SET EXPLICITDEBUG command

Controls whether explicit debug mode is active.

When explicit debug mode is not active, z/OS® Debugger automatically loads debug data for all high-level language compile units compiled with the TEST or DEBUG compiler option unless you excluded the compile unit or its containing load module by using the NAMES EXCLUDE statement.

When explicit debug mode is active, z/OS Debugger loads debug data only in the following cases:

  • z/OS Debugger always loads debug data for the compile unit which is active when z/OS Debugger first becomes active, and the first compile unit of each enclave. In most cases, this is the entry compile unit for the initial load module.
  • When a compile unit appears, z/OS Debugger loads debug data whenever you previously entered a LOADDEBUGDATA (LDD) command for the load module and compile unit.
  • When a compile unit appears, z/OS Debugger loads debug data for a compile unit that you previously specified on a NAMES INCLUDE CU statement and z/OS Debugger processed the containing load module for any of the following reasons:
    • It is the initial load module.
    • It is a load module that was previously specified on an LDD command.
    • It is a load module that was previously specified on a NAMES INCLUDE LOADMOD statement.
    • It is a load module for which an implicit NAMES INCLUDE LOADMOD has been generated.
  • z/OS Debugger loads debug data for the target of a deferred AT ENTRY command.
  • z/OS Debugger loads debug data for the entry point compile unit for a load module processed by an AT LOAD command.
  • In CICS®, when a matching DTCN profile is found, z/OS Debugger loads debug data for the LoadMod and CU specified in DTCN, unless the specified name(s) contain a wildcard character (* or ?).
Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramSETEXPLICITDEBUG ONOFF ;
ON
Activate explicit debug mode.
OFF
Deactivate explicit debug mode. Explicit debug mode is initially not active.

Usage notes

  • You can use this command in remote debug mode.
  • The SET EXPLICITDEBUG ON command takes effect when you enter the command. By the time you enter the command, z/OS Debugger has already processed the initial load module. To enable explicit debug mode before z/OS Debugger processes the initial load module, use the EQAOPTS EXPLICITDEBUG command.
  • z/OS Debugger does not support the SET DISASSEMBLY ON command in explicit debug mode. z/OS Debugger forces it to OFF when you enable explicit debug mode.
  • z/OS Debugger does not support the EQAOPTS LDDAUTOLANGX command in explicit debug mode. z/OS Debugger forces it to OFF when you enable explicit debug mode.
  • Use explicit debug mode to improve the performance of z/OS Debugger while debugging extremely large or complex programs.

Refer to the following topics for more information related to the material discussed in this topic.