobs, you can use the Change Job (CHGJOB) or Change Job Description (CHGJOBD) command.

If a display station user uses an IBM-supplied menu or the command entry display, all error messages are displayed. If the display station user uses a user-written initial program, any unmonitored message causes the initial program to end and a job log to be produced. However, if the initial program monitors for messages, it receives control when a message is received. In this case, it may be important to ensure that the job log is produced so you can determine the specific error that occurred. For example, assume that the initial program displays a menu that includes a sign-off option, which defaults to *NOLIST. The initial program monitors for all exceptions and includes a Change Variable (CHGVAR) command that changes the sign-off option to *LIST if an exception occurs:

         PGM
         DCLF MENU
         DCL &SIGNOFFOPT TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(7) VALUE(*NOLIST)
         .
         .
         .
         MONMSG MSG(CPF0000) EXEC(GOTO ERROR)
PROMPT:  SNDRCVF RCDFMT(PROMPT)
         CHGVAR &IN41 '0'
         .
         .
         .
         IF (&OPTION *EQ '90') SIGNOFF LOG(&SIGNOFFOPT)
         .
         .
         .
         GOTO PROMPT
ERROR:   CHGVAR &SIGNOFFOPT '*LIST'
         CHGVAR &IN41 '1'
         GOTO PROMPT
         ENDPGM

If an exception occurs in the previous example, the CHGVAR command changes the option on the SIGNOFF command to *LIST and sets on an indicator. This indicator could be used to condition a constant that displays a message informing the display station user that an unexpected event has occurred and telling him what to do.

If the interactive job is running a CL program or procedure, the CL commands are logged only if the log level is 3 or 4 and one of the following is true:

• You specified LOG(*YES) on the Create Control Language Program (CRTCLPGM) command, the Create Control Language Module (CRTCLMOD) command, or the Create Bound CL Program (CRTBNDCL) command.
• You specified LOG(*JOB) on the Create Control Language Program (CRTCLPGM) command, the Create Control Language Module (CRTCLMOD) command, or the Create Bound CL Program (CRTBNDCL) command, and (*YES) is the current LOGCLPGM job attribute.

  You can set and change the LOGCLPGM job attribute by using the LOGCLPGM parameter on the SBMJOB, CRTJOBD, CRTJOBD, and CHGJOBD commands.