CA-View (SAR)

CA-View (Formerly known as SAR), a SYSOUT Archival and Retrieval system, is a facility for storing and retrieving computer output.  Clients should consider CA-View as an alternative to storing listings for their retention needs.  Since any computer output can be specified for archival, CA-View is especially well-suited to the management of production JCL listings and production reports.  CA-View is available on the Rancho Cordova and Vacaville z Systems through specific individualized CA-View database repositories based on client departments.  Although the main purpose is to provide an alternative method of storing and retaining computer output, CA-View may also be used for AFP to PDF transformation and PDF collection for output that will also be stored in the CA-View database.  The storage and retention specifications of output are dependent upon the needs of the client CA-View database repositories.  Typically, each day is considered a generation.

Computer outputs may be placed in the CA-View database repositories by the specification of output class and/or DEST parameter in their batch job JCL.

SYSOUT JCL Examples:

SYSOUT DD Statement:

//REPORT3 DD SYSOUT=G

MSGCLASS Parameter:

//jobname JOB (acct info),name-phone#,MSGCLASS=G

SYSOUT DD Statement with Reference to OUTPUT Statement:

//OUT1 OUTPUT JESDS=ALL,DEFAULT=Y,DEST=defined dest

//REPORT3 DD SYSOUT=(,),OUTPUT=(*,OUT1)

OUTPUT Retrieval Within CA-View Database Repositories

After the output has been archived to a CA-View database repository.  The clients can access their outputs via TSO CLISTS, CICS Cross-memory services, ISPF menu selections, or WebViewer (URL).

Upon accessing a CA-View database repository, the user will be presented with the primary CA-View selection menu. The first field on the selection menu is SYSOUT ID, which by default is the same as the jobname. A partial jobname, such as DCCBA*, can be entered. This would select all archived jobs that begin with the characters ‘DCCBA’. The SYSOUT ID field is optional – leaving it blank will result in selecting all jobs that meet the other selection criteria.

NOTE: Specifying all or even part of the SYSOUT ID will speed up the search of CA-View’s database for eligible archived output, particularly when that database contains a significant number of jobs.

In addition to SYSOUT ID, you may enter selection criteria for the GENERATION or the DATE. For GENERATION, you can enter a generation number or range of generation numbers (e.g. 640:643). CA-View assigns a sequential generation number for each day. You can alternatively enter a relative generation number or range of numbers (e.g., a range of -3::0 would cover all jobs archived during the period beginning 3 generations ago through the current generation). Specifying * or ALL in the GENERATION field will return a list of all eligible jobs in the CA-View database that the user is authorized to browse. Rather than filling in the GENERATION field, you can use the DATE field, entering a given date in mm/dd/yy format or a range of dates, such as 01/06/05:02/26/05. A relative date or range of dates can also be specified. If nothing is entered in either the GENERATION or the DATE fields, only the current generation is searched for eligible archived output.

Once the selection menu is completed, a list of jobs that meet the selection criteria will be displayed.  Depending on the CA-View database repository, there are different security mechanisms that are deployed.  These will determine whether the user can do within a given CA-View database repository.

Example

SYSOUT ID ===> DC*
GENERATION ===> -10::0

CA-View might then display a panel such as the one shown below:

VIEW 12.0 ALL————– SYSOUT SELECTION LIST ———————

COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> PAGE

For each selected job, CA-View displays the archival date and time, the current location of the archived output, the number of print lines and pages, and the exception code (if any). Possible exception codes may include SB37, U0024, 0016 (condition code), and JCLERR.

The SEL column at the far left of the display provides an area for CA-View line commands.

Following are some of the more commonly used line commands:

S – Browse the output.

L – Load the output. This command is used to copy output that has already been archived to tape into a temporary disk file so the output can be browsed. A batch job is created to perform the copy operation. You will be prompted for a JOB statement the first time this command is used.

CA-View will retain this JOB information for all subsequent loads. The copied output will remain in the temporary disk file until the next CA-View backup cycle.

J – Print the output. A batch job will be submitted.

D – Delete the output. This job will be removed from the CA-View index and the output will no longer be available for retrieval. A confirmation panel is provided to prevent inadvertent deletes.

Reference Manuals

CA-View reference manuals are available in PDF form upon request.