Release Information

These Release Notes are structured as follows:


Release Notes for Version 6.8.2

This section provides a brief summary of the changes and enhancements that have been introduced in Com-plete Version 6.8.2.

Com-plete Version 6.8.2. is just a consolidation of fixes that were made during the lifetime of Com-plete Version 6.8.1. The functionality is identical with that of Version 6.8.1. with the latest fixpacks installed. The changes listed below were already described in the Readme.txt accompanying the Version 6.8.1. fixpacks.

Compatibility with other Software AG products

In order for the Natural and the Natural Com-plete interface to work correctly in Com-plete Version 6.8.2, you must have the following zaps installed:

Version Zaps
NCF 8.3 NP06006, NP06007
NCF 9.2 NP21001
Natural 8.2 NA98083
Natural 9.1 NA18083
Natural 9.2 NA21005 (Might already be installed in the delivery kit)

New and Changed Features

ROLL Buffer Pool Configuration

It is now possible to specify just the location of the ROLL buffer pool, while letting Com-plete do the calculation of the internal structure (subpools). This may be useful when you do not desire for Com-plete to build the ROLL buffer pool in 64-bit memory.

ROLL-BUFFERPOOL= [64BIT|31BIT|DS]

Writing z/OS SYSOUT Reports to JES Directly Bypassing the Com-plete Spool

Com-plete used to write SYSOUT reports into the Com-plete spool first, and then these reports were transferred to JES in the background. This made Com-plete the owner of all reports, rather than the individual originating userIDs. Now SYSOUT reports are written to the JES spool directly bypassing the Com-plete spool.

Note:
When Com-plete detects an installation-specific non-RENT user exit routine ULMSBTCH, then SYSOUT reports are handled like before.

This means, you can use ULMSBTCH to control how Com-plete handles SYSOUT reports. If you do have your own ULMSBTCH, and want all SYSOUT reports to be written to the JES spool directly, then make your ULMSBTCH RENT.

If you don't want SYSOUT reports to be written to the JES spool directly, then provide a non-RENT ULMSBTCH, different from the one delivered by Software AG in the Com-plete 6.8 load library.

For example, take the provided sample source module, change something, and assemble it. With APPLYMOD=85 all reports are routed to JES, forwarding the printer name.

31-bit Thread Areas in Large Pages

A new system parameter has been introduced in order to be able to avoid using large pages (1M): LARGEPAGES=NO. The new parameter applies to ROLL buffer pool as well.

PDSE-2 Member Generations

The utilities UEDIT and UPDS accept syntax MEMBER-N for access to relative generation N.

When browsing a generations-enabled PDSE-2 directory via web UI, the member tool box now contains the link "Show member generations". In order to display the member tool box, click any empty space in the table row.

PDSE-2 libraries can be allocated from within the web UI "Find data sets" function:

  1. Click an empty part of line.

  2. Select Tools.

  3. Click on Allocate similar data set.

CONSOLE Server Now Obsolete

Com-plete (both UQ-M and the HTTP console) now use either OPERLOG when present or SYSLOG as the source for system messages. If you are still running a CONSOLE server in your Com-plete, you must remove it.

New System Parameter OPERLOG=NO

The new system parameter OPERLOG=NO avoids attempts to open OPERLOG and forces UQ-M and the HTTP console to always use SYSLOG.

Support Arguments for LE C/C++ main(int argc, char *argv[])

A C/C++ main() program can now receive arguments when invoked from the ComPass command line.

Example

myprog arg1 arg2

Results in .

arg[0] *MYPROG 
arg[1] arg1 
arg[2] arg2

Note:
All strings are upper-cased unless APPLYMOD=37 is set, and the individual ComPass case setting is set to LOWER.

Write SMF Checkpoint Record at Terminal-WRITE

Specify the new option SMFRECORDS=1W to write a record at the time of every terminal-WRITE operation. In contrast, SMFRECORDS=1T writes a record not per transaction, but per roll-out. This results in way too many records.

Option to Pass Input String to COBOL MAIN LINKAGE SECTION

The input string from the ComPass command line or FETCH / ATTACH can now be passed to the LINKAGE SECTION of a COBOL MAIN program like *PROGRAM parms. For compatibility reasons, APPLYMOD=49 must be set to enable this option.

Monitoring of Currently Executing Transactions

In the web UI under Monitoring, a new function Running transactions has been added. This function shows all transactions running for more than one second at the time being, indicating many details and providing a CANCEL link for every transaction running for more than 5 seconds.

New HTTP Server Configuration Parameter MAXPARALLEL=n

The new parameter MAXPARALLEL=n limits the maximum number of connections per client. The default value is 9.

While major browsers normally use no more than 4 parallel connections per server, there are configurable and home-grown HTTP clients out there. These can easily open hundreds and more connections in a very short time, leading to resource shortages in Com-plete.

New HTTP Server Configuration Parameter NATLOGON=yes/no

For requests like /natcgi/lib/pgm the server now starts Natural with the parameter STACK(LOGON lib;HNANSHEL). Specify NATLOGON=no if you wish to avoid LOGON lib.

Product Availability and End of Maintenance

You can view all available Software AG product versions and check the dates when their maintenance ends by using the System Requirements App at:

https://documentation.softwareag.com/systemrequirements/#/

Here, you can enter the product name or code in the search field and see the latest information on system requirements and product availability.