New and Changed Features of Base Natural

Operations and Performance

Authorized Services Manager

HELP syntax command

A new HELP command is added to the Authorized Services Manager. It is used to display all available syntax. For more information, see ASM Operator Commands in Authorized Services Manager under z/OS.

Roll Server

Improved Startup Message

If no roll files are used, the startup message now shows the current slot size. A similar line is shown in the STATS command.

The following is an example startup message for a roll server with no roll files and a slot size of 56 kB: 

RSM0062 NATRSM92: Running with in-core roll file.
RSM0064 NATRSM92: High/low water marks ignored.
RSM0086 NATRSM92: Roll compression will run on zIIP.
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Roll Server settings in effect:
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Natural subsystem ID: NA92
RSM0119 NATRSM92: LRB slot size: 57344 bytes
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Number of Roll Files: 0
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Number of LRB slots per Roll File: 100
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Coupling Facility structure name: (not used)
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Staging low/high water marks: n/a
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Non-activity time: 2 hours
RSM0119 NATRSM92: REPEAT interval set to 360 minutes
RSM0119 NATRSM92: Timeout check scheduled for 08:00h
RSM0019 NATRSM92: Roll Server Version 921 is active

HELP syntax command

A new HELP command is added to the Roll Server. It is used to display all available syntax. For more information, see Operating the Roll Server in Natural Roll Server Operation.

Natural Global Buffer Pools

Support for 64bit memory cache for Natural Global Buffer pool under Z/OS

You can now create a cache for the Natural Buffer Pool as a 64bit "above the bar" common memory object. Previously, a cache could only be created as a dataspace with a size limit of 2 GB. If a cache is defined as an "above the bar" memory object, it has a size limit of 56 GB. The new C64 parameter is introduced to define the type of the cache storage. By default, the cache is created as a dataspace. For more information about Natural Buffer Pool cache, see Buffer Pool Cache in the Operations part of the Natural for Mainframes documentation.

For more information about the C64 parameter, see C64 parameter

HELP syntax command

A new HELP command is added to the Natural Global Buffer Pool. It is used to display all available syntax. For more information, see the HELP operating function in Natural Global Buffer Pool under z/OS.

Message Buffer Pools

HELP syntax command

A new HELP command is added to the Message Buffer Pool. It is used to display all available syntax. For more information, see the HELP command in Message Buffer Pool.

Unicode and Code Page Support

ICU Version Upgrade

The ICS (International Components for Unicode) version 3.1.1 has been upgraded to ICU Version 65.1 which supports Unicode Version 12.0.

ICU Version 65.1 enhancements include improvements in performance and robustness.

For a summary of all changes in ICU Version 65.1 and Unicode Version 12, see the Download ICU 65 website at http://site.icu-project.org/download/65 and the Unicode 12.0.0 website at http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode12.0.0/, respectively.

See also Changes to ICU Data Libraries.

Localization Data in Newer ICU Releases

Note:
For more information on using localization data based on ICS 311, see Unicode and Code Page Support > ICS 311 and Unicode and Code Page Support in the Natural Programming Language.

Syntax and Compiler Enhancements

New System Variable *TIMESTMPX

The new system variable *TIMESTMPX supports extended store clock values. For more information, check Processing of Store Clock Values > Extended Store Clock in the Programming Guide.

COMPRESS allows edit mask (EM) and format logical

Operand1 of a COMPRESS statement can now be of format logical.

An edit mask can also be defined for operand1.

For more information, see COMPRESS in the Statements part of the Natural for Mainframes documentation.

Enhancements in DEFINE WORK FILE, READ WORK FILE, WRITE WORK FILE, CLOSE WORK FILE

You can now define the work file number of a DEFINE WORK FILE, READ WORK FILE, WRITE WORK FILE, or CLOSE WORK FILE statement as a variable as well. The variable has to be of type B/N/P/I and defined with a CONST clause which assigns a value in the range 1:32.

For more information, check DEFINE WORK FILE , READ WORK FILE, WRITE WORK FILE, and CLOSE WORK FILE in the Statements part of the Natural for Mainframes documentation.

Enhanced Error Handling for MOVE BY NAME and MOVE BY POSITION Statements

The Natural compiler has been improved and now displays mismatching field names for a MOVE BY NAME or MOVE BY POSITION statement. The new error message NAT0321 has been introduced: 

NAT0321 Error :1: in :2: processing fields :3:.

Parameter :1: is filled with the underlying error (e.g. 300 for "Operands are not data transfer compatible.")

Parameter :2: is filled with either statement MOVE BY NAME or statement MOVE BY POSITION.

Parameter :3: is filled with the field name or the pair of fields causing the error.

With the additional information provided, you will be able to locate errors in large structures faster.

System Commands

Note:
The sections indicated for more information are contained in the System Commands documentation, unless otherwise noted.

DUMP System Command

The DUMP system command now provides the option to list Zaps applied to a single Natural product or module. For more information, see DUMP in System Commands.

COMPOPT System Command

The new option V82COMP checks for new Natural 9.2 syntax. For more information, see V82COMP in System Commands > COMPOPT system command.

LIST System Command

The LIST system command now provides a range specification for the size of the NOC code when calling the list of objects. You can also specify the size of the NOC code in the SORT subcommand. For more information, see Range-Clause in System Commands > LIST system command.

Terminal Commands

    Note:
    The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Terminal Commands documentation, unless otherwise noted.

    Editors

    Note:
    The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Editors documentation, unless otherwise noted.

    Ignoring Case Sensitivity in Program Editor

    The editor commands SCAN and CHANGE have been enhanced to be able to operate by ignoring case sensitivity. You can use either the new editor command SET IGNORECASE in the program editor or the new editor profile option Ignore Case Mode for SCAN/CHANGE to set this functionality.

    For more information, see Ignore Case Mode for SCAN/CHANGE in Editor Profile or SET IGNORECASE in Editor Commands.

    Utilities

    Note:
    The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Utilities documentation, unless otherwise noted.

    Object Handler

    The properties that can be specified for processing Natural library objects have been enhanced. You can now use the new Check date for object kind option to search for save or catalog dates of Natural objects for a given date or date range. This option is described in Natural Library Object Properties in the section Object Handler.

    The corresponding DATECHECK option of an Object Handler direct command is described for the select-clause in the section Object Handler.

    SYSRPC

    You can now get or set the trace level for the Natural RPC server trace with server commands.

    For more information, see the TI, Tn, and T* line commands in SYSRPC Utility > Server Command Execution > Line Commands: Server Command Execution.

    Profile Parameters

    Note:
    The sections indicated for more information are contained in the Parameter Reference documentation, unless otherwise noted.

    Changed/Enhanced Profile Parameters

    Parameter

    Corresponding
    Macro

    		Task Change/Enhancement
    DELETE   Deletion of Dynamically Loaded Programs Delete

    This parameter formerly did not apply in an IBM Language Environment. The restriction has been removed. As of this version, all options of the DELETE parameter are now available in an IBM Language Environment.

    VSAM NTVSAM Parameters for Natural for VSAM Multi-Fetch Factor

    The new MF keyword subparameter specifies the multi-fetch factor for VSAM I/O through Natural statements.

    ZIIP NTZIIP zIIP Processing Introduce automatic buffer flush after one minute

    The IOCSIZE keyword subparameter is with an updated functionality. Now the system limits the caching duration for CMPRINT records to one minute.

    Application Programming Interfaces

    The following Natural application programming interfaces (APIs) are new in the SYSEXT system library or have changed:

    API Task Enhancement
    USR0070P Define editor default profile SYSTEM

    New option EDITOR-IGNORE-CASE added to the default profile.

    For more information, see Editor Defaults > Ignore Case Mode for SCAN/CHANGE.

    USR1009N Convert store clock with sliding window into microseconds

    The API converts a store clock value into microseconds since 1900-01-01. The store clock value is interpreted by default without sliding window (range 1900-2042). An optional parameter is now available to interpret the store clock value with the sliding window (range 1971-2114).

    For detailed information, see Programming Guide > Further Programming Aspects > Processing of Store Clock Values.

    USR1023N Convert time-related variables

    The API and the related copycodes have not been changed. The original store clock (1900 – 2042) is used. We strongly recommend using the new API USR9201N instead of USR1023N. Otherwise, store clock values will be incorrect interpreted after 2042.

    For detailed information, see Programming Guide > Further Programming Aspects > Processing of Store Clock Values.

    USR2036N Convert binary variable (B8) into numeric variable (P20)

    The API has not been changed. The related example program USR2036P has been improved for a more useful purpose.

    USR8220N Trigger the server-side termination of the Natural RPC server that is running this API.

    The description of the API is more detailed.
    USR9175N Ping, terminate, or trace a Natural RPC server.

    This API can now get or set the trace level for a Natural RPC server in addition to the previous capabilities to ping or to terminate it.

    USR9178N (new) Maintain local store clock value

    This API maintains local store clock values. It supports store clock with sliding window (1971 - 2114).

    Additional to the API, copycodes are provided for maintaining local store clock values.

    For detailed information, see Programming Guide > Further Programming Aspects > Processing of Store Clock Values > Local Store Clock.

    USR9201N (new) Convert time-related variables

    The API is the successor of USR1023N. It supports store clock with sliding window (1971-2114) and extended store clock (1900 - 38434).

    Additional to the API, several copycodes are provided for converting time-related variables.

    For detailed information, see Programming Guide > Further Programming Aspects > Processing of Store Clock Values.

    USR9202N (new) Delete a dynamically loaded 3GL program

    This API removes a dynamically loaded 3GL program from the region (e.g., z/OS Batch, TSO). The next call to such a 3GL program will load a new copy of the 3GL program.

    USR9203N (new) Check availability of Adabas descriptor

    This API checks whether the given descriptor, subdescriptor, superdescriptor, or hyperdescriptor is available in the given Adabas file. The USR9203P example program can be used to check whether the Natural hyperdescriptors are installed in the current FNAT or FUSER system file.