Data-related problems

Before assuming that an error is caused by a defect in CICS PA, ensure that the input data CICS PA is trying to process is valid. Three types of data problems might occur that prevent CICS PA from accurately processing data collected by the CICS® Monitoring Facility (CMF). These data problems are:
  1. Absence of data dictionaries
  2. Absence of data within a particular record type
  3. Invalid data values

Absence of data dictionaries

Two symptoms occur when data dictionaries are absent.

The first, and most common, symptom is a message indicating that data records were encountered before dictionary records. This might be due either to an error in the CMF data or a user-related error. You can cause this error when copying CMF records from one data set to another. When copying CMF records, make sure that the dictionary records are copied along with the data records and appear before their associated data records. If the data set was not copied, the missing or misplaced dictionaries might be caused by an error in CMF.

Note: When CICS writes to an MVS™ SMF data set, CICS does not get notified that a data set switch has occurred and cannot write the dictionaries at the beginning of the new data set. It is necessary that SMF data sets be processed in the same order in which they were created.

The second symptom is the occurrence of numerous error messages. These messages tell you that CICS PA was unable to find the indicated data field. This happens when the dictionaries are lost and is due to improper link edit of the dictionary processor, ECPDICMF.

Missing fields

The second problem, absence of data within a particular record type, might be a CMF data error or a user interpretation error. Because many of the fields collected by CMF are optional, you can exclude the data from a particular record. CICS PA issues a message indicating that the field is Missing from the record. Although this is not a severe error, the report might not provide an accurate account of the data. This is especially true on Summary reports. If a data field in the summation is missing for any part of the summarization interval, then the field is marked Missing.

Invalid data values

The final data-related problem concerns invalid data values. If CICS PA is having trouble processing some of the CMF data fields, check for errors by validating the data in the following way:
  • Run the CICS batch program DFH$MOLS. For information on using DFH$MOLS, see the CICS Operation and Utilities Guide. DFH$MOLS can print every field in each of the CMF record types and if it cannot process the data correctly, then the problem is with the data.
    Note: DFH$MOLS generates a page or more of output for each CMF record that you select for processing. Be very careful when specifying how much data you want printed.