IT23459: MQ Explorer incorrectly saves property value for MFT ant script invocation when value ends in a backslash

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Through the MQ Explorer GUI, the user sets up a Managed File
  Transfer transfer and adds a Program Invocation in the
  additional options of the transfer. If the user selects 'Ant
  Script' from the drop-down menu and attempts to supply a value
  for a property within the ant script that ends in a backslash,
  then the value is incorrectly interpreted. The ending backslash
  is removed, and if there is a following property/value entry in
  the properties table, this row is appended to the value that had
  the trailing backslash.
  
  For example, if the following property/value entries were added:
  
  	property1 = value1\
  	property2 = value2
  
  then the backslash would be removed and the next property/value
  entry in the properties table would be appended to the end of
  the value, so the properties table would change to the
  following:
  
  	property1 = value1, property2 = value2
  	property2 = value2
  
  
  Additionally, the presence of successive backslashes in a value
  would result in some of the backslashes being removed when
  interpreted by the MQ Explorer.
  
  If a value contains more than 1 backslash in succession, then
  backslashes are removed in the following way:
  
  	\		becomes		\
  	\\		becomes		\
  	\\\	becomes		\\
  	\\\\	becomes		\\
  	\\\\\	becomes		\\\  etc.
  
  following the pattern: y = floor ( ( x + 1 ) / 2 ), where x is
  the actual number of backslashes entered and y is the
  interpreted number of backslashes. This change also happens each
  time the user opens the configuration window after setting the
  properties.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  USERS AFFECTED:
  This APAR affects users of the:
  
    - IBM MQ v8 Explorer Managed File Transfer plug-in
    - IBM MQ v9 Explorer Managed File Transfer plug-in
  
  who specify Ant Script program invocations when configuring a
  transfer, where any of the supplied property values either
  contain successive backslashes or end in a backslash.
  
  
  Platforms affected:
  MultiPlatform
  
  ****************************************************************
  PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
  The WebSphere MQ Explorer Managed File Transfer plug-in did not
  properly escape backslashes that were specified as a value for
  properties supplied to an Ant Script, which is set as a Program
  Invocation when creating a transfer. Therefore, if a value ended
  in a backslash, then the value would be interpreted incorrectly.
  For example, if the following values were entered:
  
  	property1 = value1\
  	property2 = value2
  		
  then the backslash would be removed and the next property/value
  entry in the properties table would be appended to the end of
  the value
  		
  	property1 = value1, property2 = value2
  	property2 = value2
  		
  If there was no following property in the properties table then
  the configuration for the program invocation is deleted.
  		
  The presence of successive backslashes in a value would result
  in some of the backslashes being removed when interpreted by the
  MQ Explorer.
  
  This change also happens each time the user opens the
  configuration window after setting the properties.
  

Problem conclusion

• The WebSphere MQ Explorer Managed File Transfer plug-in has been
  updated so that backslashes are properly escaped within the
  program invocation configuration for Ant Scripts.
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  The fix is targeted for delivery in the following PTFs:
  
  Version    Maintenance Level
  v8.0       8.0.0.9
  v9.0 LTS   9.0.0.4
  
  The latest available maintenance can be obtained from
  'WebSphere MQ Recommended Fixes'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006037
  
  If the maintenance level is not yet available information on
  its planned availability can be found in 'WebSphere MQ
  Planned Maintenance Release Dates'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006309
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  IBM MQ BASE MP

• Fixed component ID

  5724H7251

Applicable component levels