Glossary

This glossary defines terms and abbreviations that are used in this book. If you do not find the term you are looking for, refer to the index .

A

analysis: The methodical investigation of a problem, and the separation of the problem into smaller related units for further study.

abend: Abnormal end of task; the termination of a task before its completion because of an error condition that cannot be resolved by recovery facilities while the task is executing.

cache: A buffer storage that contains frequently accessed instructions and data; it is used to reduce access time.
compiler listing: A printout produced by compiling a program or creating a file and that optionally includes, for example, a line-by-line source listing, cross-reference list, diagnostic information, and for programs, a description of externally described files.

dump: To copy the contents of all or part of virtual storage to collect error information.

expert system: A system that provides for solving problems in a particular application area by drawing inferences from a knowledge base acquired by human expertise.

fault entry: The information about a fault saved as a member in a history file at the end of real-time analysis. The fault entry might also include a minidump.

history file: A PDSE data set containing fault entries as individual members.

LANGX side file: A compiler listing or SYSADATA file, converted to a binary format using the HFZLANGX utility.
listing: See compiler listing.
logical history file size: The number of 4K pages allocated to a PDSE history file at the time of becoming auto-managed or explicitly specified in the fault history file settings.
loosely coupled dump data set: A dump data set that is not uniquely linked with a particular fault entry. The fault entry was created as a result of analysis of an already existing dump data set.

minidump: The storage pages that were referenced during real-time analysis by Z Abend Investigator and saved in the history file entry for the fault. A minidump permits later reanalysis of the fault even if no associated MVS dump data set was written.

option: A parameter that provides control on the operation of Z Abend Investigator.

partitioned data set (PDS): A data set on direct access storage that is divided into partitions, called members, each of which can contain a program, part of a program, or data.
partitioned data set extended (PDSE): A system-managed data set that contains an indexed directory and members that are similar to the directory and members of partitioned data sets. A PDSE can be used instead of a partitioned data set.
PDS or PDSE: A data set that can be either a partitioned data set (PDS) or a partitioned data set extended (PDSE).

real-time analysis: The analysis undertaken by Z Abend Investigator immediately after a program has abended.
reanalysis: A second or subsequent analysis.
Recovery fault recording (RFR): A feature of Z Abend Investigator which enables abnormal termination of a Z Abend Investigator real-time analysis to still create a fault entry of the original application abend.
RFR dump: A SDUMP or IEATDUMP data set written during recovery fault recording processing, and associated with an RFR fault entry.
RFR fault entry: A history file fault entry written during recovery fault recording processing, and associated with an RFR dump data set.

saved report: The report that is contained within the fault entry and which can be viewed from the ISPF interface without the need to perform reanalysis.
side file: A condensed version of a listing, readable by computers (but not humans).
system dump: See dump.

TDUMP: Synonymous with IEATDUMP. A dump data set type used by Z Abend Investigator recovery fault recording processing.
tightly coupled dump data set: A dump data set that is uniquely linked with a particular fault entry. It was originally created by Z Abend Investigator during real-time processing.

view: A member of a PDS or PDSE containing a collection of fault history file data set names that are to be displayed simultaneously using the Z Abend Investigator ISPF interface.