Activating function levels (z/OS)

You can use the asncatm utility or the Q Capture and Q Apply activate parameter to activate a new function level, which enables the new function in a Q Replication APAR.

If you do not take action to activate a function level after installing the APAR, you get the maintenance updates in the APAR but not the new function that is part of the APAR.

For example, if you install the PTF for APAR PI99238, which brings the Q Replication code to function level 1140.100, and you choose not to activate this new function level, the replication programs can continue to work at function level 1140.0 (the previous level).

If a replication PTF contains enhancements that change the control tables, for example by adding new control tables or adding columns to existing tables, the PTF will contain ++HOLD text to indicate the changes.

IBM recommends that you upgrade to the latest control table level and activate the latest function level.

To activate a new function level, use the asncatm utility alone, or the asncatm utility plus the activate parameter:
Method Description
asncatm utility alone With this method you migrate the control tables and activate the new function level with a single command.
  1. Run the asncatm utility to migrate the control tables to match the new function level (CONTROL_TABLE_LEVEL=LATEST) and specify ACTIVATE=LATEST to activate the latest function level. The following example is for the Q Capture program:
    //ASNCATM  EXEC PGM=ASNCATM,REGION=0M,
// PARM='/UPGRADE QCAP CONTROL_TABLE_LEVEL=LATEST DB=!DSNX
            ACTIVATE=LATEST RUNNOW=N ASNPATH=//''!HLQ'
  2. Run the generated SQL script at the Q Capture or Q Apply server.
asncatm utility plus activate With this method you migrate the control tables first and then start the Q Capture or Q Apply program and specify the activate parameter.
  1. Run the asncatm utility to migrate the control tables to match the new function level. The following JCL migrates the Q Capture control tables to the newest level (LATEST parameter) but does not run the generated SQL script (RUNNOW=N).
    //ASNCATM  EXEC PGM=ASNCATM,REGION=0M,
// PARM='/UPGRADE QCAP CONTROL_TABLE_LEVEL=LATEST DB=!DSNX
            RUNNOW=N ASNPATH=//''!HLQ'
  2. Run the generated script at the Q Capture or Q Apply server.
  3. Start the Q Capture or Q Apply program with the activate parameter to activate the latest function level. The following example starts Q Capture:
    //QCAPADD  EXEC PGM=ASNQCAP,REGION=0M,TIME=NOLIMIT,
// PARM='/CAPTURE_SERVER=SSTR CAPTURE_SCHEMA=QADDCOL
             ACTIVATE=LATEST'
A sample JCL job to run the asncatm utility, ASNCATM, is included in the SASNSAMP sample data set with APAR PI99238.