Category Archives: IBM Mainframe Assembler

If you are generating a binary result in a register and converting the result back to packed-decimal, you need to be keenly aware of the limitations of each of these data types. For large binary values, you will need some conversion techniques that aren’t found in Principles of Operation. This article discusses several approaches for converting double-precision binary back to packed-decimal.

This update in VisualZ corrects a flaw in the packed decimal arithmetic instructions that occurred when using large values.  You should also download codes.zip which includes many new packed decimal test programs.  To get the latest versions, click the Download VZ tab on the homepage.

I’ve updated the RunnerB.jar file for VisualZ.  Replacing your copy of RunnerB.jar with this one will give you the most up-to-date version of VisibleZ.   This update fixes a problem with condition code settings that occurred in some cases for A, AH, S, and SH.  This version also includes many new immediate arithmetic instructions.   LARL was also added to the instruction set.  You should also download codes.zip, upzip it, and replace your Codes directory with this one.  The new Codes directory contains sample programs for each of the new instructions that was added.

Can’t remember all the details of the Divide Single Grande Fullword Register instruction (DSGFR)?  Not sure of the set up for Multiply Single (MS)?  Consulting Principles of Operation for the umpteenth time today?  You can quickly learn (or review) 21 grande arithmetic instructions using the visual clues I’ve provided on four new pages (pdf). Check out the pages below and leave the POPS manual for the hard stuff.

• Visual Prompts For Grande Multiplication (pdf)
• Visual Prompts For Grande Addition (pdf)
• Visual Prompts For Grande Subtraction (pdf)
• Visual Prompts For Grande Division (pdf)

Additionally, I’ve added a video to explain the visual clue sheets and exactly how these instructions work:

• Visual Prompts For Grande Arithmetic Video (mp4)

All of these items have been added to the video course.

Are you bewildered by the plethora of branch instructions in assembly language?  Perhaps you’re wondering what all that jumping around is about?  Not sure when to choose JNE over BNE or BC?  This new paper addresses those issues and a few more you might find helpful.  I’ll give you my own take on how to decide when to jump and when to branch.  You might also learn a new way to load base registers, get a grip on relative branching, or improve your understanding of addressability.  Click here for the pdf and jump in!

“The Happy Mainframe” or “WWzD: What Would z Do?”

I am happy to welcome David Staudacher, who begins a series of blogs about solving problems with elegant, succinct assembler code – code that System z itself would write (if it could).  David has been writing Mainframe code in Assembler and COBOL for over 35 years,  in both vendor software and business application environments.  He is currently employed with the State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina  and co-manages the “Mainframe Assembler Professionals” and  “Mainframe [COBOL, etc] Experts” Groups on LinkedIn.

Problem: Read Error on Newly Allocated, Empty Sequential Disk Files

Example:

// EXEC PGM=IEFBR14
//NEWFILE  DD SPACE=(TRK,1),DSN=&&FILE,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,DISP=(,PASS)
//REPRO    EXEC PGM=IDCAMS
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//INFILE   DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&&FILE
//OUTFILE  DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=*.INFILE
//SYSIN    DD *
REPRO INFILE(INFILE) OUTFILE(OUTFILE)
/*

Result:
PROCSTEP    RC   EXCP
NEWFL       00      4
REPRO       12     24

…with:
IEC141I 013-34,IGG0191I,,,INFILE

http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/IEA2M7C0/3.70 – IEC141I

Basically, there’s no EOF mark and no DCB information in the DSCB because the file was never OPENed for Output, even though RECFM and LRECL were specified in the JCL.

Essential Solution: A program to use with file allocation (rather than IEFBR14), sufficient just to Open and Close the file, thus creating a valid and usable DSCB.

Using this OPEN/CLOSE program instead of IEFBR14 …

// EXEC PGM=PSINIT “PSINIT” = (P)hysical (S)equential (INIT)ialization
//NEWFILE  DD SPACE=(TRK,1),DSN=&&FILE,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,DISP=(,PASS)
//REPRO    EXEC PGM=IDCAMS
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//INFILE   DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&&FILE
//OUTFILE  DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=*.INFILE
//SYSIN    DD *
REPRO INFILE(INFILE) OUTFILE(OUTFILE)
/*

… now everything is hunky-dory:

PROCSTEP    RC   EXCP
NEWFL       00      9
REPRO       00     26

This is an excellent opportunity to “make the Mainframe happy” with some “elegant machine code” written in Assembler!

The essential solution can be accomplished with as little as one DCB, six machine instructions and a fullword aligned 4-byte Parameter List (DCB pointer with option bits in the high-order byte):

(1)    The DCB is:  DCB DSORG=PS,DDNAME=NEWFILE,MACRF=W

Note: The DCB here specifies “MACRF=W”, which makes this a BSAM DCB.

A QSAM DCB (MACRF=PM or PL) would work just as well, but since we only need OPEN and CLOSE, simple BSAM works just fine.

The DDNAME parameter (here = “NEWFILE”) must also match the DDNAME used in the JCL.

(2)    The fullword-aligned Parameter List (in 4 contiguous bytes) is:

• Fullword Alignment: DC 0F’0’
• Option Bits:  DC X’8F’ (see “Bit Settings for OPEN (SVC 19) and Bit settings for CLOSE (SVC 20)” below for bit meanings)
• DCB Pointer: DC AL3(DCB)From “MVS Diagnosis Reference” (GA22-7588), the relevant option byte bit settings for the necessary OPEN (SVC 19) and CLOSE (SVC 20) in this case are:
  

  Bit Settings for OPEN (SVC 19)	Bit Settings for CLOSE (SVC 20)
  1... .... = Last entry indicator .... 1111 = OUTPUT	1... .... = Last entry indicator

  Notice how there is no overlap using these particular bit settings.   Thus, the same Parameter List can be used forboth OPEN and CLOSE.

(3)    The Six Machine Instructions are:

1.   X’4120bddd’– Load R2 with the Address of the Parameter List (’bddd’is the Base+Displacement Parameter List address, determined at assembly time).Note: Loading R1 would be sufficient, but subsequent SVC 19 modifies R1 so the less volatile R2 is used instead so address can be easily reloaded for CLOSE (SVC 20).
2. X’1812’ – Load R1 with address of required Parameter List for SVC 19 (OPEN).
3. X’0A13’ – Issue SVC 19 (OPEN).
4. X’1812’ – Reload R1 with address of required Parameter List for SVC 20 (CLOSE).
5. X’0A14’ – Issue SVC 20 (CLOSE).
6. X’07FE’ – BR 14

This solution, unlike most written in so-called “high level” languages,  will work with any sequential disk file, of any valid record length and any Record Format.

Specific and essential DCB information, like RECFM, LRECL and BLKSIZE, are obtained via JCL and SMS defaults rather than hardcoded in the program.  Nice!

Here’s the Assembly ready code then, exactly as the machine might write it, with:

(1)    A “USING” on R15 (R15 = Base) since the machine “knows” R15 contains the Entry address at runtime.

(2)    A label “PLIST” on the Parameter List, giving the displacement so the address can be calculated at runtime.

(3)    A label “DCB” on the DCB, so “AL3(DCB)” will contain the DCB address at runtime.

PSINIT CSECT
       USING PSINIT,15     R15 = BASE
       LA     2,PLIST      R2 -> PARMLIST
       LR     1,2          R1 -> PARMLIST
       SVC    19           ISSUE OPEN SVC
       LR     1,2          R1 -> PARMLIST
       SVC    20           ISSUE CLOSE DCB
       BR     14           RETURN
PLIST  DC     0F’0’,X'8F',AL3(DCB)
DCB    DCB    DSORG=PS,DDNAME=NEWFILE,MACRF=W
       END PSINIT

Knowing the machine code generated by the “MF=E” forms of the OPEN and CLOSE macros, and the “MF=L” form of OPEN, the Assembly code can be simplified even further to just 9 statements…

PSINIT CSECT
       USING PSINIT,15    R15 = BASE
       LA    2,PLIST      R2 -> PARMLIST
       OPEN  MF=(E,(2))   OPEN FILE
       CLOSE MF=(E,(2))   CLOSE FILE
       BR    14           RETURN
PLIST  OPEN  MF=L,(DCB,OUTPUT)
DCB    DCB   DSORG=PS,DDNAME=NEWFILE,MACRF=W
       END   PSINIT

… which generate exactly the same load module.

– “OPEN MF=(E,(2))” generates “LR 1,2” and “SVC 19”.

– “CLOSE MF=(E,(2))” generates “LR 1,2” and “SVC 20”.

– “OPEN MF=L,(DCB,OUTPUT)” generates “DC 0F’0’”, “AL1(143)” and “AL3(DCB)”.  (note: “AL1(143)” = “X'8F'”)

NEXT: The same solution using AMODE 31 with an external DCB module, loaded dynamically at runtime.