DumpMaster captures the output of the failing program, pre-processes the data and provides fast and accurate fault diagnosis by automatically analysing the abend and highlighting possible causes.

Macro 4's unique interfaces allows programmers to bypass complex routines and navigate the dump by simple commands, reducing downtime and increasing functionality.

DumpMaster Features

Collaborative dump analysis
Abends can happen at any time during the life cycle of an application. At times, it might not be possible for the person who wrote the code to examine it, and at other times, the developer may need the help of colleagues at different locations to compare notes.

M4Explorer’s ScratchPad with ActiveLinks helps overcome these problems. This is ideal for putting together a detailed problem investigation. Each user has one ScratchPad per dump and can:

• copy & paste sections of a dump into the ScratchPad for later use, or to share their research with colleagues.
• email a link to the dump, which includes access to their ScratchPad, to colleagues in order to share resources.
• import information from other ScratchPads into their own.
• add useful comments to further clarify the ScratchPad contents.

Batch, CICS® and WebSphere® MQSeries® Support
DumpMaster has support for Batch, CICS Transaction and System Dumps, and MQSeries abends. Within that support users can obtain details directly on:

• Program failing statement with the program data;
• Program failing statement in source context - COBOL, Assembler and PL/I;
• CICS Trace Table details - both at the System and Application level;
• Reconstruction of the MQ last call activity;
• Formatting and interpretation of MQ data areas.

IMS Support
DumpMaster presents an organised, structured series of dynamic displays keyed to IMS abends.

Access to IMS-specific dump debugging information is available via the IMS Diagnostics Menu. For example:

• PCB (Program Control Block) Status Code displays the status code and an explanation of the status of the main IMS Program Control Block.
• IMS Call Description shows the type of call made to IMS, its functions and results.
• IMS abend codes, SSA information, I/O storage areas and other IMS variables are available via point-and-shoot technology.

DB2 Support
When an abending program contains evidence that DB2® was active, the DB2 summary page provides:

• The EXEC SQL Statement showing the last program call to the DB2 Database Manager, including any data that was referenced by that call.
• The SQL Communications Area showing the last communication from the DB2 Database Manager to the program. This includes definitions, decoded comments and direct access to storage areas.

Abend Summary Display and I/O Summary
The dynamic Abend Summary Display (ASD) presents diagnostic information in a clear and logical format and serves as the gateway for all further in-depth analysis of dumps.

The failing instruction statement is always displayed within the ASD. The format and content of all displays is variable depending on the type of abend, program and environment. The 'Point and Shoot' diagnostics can be shown in terms familiar to the COBOL, CICS, Batch, IMS or DB2 users. Traditional register, base and displacement displays are always available.

The information displayed is usually sufficient to diagnose the program error. However, if the abend cannot be resolved at this stage, DumpMaster provides access to a number of other functions, such as the call chain list, a complete map of the Data Division, code dis-assembly and other advanced components.

Fault Diagnosed
DumpMaster provides a further aid in problem diagnosis and resolution with its advanced diagnostic facilities.

The Extended Find Function conducts a highly qualified search of all or part of the dump for occurrences of character or hexadecimal search arguments. Search results are sorted by address, resulting in duplicate 'hits' being eliminated.

Advanced handling and presentation of dump information and job listings mean time spent performing searches is greatly reduced enabling quick and efficient fault diagnosis.

A list of current displays that have been accessed during the dump navigation is continuously updated and can be referred to again using 'Point and Shoot'.

DumpMaster's point-and-shoot capabilities, menu drop-down facilities and online tutorial ensure ease of use at all levels of expertise.

Cause of Fault Corrected Using InSync™
To simplify data-oriented support tasks even further, Macro 4 offers InSync™, a comprehensive file and data management tool designed to work in conjunction with DumpMaster.