An acronym for ABnormal END, the termination of a task or job
before its completion because of an error condition that cannot be
resolved by error recovery facilities while the task or job is running.
Access Register
Specialized high speed storage location, 32 bits in size. A z/Architecture® processor
has 16 ARs, A0-A15. The AR contents are used in ESA/370 (or ESA/390)
mode to specify the dataspace to be used by an ESA-exploitative machine
instruction.
active block
The currently executing block that invokes the Interactive Debug
Facility or any of the blocks in the CALL chain that leads up to this
one.
Address Stop
See Storage Alteration Stop.
AdStop
See Storage Alteration Stop.
AdStops window
The IDF window which lists the currently active Storage Alteration
Stops (AdStops) and Register Alteration Stops (RegStops). This window
is only available on CMS, when IDF's of PER is enabled.
alias
An alternative name for a field.
AR
See Access Register.
argument
Data passed from one program or procedure to another. Contrast
with parameter.
ASMIDF
See Interactive Debug Facility.
assemble
To translate a program written in assembly language into a machine-language
program.
assembler
A program that translates instructions written in assembly language
into machine language.
attention interrupt
An I/O interrupt caused by a terminal or workstation user pressing
an attention key, or its equivalent.
attention key
A function key on terminals or workstations that, when pressed,
causes an I/O interrupt in the processing unit.
attribute
A characteristic or trait you can specify.
|B
batch
Pertaining to a predefined series of actions performed with little
or no interaction between a user and the system. Contrast with interactive.
batch job
A job submitted for batch processing. See batch. Contrast
with interactive.
block
In programming languages, a compound statement that coincides
with the scope of at least one of the declarations contained within
it.
Break window
The IDF window which lists the currently active breakpoints. These
include those breakpoints set by the BREAK, DBREAK, and WATCH commands.
breakpoint
A place in a program, normally specified by a command or a condition,
where execution can be interrupted and control given to the user or
to the Interactive Debug Facility.
C
Command window
The IDF window which contains the command input area, the message
display areas, and (optionally) the display of the PF key captions.
compile
To translate a program written in a high level language into a
machine-language program.
compile unit
A sequence of statements that make a portion of a program complete
enough to compile (or assemble, as appropriate) correctly. Each language
has different rules for what comprises a compile unit.
compiler
A program that translates instructions written in a high level
programming language into machine language.
condition
Any synchronous event that may need to be brought to the attention
of an executing program or the language routines supporting that program.
Conditions fall into two major categories: conditions detected by
the hardware or operating system, which result in an interrupt; and
conditions defined by the programming language and detected by language-specific
generated code or language library code. See also exception.
constant
A name used to represent a data item whose value cannot be changed
while the program is running. Contrast with variable.
Control Register
Specialized control facility, 32 bits in size. A
z/Archtecture processor has 16 GPRs, C0-C15. The CR contents are used
to control processor modes and facilities
CR
See Control Register.
Current Registers window
The IDF window which displays the current PSW and registers.
By default, the current General Purpose Registers (GPRs) and Floating
Point Registers (FPRs) are shown, but the current Access Registers
(ARs) or Control Registers (CRs) may be shown instead.
currently qualified
See qualification.
D
data type
A characteristic that determines the kind of value that a field
can assume.
data set
The major unit of data storage and retrieval, consisting of a
collection of data in one of several prescribed arrangements and described
by control information to which the system has access.
DBCS
See double-byte character set.
DCSS
DisContiguous Shared Segment (CMS).
debug
To detect, diagnose, and eliminate errors in programs.
default
A value assumed for an omitted operand in a command. Contrast
with initial setting.
disassemble
To translate machine language into assembly language instructions
and data statements.
disassembler
A program that translates machine language into assembly language
instructions and data statements.
disassembly
The assembly language instructions and data statements which result
from using a disassembler to disassemble machine language.
The act of using a disassembler.
Disassembly window
The IDF windows which display the results of an IDF DISASM command.
This storage display will normally take the form of disassembled
machine instructions. If IDF Language extract data for these storage
locations has been loaded with LANGUAGE LOAD, then program source
statements will be shown interleaved with the machine instructions.
You can control the display of source and disassembly with various
IDF commands.
display
A visual presentation of information about a workstation, normally
in a specific format. Sometimes called a screen or panel.
display attribute
A characteristic that determines how an item appears on the display.
Display attributes can include the color of an item. See also type
style.
display line
A viewable line of text in a window, whose exact appearance is
determined by factors such as window size.
A set of characters in which each character is represented by
two bytes. Languages such as Japanese, which contain more symbols
than can be represented by 256 code points, need double-byte character
sets. Because each character needs two bytes, the typing, displaying,
and printing of DBCS characters needs hardware and programs that support
these characters.
dump
The formatted display of storage contents. Typically formatted
with a hexadecimal representation of the data on the left, and a character
interpretation on the right.
A file or data set containing storage contents, intended for use
in offline debug. See also postmortem debug.
Dump window
The IDF windows which display the results of an IDF DUMP command.
This storage display will take the form of a dump, with the left
side of the display containing the storage contents in hexadecimal,
and the right side containing a character interpretation.
dynamic
In programming languages, pertaining to properties that can only
be established during the execution of a program; for example, the
length of a variable-length data object is dynamic. Contrast with static.
E
entry point
The address or label of the first instruction executed on entering
a computer program, routine, or subroutine. A computer program may
have a number of different entry points, each perhaps corresponding
to a different function or purpose.
exception
An abnormal situation in the execution of a program which typically
alters its normal flow. See also condition.
execute
To cause a program, utility, or other machine function to carry
out the instructions contained within. See also run.
execution time
See run time.
execution-time environment
See run-time environment.
exit exec
The same as an exit routine.
exit routine
A customization feature which associates an IDF macro or another
program with a particular event.
expression
A group of constants or variables separated by operators that
yields a single value. An expression can be arithmetic, relational,
logical, or a character string.
F
file
A named set of records stored or processed as a unit.
A system object containing records: for example, a VM file, or
an z/OS® member or partitioned
data set. See data set.
Floating Point Register
The CPU has 16 floating-point registers. The floating
point registers are identified by the numbers 0-15 and are designated
by a four-bit R field in floating point instructions. Each floating-point
register is 64 bits long and can contain either a Short (32-bit)
or a Long (64-bit) floating-point operand.
FPR
See Floating Point Register.
font
A set of characters or symbols of a given size, shape, and style.
frequency count
In the Interactive Debug Facility, a count of the number of times
statements in the currently qualified program unit have been run.
Frequency
A choice located on the Compact Source or Compact Listing window
action bar that allows you to monitor the frequency with which program
statements are carried out.
full-screen mode
An interface mode for use with a non-programmable terminal which
displays a variety of information about the program you are debugging.
G
General Purpose Register
Each register contains 64 bit positions. The general
registers are identified by the numbers 0-15.
GPR
See General Purpose Register.
group
A set of records that are associated together as a logical unit.
H
high level language (HLL)
A programming language such as C, PL/I, or COBOL.
HLL
See high level language.
HLASM
Acronym for High Level Assembler.
I
Interactive Debug Facility
The IBM® product informally
known as IDF, an application development and maintenance facility
for debugging assembly language programs.
Interactive Debug Facility macro
A REXX EXEC which contains Interactive Debug Facility commands.
inactive block
A block that is not currently executing, or is not in the CALL
chain leading to the active block. See also active block, block.
initial setting
A value in effect when the user's Interactive Debug Facility session
begins. Contrast with default.
interactive
Pertaining to a program or system that alternately accepts input
and then responds. An interactive system is conversational; that is,
a continuous dialog exists between a user and the system. Contrast
with batch.
I/O
Input/output.
L
Language Support Module
The IDF subsystem which provides Language Support extensions to
the basic machine-level (object-level, disassembly-level) debug capabilities
of IDF, originally packaged as a separate module.
LE/370
See IBM Language Environment for z/OS and z/VM.
library routine
A routine maintained in a program library.
line mode
An interface mode for use with a non-programmable terminal which
uses a single command line to accept Interactive Debug Facility commands.
link-edit
To create a loadable computer program using a linkage editor.
linkage editor
A program that resolves cross-references between separately compiled
object modules and then assigns final addresses to create a single
relocatable load module.
listing
A printout that lists the source language statements of a program
with all preprocessor statements, includes, and macros expanded.
load module
A program in a form suitable for loading into main storage for
execution.
LUname
Defines the VTAM® logical
unit name of the terminal used by IDF in z/VSE.
LSM
See Language Support Module.
LSM Information window
The IDF windows which contains information generated by IDF Language
Support commands.
M
MainFrame Interface (MFI)
This refers to the use of a nonprogrammable terminal such as an IBM 3270.
Maximize
The action used to remove a window entry from the Minimized Windows Viewer, and restore it
to its previous position on the display.
MFI
See MainFrame Interface.
Minimize
The action used to remove an IDF window from the display and replaces
it with an entry in the Minimized Windows Viewer.
Minimized Windows Viewer
An IDF window which contains entries which represent minimized
IDF windows.
module
The "package" which contains the executable code and data for
a program. This may be in the form of a file, or an area of storage.
multitasking
A mode of operation that enables the concurrent performance, or
interleaved execution, of two or more tasks.
N
name pattern
A set of criteria used to display a list of variable names.
O
Old Registers window
The IDF window which displays the PSW and registers contents from
the previous point when IDF had control. By default, the previous
General Purpose Registers (GPRs) and Floating Point Registers (FPRs)
are shown, but the previous Access Registers (ARs) or Control Registers
(CRs) may be shown instead.
Options window
The IDF window which contains current values of the IDF options
and settings.
P
panel
In the MFI Interactive Debug Facility, an area of the screen used
to display a specific type of information.
parameter
Data received by a program or procedure from another. Contrast
with argument.
partitioned data set (PDS)
A data set in direct-access storage that is divided into partitions,
called members, each of which can contain a program, part of a program,
or data.
path point
A point in the program where control is about to be transferred
to another location or a point in the program where control has just
been given.
PDS
See partitioned data set.
PER
Program Event Recording
postmortem debug
To detect, diagnose, and eliminate errors in programs after the
program has ABENDed. This is typically performed offline, using a
dump file or data set.
prefix area
The eight columns to the left of the program source or listing
containing line numbers. In the Interactive Debug Facility, statement
breakpoints can be set in the prefix area.
primary entry point
See entry point.
Processor Status Word
This register describes the current processor execution
state. Various fields contain the current:
addressing mode
execution address
condition-code setting
storage access key
problem or supervisor state indicator
other state indicators
procedure
In a programming language, a block, with or without formal parameters,
whose execution is invoked by means of a procedure call.
A set of related control statements. For example, a z/VM® exec, or a z/OS CLIST.
profile
A group of customizable settings that govern how the user's session
appears and operates.
Profile
A choice that allows you to change some characteristics of the
working environment, such as the pace of statement execution in the
Interactive Debug Facility.
program
A sequence of instructions suitable for processing by a computer.
Processing can include the use of an assembler, a compiler, an interpreter,
or a translator to prepare the program for execution, as well as to
execute it.
program part
A compile unit associated with an application program. All program
parts known to the Interactive Debug Facility are displayed in the
MAP window.
program unit
See compile unit.
programmable workstation (PWS)
A workstation that has some degree of processing capability and
that allows you to change its functions (for example, a small computer
such as an IBM Personal System/2* (PS/2*)
as a terminal device along with appropriate 3270 emulation software).
PSW
See Processor Status Word.
PWS
See programmable workstation.
Q
qualification
A method used to specify to what procedure or load module a particular
variable name, function name, label, or statement id belongs. The
SET QUALIFY command changes the current implicit qualification.
R
record
A group of related data, words, or fields treated as a unit, such
as one name, address, and telephone number.
record format
The definition of how data is structured in the records contained
in a file. The definition includes record name, field names, and
field descriptions, such as length and data type. The record formats
used in a file are contained in the file description.
reference
In programming languages, a language construct designating a declared
language object.
A subset of an expression that resolves to an area of storage;
that is, a possible target of an assignment statement. It can be any
of the following: a variable, an array or array element, or a structure
or structure element. Any of the above can be pointer-qualified where
applicable.
Register
Specialized high speed storage location or control facility. See General
Purpose Register, Floating Point Register, Access Register,
and Control Register.
Register Alteration Stop
This is a special breakpoint available when IDF on CMS has exploitation
of the virtual machine Program Event Recorder (PER) mode enabled.
IDF will receive control when any of the specified registers is altered.
Register Stop
See Register Alteration Stop.
RegStop
See Register Alteration Stop.
run
To cause a program, utility, or other machine function to execute.
An action that causes a program to begin execution and continue
until a run-time exception occurs. If a run-time exception occurs,
you can use debug windows to interact with the Interactive Debug Facility.
run time
Any instant at which a program is being executed.
run-time environment
A set of resources that are used to support the execution of a
program.
run unit
A group of one or more object programs that are run together.
S
SBCS
See single-byte character set.
semantic error
An error in the implementation of a program's specifications.
The semantics of a program refer to the meaning of a program. Unlike
syntax errors, semantic errors (since they are deviations from a program's
specifications) can be detected only at run time.
sequence number
A number that identifies the records within a z/VM file, or a z/OS member
or partitioned data set.
session
The events that take place between the time you start an application
and the time you exit the application.
shortcut keys
A key or combination of keys that starts an application-defined
function. The IDF user interface term for accelerator keys or hot
keys.
single-byte character set (SBCS)
A character set in which each character is represented by a one-byte
code.
Skipped Subroutines window
The IDF window which lists the currently active "Skipped Subroutine"
breakpoints. These are set by the SKIPSTEP command.
source
The statements in a file that make up a program.
In Interactive Debug Facility, the representation of a program's
source statements displayed in the Disassembly window.
static
In programming languages, pertaining to properties that can be
established before execution of a program; for example, the length
of a fixed length variable is static. Contrast with dynamic.
status area
An area appended to a window that shows the keyboard shift state
for DBCS on a DBCS-enabled workstation.
step
One statement in a computer routine.
To cause a computer to execute one or more statements.
storage
A unit into which recorded text can be entered, in which it can
be retained, and from which it can be retrieved.
The action of placing data into a storage device.
A storage device.
Storage Alteration Stop
This is a special breakpoint available when IDF on CMS has exploitation
of the virtual machine Program Event Recorder (PER) mode enabled.
IDF will receive control when storage within the specified address
ranges is altered.
subroutine
A sequenced set of instructions or statements that can be used
in one or more computer programs at one or more points in a computer
program.
suffix area
A variable-sized column to the right of the program source or
listing statements, containing frequency counts for the first statement
or verb on each line. In the Interactive Debug Facility, the MFI
optionally displays the suffix area in the Disassembly window. See
also prefix area.
synchronous
Pertaining to two or more processes that depend on the occurrence
of specific events. Contrast with batch, interactive.
syntactic analysis
An analysis of a program done by a compiler to determine the structure
of the program and the construction of its source statements to determine
whether it is valid for a given programming language. See also syntax
error.
syntax
The rules governing the structure of a programming language and
the construction of a statement in a programming language.
syntax error
Any deviation from the grammar (rules) of a given programming
language appearing when a compiler performs a syntactic analysis of
a source program. See also syntactic analysis.
T
Target Status window
The IDF window which lists information about the program modules
which are currently defined to IDF.
token
A character string in a specific format that has some defined
significance in a programming language.
triglyph
A group of three characters which, taken together, are equivalent
to a single special character.
type style
A form of highlighting of characters and symbols within a font
set. For example, bold, italic, strikeout, or underscore. See also display
attribute.
U
utility
A computer program in general support of computer processes; for
example, a diagnostic program, a trace program, or a sort program.
V
variable
A name used to represent a data item whose value can be changed
while the program is running. Contrast with constant.
W
window
A division of the display screen in which one of several IDF commands
can concurrently display information.
windowing
Dividing a display screen into distinct areas in which different
display images can be viewed at the same time.
workstation
One or more programmable or nonprogrammable devices, normally
connected to a host or a network, at which you can run applications.
See also programmable workstation.