Installing International Components for Unicode for Software AG on z/VSE

This document describes the steps for installing International Components for Unicode for Software AG (ICS) on z/VSE which allows Natural to convert code pages and support Unicode.

International Components for Unicode for Software AG (ICS) requires the use of an ICS module and an ICU data library. In addition, you can use ICU data items to load ICU components that are not contained in the ICU data library. The ICS module does not have to be linked to the Natural nucleus if neither code page conversion nor Unicode support are required.

The use of ICU functionality increases the required Natural thread size.

Note:
For increased flexibility, it is also possible to load the ICS module during initialization of the Natural session. A dynamically loaded ICS module overrides the statically linked ICS module. You can also load an ICU data library during initialization of the Natural session. A dynamically loaded ICU data library overrides any statically linked ICU data library.

The ICS module, the ICU data libraries and the ICU data items are explained in Enabling Unicode and Code Page Support in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

Notation vrs or vr:

When used in this document, the notation vrs or vr represents the relevant product version (see also Version in the Glossary).

Prerequisites

See General Prerequisites and System Support in the section Overview of the Installation Process.

Installation Medium

The ICS module, the ICU data libraries and the ICU data items are contained on the ICSvrs.LIBR data set supplied on the installation medium for base Natural.

Installation Procedure

Be sure to read Installation Process and Major Natural Features before you start the installation procedure.

Step 1: Make Phase ICSNTTAB Available for SMARTS

Phase ICSNTTAB is required under SMARTS for reentrancy reasons.

  1. Make sure that the ICS library is available at runtime of a Natural session:

    Specify the ICS library in the job control statement LIBDEF PHASE for SMARTS.

  2. Define ICSNTTAB as RESIDENTPAGE to make it available for execution under SMARTS.

Step 2: Load the ICS Module at Session Start

  1. Make sure that the ICS library is available at runtime of a Natural session:

    • Specify the ICS library in the job control statement LIBDEF PHASE for your Natural batch or SMARTS jobs, or for the TP monitor jobs under which Natural runs.

  2. At the start of a Natural session, set the Natural profile parameter RCA as follows: 

    RCA=SAGICU

    RCA is described in the Parameter Reference documentation.

    The ICS module SAGICU is described in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

    Instead of the ICS module SAGICU, you can also load the ICS module SAGICUA9. In addition to SAGICU, this module supports IBM architecture level 9: see alternative ICS modules in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

    If you want to load SAGICUA9, use the following parameter setting: 

    RCA=SAGICU RCALIAS=(SAGICU,SAGICUA9)

    The Natural profile parameter RCALIAS is described in the Parameter Reference documentation.

Step 3: Load an ICU Data Library at Session Start

  1. Make sure that the ICS library is available at runtime of a Natural session:

    • Specify the ICS library in the job control statement LIBDEF PHASE for your Natural batch or SMARTS jobs, or for the TP monitor jobs under which Natural runs.

  2. At the start of a Natural session, set the Natural profile parameters RCA and CFICU for the ICU data library (ICSDT58E) to be used: 

    RCA=ICSDT58E  CFICU=(DATFILE=ICSDT58E)

    RCA and CFICU are described in the Parameter Reference documentation.

Step 4: Load ICU Data Items on Request in a Session

This step is optional and only required if you want to dynamically load an ICU data item on request during a Natural session instead of an entire ICU data library. For more information, see the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

  1. Make sure that the ICS library is available at runtime of a Natural session:

    • Specify the ICS library in the job control statement LIBDEF PHASE for your Natural batch or SMARTS jobs, or for the TP monitor jobs under which Natural runs.

  2. Depending on your TP environment and the setting of the Natural CFICU profile parameter, perform one of the following options:

    • Under CICS, with CFICU=(DATITEM=NONE) set:

      Add one PPT entry for each ICU data item.

      See also the corresponding step in Installing Natural CICS Interface.

    • Under Com-plete and Natural Development Server, with CFICU=(DATITEM=NONE) set:

      Add THREAD-ESQA-SIZE=15K as a keyword parameter to the startup options for your Com-plete or Natural Development Server.

      Add one RESIDENTPAGE entry for each ICU data item that represents a converter (refer to the ICSCCOMP source member in the ICSvrs.LIBR data set).

Installation Verification

After the last step of the installation procedure has been completed, proceed as follows:

  1. Configure and activate your Unicode and code page environment by following the instructions in Configuration and Administration of the Unicode/Code Page Environment and Profile Parameters and Macros in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.

    For information on the code pages and ICU data files available in your current Natural environment, you can use the SYSCP utility (described in the Utilities documentation).

  2. After successful activation, you can execute the example programs described in the Unicode and Code Page Support documentation.