CA Gen New & Updated Knowledge Base Articles for March 2021

[Lynn Williams]

Here is the March 2021 list of New & Updated CA Gen Knowledge Base Articles (March 1-31, 2021, US EDT)
The full list of KB articles can be found from the CA Gen Product Information page here:
https://support.broadcom.com/mainframe-software/product-page.html?productName=CA Gen.
At the bottom of section "Knowledge Base Articles" click on the link for "See All Articles". See All Articles
NOTE: The default UI layout on the "See All Articles" page has improved due to the move to the SearchUnify search engine.
The list below only includes Title, URL and Summary but does not show the Metadata (date etc) - the latter can be controlled by using the Settings wheel (halfway down right-hand side) and its Customize/Pen icon (Search personalization features on the Broadcom Support Portal)

Corresponding wru850n.dll in Gen 8.6

In the CA Gen 8.5 runtimes under VS100 or VS110 folder, there is a wru850n.dll.  What is the significance of this DLL and what is the corresponding DLL in CA Gen 8.6?

The description for wru850n.dll is "Extensible Function Library DLL".  You can right-click the DLL, Properties, Details tab and see the description.   The Function library code in the wru850n.dll was merged into the Gen 8.6 wrgn.dll with the Gen 8.6 ease-of-upgrade project.

How to use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in a CA Gen Web View application UI after moving from equivalent Web Generation application

Have successfully used CA Gen Web Generation applications with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) at window and field/object level. Now moving to CA Gen Web View (Gen Studio generation) and the existing CSS definitions are not working even after using the Web View skinloader.js. How can CA Gen Web View applications use CSS?

Web View is skin based and does not use the model-based window/object CSS settings previously configured for Web Generation. Customization of the skin can be done with CSS files which are then loaded with the skinloader.js. This is a more flexible approach because any changes to the UI look and feel can be done outside of the model without having to change the model itself. To create custom CSS files the file WINDOW_NAME.style.css generated by Gen Studio in the model.ief\WebViewUI directory can be used to get the object names etc. Attached is a zip file containing an example model htclient.ief which covers the required customization for Web View. It contains a Cooperative Window Manager CLNT and the execution URL is: http://hostname:port/ht....

Install of CA Gen PTFs gives errors on initial attempts

Error messages encountered during initial install attempts of Gen 8.6 PTFs BTN86201 and RTN86208 BTN86201 First attempt - receive below error HEADER MAINTENANCE REPORT for BTN86201  DATE: Mon 03/01/2021  09:58 AM  PLATFORM: Windows  ACTION: INSTALL  ---------------------------------------------------  BACKUP: Saving C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\Gen\bt\scripts\build_proxy_net.scr to C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\PTF_Backups\BTN86201.BAK\Gen\bt\scripts\build_proxy_net.scr was successful.  BACKUP: Saving C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\Gen\bt\scripts\callvsvars.scr to C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\PTF_Backups\BTN86201.BAK\Gen\bt\scripts\callvsvars.scr was successful.  BACKUP: Saving C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\Gen\bt\scripts\WiX\VSR....

Each self-extracting executable file PTF_Name.exe when run creates files PTF_NameREADME.txt and PTF_NameZ.exe. Then per the instructions in PTF_NameREADME.txt, the self-extracting executable file PTF_NameZ.exe needs to be executed which will extract files PTF_Name.ctl, PTF_NameA.exe, setup.bat, uninstall.bat. It will also automatically start the install dialog using the setup.bat file. The file PTF_NameA.exe is the main self-extracting executable file containing all the new files to be deployed which the setup.bat executes ("%PTFname%A.exe -qq -o") The errors "The system cannot find the path specified." on the earlier failed attempts indicate that the new files from inside the PTF self-extracting zip file PTF_NameA.exe could not be found. I....

Error: HHC.EXE not found in the PATH during CA Gen 8.6 build using Visual Studio 2017 or 2019

Testing the generation of code using the Gen 8.6 Toolset in combination with Visual Studio 2017 (VS2017). In the Build Tool, an error that the hhc.exe file is not found is being generated: *** Error: HHC.EXE not found in the PATH. ***

The Microsoft Help Compiler (hhc.exe) should get installed with Visual Studio 2017 (VS2017), but there have been reports that it does not and it is not possible to select it on the install menu. The Help Compiler can be downloaded from the following Microsoft web link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/htmlhelp/microsoft-html-help-downloads NOTE: The above page contains a link for the download of Htmlhelp.exe which may give a 404 error. Alternative sources for the download that have been found are: 1. This Microsoft page has a MSDN web archive link at the bottom where the file can be downloaded from: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/265752/htmlhelp-workshop-download-for-chm-compiler-instal.....

CA GEN: Generating compatible NCALs and placed in the correct libraries

What is a summary of the rules of which library an NCAL will be placed for the 3 different application scenarios – managers, PSteps, and ABs.

Below is the recap on the rules of what library an NCAL will end up for the 3 different application scenarios – managers, PSteps, and ABs.   All Managers (server, online, batch, etc.) will be installed as a DLL  -AND- the NCAL will always be in the NCAL library specified on "1. Specify internal libraries" panel. A PStep will be installed as a DLL or non-DLL NCAL which is dependent upon the BS defaults and its "Dynam Link" option (shown via the "M=Specify member names" on the Generate Business System panel) -AND- the NCAL will always be in the NCAL library specified on "1. Specify internal libraries" panel. An AB will be installed as both a DLL and a non-DLL NCAL IF  its "Dynam Link" option is CMP or, DEF and the BS default is CMP THEN  the ....

JCL to download a PTF from support web site to z/OS

Attempting to use the JCL to extract a PTF from the Support Online site directly to the z/OS server. Receiving the following error:  EZA1736I FTP (TIME 40                                                    EZY2640I Using 'TCPIP.FTP.DATA' for local site configuration parameters. EZA1450I IBM FTP CS V2R1                                                 EZA1456I Connect to ?                                                    EZYFS34W FTP will not remove TRAILING sequence numbers                   EZA1736I ftp.ca.com                                                      EZA1553E Invalid port number. Open fails.                                The JCL is quite simple... //FTPSTEP  EXEC PGM=FTP,REGION=0M,PARM=' (TIME 40'            //SYSPRINT DD   S....

1) Go to the Broadcom Support Portal  (https://support.broadcom.com/) and request a FTP download of the PTF you need. Doing this will put the PTF in an "order location".  2) Please pre-allocate the mainframe PDS used to receive the PTF. In the job below, it's referenced as 'mainframe.pft.dataset.name.here' - create this prior to running the job.    3) Here's the mainframe FTP batch job: Note1: the 'order location' above contains the component to be FTP'd. Don't include that in the 'cd' statement below.      //*                                                     //FTPSTEP  EXEC PGM=FTP,REGION=0M,PARM=' (TIME 40'     //SYSPRINT DD   SYSOUT=*                               //OUTPUT   DD   SYSOUT=*                               //INPUT    DD * ....

Does CA Gen 8.6 support Oracle Linux specifically version 7.9

Migrating to CA Gen 8.6 using Oracle Linux 7.9 version.  Oracle Linux is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (REHEL), so is it also supported in the same way as RHEL?

From CA Gen 8.6 Technical Requirements > Third-Party Software Version > Operating Systems: +++ Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 7.5 and higher for x86_64 64-bit, or a Linux distribution with the following minimal characteristics: kernel 3.10.0-862, gcc 4.8.5-28, glibc 2.17-222 +++ So the key statement is: "...or a Linux distribution with the following minimal characteristics:kernel 3.10.0-862, gcc 4.8.5-28, glibc 2.17-222" The Oracle Linux 7.9 announcement page is here: https://blogs.oracle.com/linux/announcing-the-release-of-oracle-linux-7-update-9 It states: +++ Oracle Linux 7 Update 9 is available on 64-bit Arm (aarch64) and 64-bit AMD/Intel (x86-64) based systems. Oracle Linux 7 Update 9 ships with the following kernel packages, which in....

CA Gen 8.6 support for OpenJDK

The Technical Requirements for CA Gen 8.6 state that Oracle Java  Development Kit (JDK) 1.8 or 11 must be used: CA GEN 8.6 > Technical Requirements > Third-Party Software Version With the recent announcements from Oracle regarding changes to its Java 8 licensing for commercial use are there any plans to support OpenJDK instead? Oracle Java SE 8 Release Updates - Important Oracle Java License Update Java licensing has changed, and you could be affected

"Gen 8.6 Complete" was released in August 2019 where the Java runtime provided for use with Build Tool, Diagram Trace Utility and Gen Studio via environment variable GEN86JRE (IEFJRE on *nix platforms)  was changed from Oracle JRE to Adopt OpenJDK JRE 1.8: CA Gen 8.6 Complete Release General Availability Announcement Currently, there is no support for using OpenJDK for the compile/build of generated Java applications. Support for using OpenJDK 8 and 11 for the compile/build of generated Java applications is tentatively planned to be available by the end of Calendar year 2021. NOTE: This is a forward-looking statement. This is subject to change at any time without notice.  The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality....

Can CA Gen 8.6 Toolset and Build Tool be tested with Visual Studio 2019 using a Gen 8.5 Encyclopedia model

Can CA Gen 8.6 Toolset and Build Tool be tested with Visual Studio 2019 using a Gen 8.5 (Host) Encyclopedia model or does the Encyclopedia need to be upgraded to Gen 8.6 first?

1. To use Gen 8.6 with Visual Studio 2019 requires the Gen 8.6 Complete PTF to be installed (WKS86200/SO09618) plus some additional Build Tool, Runtime & Toolset PTFs on top of Gen Complete. For details see CA Gen 8.6 > Technical Requirements "Change Summary" page and point 16 i.e. 16 Support for Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2019 requires the following PTFs: BTN86201, RTN86208, and TSN86209. NOTE: Gen 8.6 PTFs can be downloaded from: CA Gen 8.6 Solutions & Patches 2. With the required 8.6 PTFs and Visual Studio 2019 installed, there should be no problem using the Gen 8.6 Toolset with a Gen 8.5 model downloaded from a Gen 8.5 Host Encyclopedia to test builds with Visual Studio 2019. Gen Support has successfully downloaded the Gen 8.5....

z/OS Managers Created as DLLs with No DB2 SQL

Regarding all z/OS managers (CICS and IMS server managers, batch managers, dialog/3270 green screen), are all created as DLLs and contain no DB2 SQL statements?

This is correct.  All managers are created as DLLs and contain no SQL in the generated manager code.

Building single CA Gen Java runtime file (genrt.jar) with required Gen Java runtimes for all installed Gen Java application types

Require to use a single Gen Java runtime file genrt.jar as a shared library on the Application Server (WebSphere) and need to be sure that it contains all required runtimes for all deployed Java application types i.e. when Assemble each Java application type do not want to include the runtime file genrt.jar into each .ear file. Have also observed that the genrt.jar created during the Assemble step has different contents depending on the application type. Is there any documentation on what different runtimes are needed for the different application types e.g. fmrt, smrt, wmrt, so a single genrt.jar covering all can be created?

There is an option available to create a single genrt.jar for shared library use in WebSphere which contains all possible Gen Java runtimes needed for all the different Gen Java application types. Then it is not necessary to know the details of each runtime class name or their corresponding .jar file inside folder "%GEN86%\Gen\classes" ("C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Gen86\Gen\classes") In "%GEN86%\Gen\classes" there is a file mkjavart.bat which uses mkjavart.xml. The Build Tool Assemble step also uses that file mkjavart.xml. The file mkjavart.bat can be run with options to cover all possible Java applications and communication types. It requires JAVA_HOME to be set as an environment variable. If type mkjavart.bat from the command line it will ....

What type of CA Gen generated Java applications need to have Build Tool profile Java token LOC.JAVAEE_HOME set and how to set it

CA Gen 8.6 requires that the Java EE SDK be installed and Build Tool profile JAVA token LOC.JAVAEE_HOME set to successfully compile some Gen generated Java application types.

1. LOC.JAVAEE_HOME needs to be set when generating Java server EJBs and the Classic Style Java Proxy. The standard Java Proxy does not use LOC.JAVAEE_HOME. 2. To enable the successful use of Java EE SDK requires the correct setting of the CA Gen 8.6 Build Tool Java token LOC.JAVAEE_HOME. Download java_ee_sdk-8u1.zip from Oracle page https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javaee-8-sdk-downloads.html (Note that the top level folder in the zip file has name "glassfish5"). Unzip the file into the root of the C drive e.g. C:\java_ee_sdk-8u1 To ensure that all required Java classes (jar files) can be correctly located at compile time set Build Tool Profile Java token: LOC.JAVAEE_HOME = C:\java_ee_sdk-8u1\glassfish5\glassfish

Using CA Gen concat function directly on CLIENT_USER_ID or CLIENT_PASSWORD results in incorrect characters in output buffer

If CLIENT_USER_ID or CLIENT_PASSWORD is concatenated directly, rather than via a Local View, the output has strange/corrupt characters inside it. Code that works: SET lcl cics_container client_user_id TO CLIENT_USER_ID   SET out_vl_cid_frm_concat_concat_lcl basic_types text_opt_80_vl TO concat(concat("!", lcl cics_container client_user_id), "!") Code that doesn't: SET out_vl_cid_frm_concat_concat_sys basic_types text_opt_80_vl TO concat(concat("!", CLIENT_USER_ID), "!") This was behaviour found during testing Gen cooperative COBOL/CICS servers with Web Services GENius and is also observable through the Gen mainframe DTF facility when running within CICS. Example output: Analysis of the generated code indicates that the problem is due to ext....

Per the description, there is a viable workaround where the system attribute CLIENT_USER_ID or CLIENT_PASSWORD is first assigned to a view and then the concat function is used on the view instead of directly on the system attribute. The fix for this problem will be deferred to a later date.

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Lynn Williams
Senior Principal Support Engineer
Broadcom
Australia
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