Java information reporting limitations

In fault entries created by the Z Abend Investigator wrapper utility, variable information is not shown.

This is due to the way the Java™ virtual machine processes exceptions:
  • The JVM searches each stack frame for a handler (that is, a try-catch block) for an exception.
  • If there is no handler in a given frame, the JVM discards the stack frame variables and searches the next frame. This search-and-discard repeats until the JVM finds a handler for the exception.

The Z Abend Investigator wrapper utility acts as the handler for the otherwise unhandled exception. This means that none of the user-application variable values exist at the point when Z Abend Investigator is invoked.

For details on how the JVM handles exceptions, see the section on the athrow instruction in the JVM Specification.