Controlling pattern-match breakpoints with the DISABLE and ENABLE commands

This topic describes how you can use the DISABLE and ENABLE commands to control pattern-match breakpoints. A pattern-match breakpoint is a breakpoint that is identified by the name, or part of the name, of a load module or compile unit specified in a DTCN profile.

The DISABLE command works with the debugging profile that started the current debugging session to prevent programs from being debugged. When you enter the DISABLE command, you specify the name, or part of the name, of a load module, compile unit, or both, that you do not want to debug. When z/OS® Debugger finds a load module, compile unit, or both, whose name matches the name or part of the name (a pattern) that you specified, z/OS Debugger does not debug that program. When you enter the ENABLE command, you specify the pattern (the full name or part of a name of a load module, compile unit, or both) that you want to debug. The pattern must match the name of a load module, compile unit, or both, that you specified in a previously entered DISABLE command.

Before you begin, verify that you know which DTCN debugging profile started z/OS Debugger and the names you specified in the LoadMod::>CU field.

To use the DISABLE command to prevent z/OS Debugger from debugging a program, do the following steps:

  1. If you don't remember what programs you might have disabled, enter the command LIST DTCN. This command lists the programs you have already disabled. This step reminds you of the names of load modules, programs, or compile units you already disabled.
  2. If you are running with a DTCN profile, enter the command DISABLE DTCN LOADMOD load_module_name CU compile_unit_name. load_module_name is the name of the load module, or it matches the pattern of the name of a load module, that you specified in the LoadMod field and it is the load module that you do not want to debug. compile_unit_name is the name of the compile unit, or it matches the pattern of the name of a compile unit, that you specified in the CU field and it is the compile unit that you do not want to debug. You can specify LOADMOD load_module_name, CU compile_unit_name, or both.
    For example, if you have the following circumstances, enter the command DISABLE DTCN CU STAR2 to prevent z/OS Debugger from debugging the compile unit STAR2:
    • You specified STAR* in the CU field of the profile.
    • You have compile units with the names STAR1, STAR2, STAR3, STAR4, and STAR5.

To use the ENABLE command to allow a previously disabled program to be debugged, do the following steps:

  1. If you don't remember the exact name of the disabled load module, program, or compile unit, enter the command LIST DTCN. This command lists the programs you have disabled. Write down the name of the load module, program, or compile unit that you want to debug.
  2. Enter the command ENABLE DTCN LOADMOD load_module_name CU compile_unit_name, where load_module_name is the name of the load module and compile_unit_name is the name of the compile unit you wrote down from step 1. If you only need to specify a load module name, you do not have to type in the CU compile_unit_name portion of the command. If you only need to specify a compile unit name, you do not have to type in the LOADMOD load_module_name portion of the command.

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

  • Related references
  • DISABLE command in IBM® z/OS Debugger Reference and Messages
  • ENABLE command in IBM z/OS Debugger Reference and Messages
  • LIST DTCN command in IBM z/OS Debugger Reference and Messages