Information provided in the object description can help you detect and manage unused objects on the system.
To detect an unused object, look at both the last-used date and the last-changed date. Change commands do not update the last-used date unless the commands cause the object to be deleted and created again, or the change operation causes the object to be read as a part of the change.
- Date and time of last change
- When an object is created or changed, the system time stamps the object, indicating the date and time the change occurred.
- Date of last use
- The date of last use is only updated once per day (the first time an object is used in a day). The system date is used.
- An unsuccessful attempt to use an object does not update the last used date. For example, if a user tries to use an object for which the user is not authorized, the date of last use does not change.
- The date of last use is blank for new objects.
- When an object that already exists on the system is restored, the date of last use comes from the object on the system. If it does not already exist when restored, the date is blank.
- Objects that are deleted and recreated during the restore operation lose the date of last use.
- The last used date for a database file is not updated when the number of members in the file is zero. For example, if you use the Create Duplicate Object (CRTDUPOBJ) to copy objects and there are no members in the database file, the last used date is not updated.
- The last used date for a database file is the last used date of the file member with the most current last used date.
- For logical files, the last used date is the last time a logical member (or cursor) was used.
- For physical files, the last used date is the last time the data in the data space was used through a physical or logical access.
| Type of Object | Commands and Operations |
|---|---|
| All object types | Create Duplicate Object (CRTDUPOBJ) command
and other commands, such as the Copy Library (CPYLIB) command,
that use CRTDUPOBJ to copy objects. Grant Object Authority (GRTOBJAUT) command (for referenced objects) |
| Binding directory | When bound with another module or binding directory to create a bound program (CRTPGM command) or bound service program (CRTSRVPGM command). When updated on the Update Program UPDPGM command or Update Service Program (UPDSRVPGM command). |
| Change Request Description | Change Command Change Request Activity (CHGCMDCRQA) |
| Chart format | Display Chart (DSPCHT) command |
| C locale description | Retrieve C Locale Description Source (RTVCLDSRC) command or when referred to in a C program |
| Class | When used to start a job |
| Command | When run When compiled in a CL program When prompted during entry of source entry utility (SEU) source When calling the system in check mode Note: Prompting from the command line and then
pressing F3 is not counted as a use of a command.
|
| Communications side information (CSI) | When the CPI-Communications Initialize Conversation (CMINIT) call is used to initialize values for various conversation characteristics from the side information object. |
| Connection list | When the connection list goes beyond status of vary on pending |
| Cross system product map | When referred to in a CSP application |
| Cross system product table | When referred to in a CSP application |
| Controller description | When the controller goes beyond status of vary on pending |
| Device description | When the device goes beyond status of vary on pending |
| Data area | Retrieve Data Area (RTVDTAARA) command
Display Data Area (DSPDTAARA) command |
| Data queue | Usage information for the following APIs
is updated only once per job (the first time one of the APIs is initiated).
Send Data Queue (QSNDDTAQ) API Receive Data Queue (QRCVDTAQ) API Retrieve Data Queue (QMHQRDQD) API Read Data Queue (QMHRDQM) API |
| File (database file only unless specified otherwise) | When closed (other files, such as device
and save files, also updated when closed) When cleared When initialized When reorganized Commands:
|
| Font resource | When referred to during a print operation |
| Form definition | When referred to during a print operation |
| Graphics symbol set | When referred to by a GDDM* or PGR graphics
application program When loaded internally or using GSLSS |
| Job description | When used to establish a job |
| Job schedule | When the system submits a job for a job schedule
entry When the user takes 'Option 10 = submit immediately' from the WRKJOBSCDE panel |
| Job queue | When an entry is placed on or removed from the queue |
| Line description | When the line goes beyond status of vary on pending |
| Locale | Retrieve locale API QLGRTVLC When a job starts if the user profile LOCALE value contains a path name to a valid *LOCALE object. |
| Management collection | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types. |
| Media definition | The SAVLIB, SAVOBJ, RSTLIB, RSTOBJ, SAVCHGOBJ commands; as well as, the BRMS and QSRSAVO API. |
| Menu | When a menu is displayed using the GO command |
| Message files | When a message is retrieved from a message
file other than QCPFMSG, ##MSG1, ##MSG2, or QSSPMSG (such as when a job log
is built, a message queue is displayed, help is requested on a message in
the QHST log, or a program receives a message other than a mark message) Merge Message File (MRGMSGF) command except when the message file is QCPFMSG, ##MSG1, ##MSG2, or QSSPMSG |
| Message queue | When a message is sent to, received from, or listed message queue other than QSYSOPR and QHST |
| Module | When bound with another module or binding directory to create a bound program (CRTPGM command) or bound service program (CRTSRVPGM command). When updated on the Update Program (UPDPGM) command or Update Service Program (UPDSRVPGM) command. |
| Network interface description | When the network interface description goes beyond status of vary on pending |
| Node List | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types |
| Output queue | When an entry is placed on or removed from the queue |
| Overlay | When referred to during a print operation |
| Page definition | When referred to during a print operation |
| Page segment | When referred to during a print operation |
| Panel group | When the Help key is used to request help
information for a specific prompt or panel, the date of usage is updated When a panel is displayed or printed from a panel group |
| PDF map | Add PDF Map Entry (QPQAPME) API Work with PDF Map Entries (WRKPDFMAPE) command |
| Print descriptor group | When referred to during a print operation |
| Product Availability | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types |
| Product Load | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types |
| Program | Retrieve CL Source (RTVCLSRC) command When run and not a system program |
| PSF Configuration | When referred to during a print operation |
| Query definition | When used to generate a report When extracted or exported |
| Query manager form | When used to generate a report When extracted or exported |
| Query manager query | When used to generate a report When extracted or exported |
| Search index | When the F11 key is used through the online
help information When the Start Search Index (STRSCHIDX) command is used |
| Server storage | Vary Configuration (VRYCFG) is run against a network server description object |
| Service program | When a bound service program is activated |
| SQL Package | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types |
| Subsystem description | When subsystem is started |
| Spelling aid dictionary | When used to create another dictionary When retrieved When a word is found in the dictionary during a spell check and the dictionary is not an IBM-supplied spelling aid dictionary |
| Table | When used by a program for translation |
| Time zone description |
|
| User profile | When a job is initiated for the profile When the profile is a group profile and a job is started using a member of the group Grant User Authority (GRTUSRAUT) command (for referenced profile) |
| Workstation User Customization | Only updated by commands and operations that affect all object types |
The following is additional object usage information provided in the object description:
- Counter of number of days used
- The count is increased when the date of last use is updated.
- When an object that already exists on the system is restored, the number of days used comes from the object on the system. If it does not already exist when restored, the count is zero.
- Objects that are deleted and recreated during the restore operation lose the days used count.
- The days used count is zero for new objects. Note: The iSeries™ server cannot determine the difference between old and new device files. If you restore a device file on to the system and a device file of that same name already exists, delete the existing file if you want the days used count to be reset to zero. If the file is not deleted, the system will interpret this as a restore operation of an old object and retain the days used count.
- The days used count for a database file is the sum of the days used counts for all file members. If there is an overflow on the sum, the maximum value (of the days used counts field) is shown.
- Date days used count was reset
- When the days used count is reset using the Change Object Description (CHGOBJD) command or the Change Object Description (QLICOBJD) API, the date is recorded. The user then knows how long the days used count has been active.
- If the days used count is reset for a file, all of the members have their days used count reset.
Common situations that can delete the days used count and the last used date are as follows:
- Restoring damaged objects on the system.
- Restoring programs when the system is not in a restricted state.
The Display Object Description (DSPOBJD) command can be used to display a full description of an object. You can use the same command to write the description to an output file. To retrieve the descriptions, use the Retrieve Object Description (RTVOBJD) command.
The Retrieve Member Description (RTVMBRD) command and Display File Description (DSPFD) command provide similar information for members in a file.
Object usage information is not updated for the following object types:
- Alert table (*ALRTBL)
- Authorization list (*AUTL)
- Configuration list (*CFGL)
- Class-of-service description (*COSD)
- Data Dictionary (*DTADCT)
- Double-byte character set dictionary (*IGCDCT)
- Double-byte character set sort (*IGCSRT)
- Double-byte character set table (*IGCTBL)
- Edit description (*EDTD)
- Exit Registration (*EXITRG)
- Filter (*FTR)
- Forms control table (*FCT)
- Folder (*FLR)
- Internet Packet Exchange Description (*IPXD)
- Journal (*JRN)
- Journal receiver (*JRNRCV)
- Library (*LIB)
- Mode description (*MODD)
Network Server Configuration (*NWSCFG)
- Network Server Description (*NWSD)
- NetBIOS Description (*NTBD)
- Product definition (*PRDDFN)
- Reference code translation table (*RCT)
- Session description (*SSND)
- S/36 machine description (*S36)
- User-defined SQL type (*SQLUDT)
- User queue (*USRQ)