Message descriptor codes

Descriptor codes describe the kind of message being issued. These codes, with the routing codes, determine how the message is to be printed or displayed and how a message is to be deleted from a display device. Descriptor codes 1–7 are mutually exclusive; only one such code is assigned to a message. Descriptor codes 8–10 can appear with any other descriptor code.

See Codes and suppression levels for the list of messages and their codes and suppression levels.

Code: Meaning
1: System Failure: This message indicates that an error occurred that could not be corrected. To continue, the operator must restart the system.
2: Immediate Action Required: This message requires an immediate action by the operator. The action may be required because the message issuer is in a wait state until the action is performed, or because system performance is degraded until the action is taken.
3: Eventual Action Required: This message requires an eventual action by the operator. The task does not await completion of the action.
4: System Status: This message indicates the status of a system task or the status of a hardware unit.
5: Immediate Command Response: This message is issued as an immediate response to a system command. The completion of the response is not dependent upon another system action or task.
6: Job Status: This message contains status information regarding the job or job step.
7: Application Program/Processor: This message is issued while a program is in problem mode.
8: Out-of-Line Message: This message is one of a group of one or more messages to be displayed out of line. If the device support cannot print a message out of line, the code is ignored, and the message is printed in line with other messages.
9: Operator’s Request: This message is written in response to an operator’s request for information by DEVSERV, MONITOR, and other operating system commands.
10: This message is issued in response to a TRACK command.
11: Critical Eventual Action Required: This message indicates that a critical event has occurred which must eventually be followed by an action. The message will remain on the screen until the action is taken.
12: Important Information: This message contains important information that must be displayed at the console, but does not require any action in response.
13–16: Reserved.