Analyzing problems using sessions

Using sessions offers a structured, team-oriented approach to analyzing problems. Sessions encapsulate information about a problem and its analysis that you can share with other users.

About this task

After registering a session and locating its associated log files, you can begin analyzing the problem by browsing logs and creating reports.

When you use a session, any option you select that generates new JCL, such as creating reports or extracts, creates a corresponding batch job task in the session workflow. If you submit the JCL, then you can view the job output in the session: on the session menu, select 2 Workflow, and then enter ? next to the task.

Alternatively, if you do not wish to use sessions, you can analyze problems using a personal ad hoc list of log files. However, using sessions has many advantages, such as allowing you to more easily share your analysis with other users.

Procedure

  1. Register (create) a session for the problem.
  2. If you created the session from a template: perform the workflow tasks.

    Ideally, the final task in a workflow describes what to do next, such as interactively browsing extracts for records with field values that indicate specific problems. Otherwise, the following steps offer a general approach to problem analysis.

  3. If you created the session without a template, or if you need to specify log files that cannot be automatically selected: add log files to the session.
  4. Browse the logs or use the logs to create batch reports.
    While browsing logs, you can create tags that you and other users can later select to resume browsing at a particular position.
  5. Write notes in the session history about your analysis of the problem.