IMS messages overview

Messages issued by IMS and its components begin with various prefixes. The messages are listed here in alphabetic order by prefix and numerically within the prefix.

Some messages provide additional information in the form of a suffix code. The suffix codes A, E, I, W, and X have the following meanings:

A	Action is required of the user before processing can continue.
E	The message indicates an error condition, but might not require action.
I	The message is for information only. Sometimes, informational messages might appear without the suffix. The meaning of the messages is not affected by the absence or presence of the suffix. These informational messages are to be viewed as the same message.
W	The message alerts the user of a possible error condition.
X	The message is for a condition that requires correction before IMS execution.

The following information is supplied with each message when applicable:

Explanation

States what the message means; why it appears; what caused it; what its variable entry fields are.

System action

States what is happening as a result of the condition causing the message; whether the system is waiting for responses. If this information is not shown, it does not apply.

Operator, System programmer, Programmer, or User response

If a response is necessary, states who performs the action, what the pertinent responses are, and their effect on the system or program. If this information is not shown, it does not apply.

Problem determination

If the problem recurs or persists so that system efficiency suffers, this section states what actions to perform to obtain adequate data for qualified support personnel to diagnose the problem. If this information is not shown, it does not apply.

Problem Determination refers to a list of problem determination actions that are specified in IMS problem determination. These common action tables do not teach diagnostic techniques, but instruct the operator or programmer about what to do when problems recur. The problem determination actions aid you in identifying hardware or programming problems. They provide essential programming information that qualified support personnel can use to diagnose and correct the difficulty.

Those messages that refer to function ff apply to one of the following utilities as denoted by the 2-character codes shown in this list:

Code	Meaning
PO	Prereorganization
CA	Change Accumulation
IM	Image copy
RV	Database Recovery
SU	HISAM Reorganization Unload
RU	Secondary Index Unload
SR	HISAM Reorganization Reload
RR	Secondary Index Reload
DU	HD Reorganization Unload
DR	HD Reorganization Reload
ZB	Database Zap
ZM	Module Zap
SN	Database Scan
PR	Prefix Resolution
PU	Prefix Update

Severity

The following list applies to the MFS Language utility program severity codes. The severity code indicates the seriousness of the message.

Messages produced by the preprocessor phase of the MFS Language utility place the severity code to the right of each message number. Messages produced by the other phases do not include the severity code in the message text. Consult the individual message descriptions for specific severity codes associated with each message.

Severity code: Meaning
0: Message is an information message only.
4: Severity code 4 is produced by warnings, minor errors, and assumed defaults that are probably valid. The creation of valid blocks is probable.
8: A significant error has occurred. The problem results in questionable defaults, or ignored specifications. The creation of invalid blocks is possible.
12: Required operand is omitted or contradictory specifications have been supplied. Creation of invalid blocks is probable.
16: Language translation continues with limited function. Created blocks are invalid, or creation of blocks is suppressed.
20: Language translation cannot continue and is terminated immediately. Created blocks are invalid.

The highest severity code issued by the MFS Language Utility Program during a job step is returned as the completion code to the operating system. See IMS Version 15 System Utilities for a discussion of the IBM-supplied MFS cataloged procedures.