Find message text changes with SYS1.MSGENU

IBM® supplies a data set, SYS1.MSGENU, containing the text of system messages that are translated. The SYS1.MSGENU data set contains the text of system messages in the form of message skeletons. (For more information, see z/OS MVS Planning: Operations.

This method cannot show changes to the following message types:

MVS™ system messages that are not translated, such as IPL and NIP messages (which are issued before the MVS message service is available)
Other product messages that are not translated, such as DFSMS messages, and JES3 messages.
For JES2 messages, use the appropriate SYS1.VnRnMn.SHASMENU data set.

Also, this method works better if the old copy of SYS1.VnRnMn.SHASMENU has the same level of service as the system from which you migrate.

After you install the data set, you can compare the new data set with the data set on the prior system. Depending on how you do the comparison, you can get output like the following.

For new messages, the output might show an I (for insert) on the left:

I - IEA403I VALUE OF RMAX HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 99

For messages text changes, the output might show both I and a D, indicating the replacement of a record in the message.

I - IEE162I 46 &NNN ROLL &A MESSAGES (DEL=R OR RD)
D - IEE162I 46 &NNN ROLL &A MESSAGES (DEL=R, RD)

The example denotes that, in message IEE1621, (DEL=R, RD) was replaced by (DEL=R OR RD).

Using this information, you can decide whether to change your automation routines.