A recovery routine is defined when you make it known to the system. For example, you might issue a macro on which you specify a particular recovery routine. At the point of issuing that macro, the recovery routine is defined to the system.
A recovery routine is activated when it is available to receive control; if an error occurs, the system can pass control to an activated recovery routine. Depending on the type of recovery routine, it might be defined to the system but not yet activated. Some recovery routines are both defined and activated by issuing a single macro.
A recovery routine is in control when it is running; an error has occurred and the system passed control to the recovery routine.
A recovery routine is no longer in control when it returns control to the system. The recovery routine returns control either by requesting to percolate or retry and issuing a BR 14 instruction, or by encountering an error itself.
A recovery routine is deactivated when it is no longer available to receive control; if an error occurs, the system will not pass control to a deactivated recovery routine. Depending on the type of recovery routine, it might be deactivated but still defined to the system. For some recovery routines, issuing a single macro results in the routine becoming both deactivated and no longer defined.
A recovery routine is no longer defined when it is no longer known to the system. The routine might still exist and be in virtual storage, but the system no longer recognizes it as a recovery routine.