Technical Overview
Rocket AS Version 6 Release 3 (AS V 6.3) contains 37 improvements compared with the previous release of AS and 537 improvements compared with IBM AS Version 4 Release 2. This technical overview introduces the key features of this release, including new:
Summary of Commands
| New AS Commands | |
| Command | Description EXAMPLE |
| CANCEL PASSIVE command | Cancels passive commands without cancelling the current In table or
any SELECT commands.CANCEL PASSIVE |
| DASDOCAT | A CMS EXEC for recovering a missing or damaged VMAS catalog. For
more information, refer to the AS manual 'Supporting and Customizing
(VM)'.DASDOCAT (CMS command) |
| DIAGNOSE ABEND command | Allows Rocket Software to obtain a storage dump to help diagnose a
problem.DIAG ABEND SRQ DCLOSE:DROPN 12 287 |
| DIAGNOSE LEVEL improvement | The result format of the DIAGNOSE LEVEL DASBUILD command had been
changed to improve the readability of the date.DIAGNOSE LEVEL DASBUILD |
| INCLUDE enhancement | It is now possible to add a row to an unsequenced table by using INCLUDE and specifying a row number of one greater than the number of rows in the table. |
| K and KK local editor commands | The K and KK block commands enable you to copy a block of lines multiple times, having the meaning of 'Copy and keep marked'. |
| PCOPTIONS command | Allows an application to influence its appearance when it is being
run by a PC Client. Options include PCLOOKANDFEEL, ASYNCHEDITOR,
SCREENSIZE and TRACE.PCOPTIONS SAVE,SCR(32x80),PCL(YES),DISP |
| SCREEN command extended | Many of the old-style pairs of options, such as LINE and NOLINE,
can now use a parameter form, such as LINE(YES) and FOLD(NO).Screen Line(YES),Fold(NO) |
| TABLES RESERVE/RELEASE | This provides a mechanism for a PC Client to reserve an AS table
for update while it is being edited in a PC editor.TABLE UpdData,RESERVE |
For more information on any of these commands, refer to the AS
Reference Manual or use the Online Reference in AS, for example:
Help PCOPTIONS
Summary of Values
| New AS System Values | |
| Value | Description EXAMPLE |
| @IN MASKS system array | Array of 6 elements containing the fully-qualified names of the
current IN tables together with the names of any associated mask
tables.Print @IN MASKS(1:3) |
| @INCLUDE MASKS system array | Array of 24 elements containing the fully-qualified names of the
current INCLUDE tables together with the names of any associated mask
tables.Print @INCLUDE MASKS(3) |
| @PROCEDURE LINENOS sys.array | Array of 12 elements containing the current line numbers of the
current active Procedures.Print @PROCEDURE LINENOS(3) |
For more information on any of these values, refer to the AS
Reference Manual or use the Online Reference in AS, for example:
Help @IN MASKS
Summary of Function(s)
| New AS Function | |
| Function | Description EXAMPLE |
| SHOWPAN delay extended | The display-only time may now specify fractional seconds.Let !FK=SHOWPAN('Main',2.75) |
For more information, refer to the AS Reference Manual or use the
Online Reference in AS, for example:
Help SHOWPAN
Summary of Synonyms
| New AS System Synonyms | |
| Synonym | Description EXAMPLE |
| EXPLIKE | The EXPLIKE System Synonym makes it easier to export, to a single
ASTRAN file, a set of AS tables identifiable by a common string in the
table name.EXPLIKE AQUA*,AQUAEXP |
| PROCSUM | The PROCSUM System Synonym makes it easier to run the new sample
application, ***SAMP/PROCSUM, a quick method of creating summary
tables.PROCSUM 'Department','Annual Salary' |
| RGEN | The RGEN System Synonym makes it easier to run the new sample
application, ***SAMP/RGEN, a simple interactive Report generator.RGEN 'Department','TOTAL(Annual Salary)' |
For more information, refer to the AS Reference Manual or use the
Online Reference in AS, for example:
Help EXPLIKE
Summary of Names File tags
| New AS Names File tags | |||
| System | Type | Tag | Description |
| MVS only | DAS | :extfilsp. | Sets the space allocation values used when AS creates a new external file on MVS |
| MVS only | DAS | :library. | Sets the default MVS shared library location, avoiding the need to have separate entries for every shared library. |
For more information on any of these tags, refer to the AS Reference Manual or use Appendix A11 of the Online Reference in AS.
New Utilities, Samples and Demonstrations
In AS V 6.3, there are some significant new additions to the *** library, in the following areas:
- ASREFP - the new AS Reference application
- RGEN - a new Report Generator sample application, especially designed for use with Rocket.Ascent Client
- PROCSUM - a new sample application for creating summary tables
- ASCDEMO - a new menu demonstration, especially for Rocket.Ascent Client
- EGRP16 - a new Report demonstration.
-
Additional logic and Image panels for existing utilities to exploit the Rocket.Ascent Client
The new AS Reference application
The AS Reference application can be found on the main Demonstrate Workplace in AS, or you can run it using the command:
Run ***AS/ASRefP
It provides a quick view of all the top-level keywords in the AS language - commands, synonyms, functions, operators and characters - and allows you to select and search for items of interest. It is not intended as a replacement for the Online Reference in AS but it should help you to quickly focus on relevant keywords for further investigation.
The procedure uses an Image panel with a SHOWPAN application to view the table ***AS/ASREF. You can click on a keyword to view a one-line description for it and use the function keys to select subsets (for example, System Values). You can also enter a search string to perform further searches.
For example, to see a list of all AS functions concerned with 'Month', first use F15 to display just the functions then enter:
Month
in the Search String prompt.
A new Report Generator sample application
A new sample application, RGEN, in the *** library provides a simple interactive Report generator for situations where the standard AS Interactive Report is not available (for example, in some client environments).
RGEN is very easy to use and all options can be specified on one screen. It allows you to select columns from your IN table (AS, DB2 or AS QUERY), control the order of the rows, specify grouping and choose the type of accumulation on suitable columns. You can run RGEN with the following command:
Run ***SAMP/RGEN
but we recommend that you use the new System Synonym, RGEN, instead. Once you have used the IN command to choose your input table, you start RGEN with the simple command:
RGEN
Initially, you are shown the data in a standard View format but F5 will take you to the Report selection screen. Once you have run your Report, it is saved as a Command Table which you can rename and retain for future use and, perhaps, further modify in the AS editor.
Instead of using the interactive selection dialog, you can use RGEN in 'expert mode' by adding parameters to the command. For example, to create a report containing the columns Division, Annual Salary and Commission, grouped by Department and Sex:
In ***Demo/Staff
RGEN 'Department,Sex','Division,Annual
Salary,Commission'
For totalling, you can use any of the following accumulation types - COUNT, LOW, HIGH, TOTAL, AVG, STDEV and PCENT.
For more information, use the '?' parameter to request help:
RGEN ?
A new sample application for creating summary tables
A new sample application, PROCSUM, in the *** library, provides a particularly easy method of creating a summary table from an IN table (AS, DB2, QMF QUERY, AS QUERY or QS QUERY) with flexible total options. In one command, PROCSUM allows you to specify one or more grouping columns, the columns to be accumulated and the type(s) of accumulation you require. You can run PROCSUM with the following command:
Run ***SAMP/PROCSUM
but we recommend that you use the new System Synonym, PROCSUM, instead. Once you have used the IN command to choose your input table, you can use the PROCSUM command to create your summary table.
For example, to create a summary table containing the total Annual Salary and average Commission: for every Department within Division:
In ***Demo/Staff
Out StaffSum
PROCSUM 'Division,Department','TOTAL(Annual
Salary),AVG(Commission)'
As with RGEN, you can use any of the following accumulation types - COUNT, LOW, HIGH, TOTAL, AVG, STDEV and PCENT.
You can also use the command:
PROCSUM ?
to display the help information or, without parameters:
PROCSUM
to display a screen allowing interactive selection of grouping and accumulation columns.
A new menu demonstration, especially for Rocket.Ascent Client
A new demonstration using action-bar menus can be found in Demonstrate by selecting 'Sample Menu application' on the 'Sample Applications' workplace, or by entering the AS command:
Run ***Demo/ASCDemo
This demonstration is a useful example of how to implement an action-bar menu application, using SHOWPAN and OPENMENU functions. When run on Rocket.Ascent Client, it illustrates how the Client can automatically convert the menus and windows to a PC 'look-and-feel' to give your applications an exciting new look.
The demonstration allows you to select and run a range of other *** library applications and utilities, and also view various demonstration data tables.
A new Report demonstration
A new Report demonstration is provided in Demonstrate by selecting 'Whose evaluations are overdue?' on the 'Reports' workplace, or by entering the AS command:
Run ***Demo/EGRP16
It illustrates the use of a Data Specification to supply the Report with an IN table, four INCLUDE tables and a row selection expression. The Report combines the data tables and formats the data as a Manager's Action List, using the VIEWONLY option to prevent user modification.
Additional logic and Image panels for existing utilities
Several existing *** library applications have been enhanced to detect when they are being executed from an AS client. By testing the value of the system value '@AS CALLER', an application can, for example, open an alternative Image panel to present a different style of interface to a client user.
The procedures affected include:
- SEARCH Utility (***AS/SEARCH)
- OPTIMIZE Utility (***AS/OPTIMIZE)
- New Features Guide (***DEMO/GUIDE)
- AS *** Public Library Index (***DEMO/INDEXP)
- AGENDA sample Utility (***SAMP/AGENDA)
- Selected demonstrations
For example, when invoked from an AS client, the SEARCH Utility now displays a slightly different main screen without a reverse video border and the New Features Guide presents different options on its Exit menu.
Updates to the AS *** Public Library
The AS *** Public Library provides a wealth of AS Data and Language tables which are freely available as utilities or as resources for demonstration and educational purposes. All are listed in the table ***DEMO/##INDEX but most of them can be accessed in context from the workplaces which make up the Demonstrate facility.
More details of each table can be found in tables called CATALOG and CAT3STAR in each of the five application codes (AS, BOOK, DEMO, KAN and SAMP). For example, in the DEMO application:
- ***DEMO/CATALOG contains an entry for each table in that application, and
- ***DEMO/CAT3STAR contains an entry for every table in the *** library (all applications).
Here is a complete list of the new tables in this release:
***AS/ASREF
DATA CHA AS Reference Summary
***AS/ASREFHLP DATA
CHA Help Text table for ASREFP
***AS/ASREFI
CMND IMA Panel used by ***AS/ASREFP
***AS/ASREFIC CMND
IMA Panel used by ***AS/ASREFP
***AS/ASREFP
CMND PRO View the AS Reference Summary
***AS/CATALOG DATA
SEQ ***AS Catalog Listing
***AS/CAT3STAR DATA
SEQ ***Library complete catalog
***AS/OPTIMUIC CMND
IMA Image panel for OPTIMIZE (C)
***AS/SRCHI1C CMND
IMA Search: Option Panels - Client
***BOOK/CATALOG DATA
SEQ ***BOOK Catalog Listing
***BOOK/CAT3STAR DATA SEQ
***Library complete catalog
***DEMO/##INDEXC CMND IMA
Image panel for ##INDEXP Client
***DEMO/ASCDEMO CMND
PRO AS Menu Demonstration
***DEMO/ASCDEMOH DATA ASC AS
Menu Demo help text
***DEMO/ASCDEMOI CMND IMA
Image panel for ***DEMO/ASCDEMO
***DEMO/ASSETS62 DATA COP
***DEMO/ASSETS AS V 6.2 version
***DEMO/BOOKSL62 DATA COP
***DEMO/BOOKSALE AS V 6.2 version
***DEMO/CATALOG DATA
SEQ ***DEMO Catalog Listing
***DEMO/CAT3STAR DATA SEQ
***Library complete catalog
***DEMO/EGLI02C CMND
IMA Image spec for EGLP02 - Client
***DEMO/EGLI07 CMND
IMA Image specification for TOOLKIT
***DEMO/EGRD16 SPEC
DSP Data specification for EGRR16
***DEMO/EGRP16 CMND
PRO Procedure for EGRR16 in VIEWONLY
***DEMO/EGRR16 SPEC
REP Whose evaluations are overdue?
***DEMO/GUIDEEXP CMND PRO
FTP Export for ***DEMO/GUIDE
***DEMO/GUIDEI CMND
IMA AS Features Guide - Image
***DEMO/GUIDEIC CMND
IMA AS Features Guide - Client Image
***DEMO/GUIDEREP CMND PRO
Report proc for ***DEMO/GUIDE
***DEMO/GUIDERE2 CMND PRO
Report proc for ***DEMO/GUIDE
***DEMO/GUIDERL CMND
REP Report lang for ***DEMO/GUIDE
***DEMO/GUIDERL2 CMND REP
Report lang for ***DEMO/GUIDE
***DEMO/MULTMODX CMND MOD
Multi-dimensional planning Model
***DEMO/STAFFDS1 SPEC DSP
Dataspec for ***DEMO/STAFF
***DEMO/STAFFI1 CMND
IMA Column Image for ***DEMO/STAFF
***DEMO/STAFFI2 CMND
IMA Row Image for ***DEMO/STAFF (24)
***DEMO/STAFFI3 CMND
IMA Row Image for ***DEMO/STAFF (32)
***DEMO/STAFFI4 CMND
IMA Row Image for ***DEMO/STAFF (43)
***DEMO/STAFF62 DATA
CHA ***DEMO/STAFF AS V 6.2 version
***DEMO/STAFUPDT CMND PRO
Creates an updated STAFF table
***KAN/CATALOG DATA
SEQ ***KAN Catalog Listing
***KAN/CAT3STAR DATA
SEQ ***Library complete catalog
***SAMP/AGENDI1C CMND IMA
Agenda: Entry Panel: Client
***SAMP/AGENDI2C CMND IMA
Agenda: Front End Panels: Client
***SAMP/AGENDI3C CMND IMA
Agenda: Resource Panel: Client
***SAMP/AGENDI4C CMND IMA
Agenda: Location Panel: Client
***SAMP/CATALOG DATA
SEQ ***SAMP Catalog Listing
***SAMP/CAT3STAR DATA SEQ
***Library complete catalog
***SAMP/HEXP
CMND PRO Displays 256 hex values
***SAMP/HEXPC CMND
PRO Displays 256 hex values
***SAMP/HEXR
SPEC REP Report for ***SAMP/HexP
***SAMP/HEXRC CMND
REP Report for ***SAMP/HexPC
***SAMP/PROCSUM CMND
PRO PROCSUM - Summarization Process.
***SAMP/PROCSUM1 CMND PRO
Save IN /OUT commands.
***SAMP/PROCSUM2 CMND PRO
PROCSUM Analysis Definition.
***SAMP/PSUMHELP DATA ASC
PROCSUM - HELP Text
***SAMP/PSUMIM1 CMND
IMA PROCSUM Definition sel cols.
***SAMP/PSUMIM2 CMND
IMA PROCSUM Total window.
***SAMP/RGEN
CMND PRO RGEN Main Procedure.
***SAMP/RGENHELP DATA CHA
RGEN - HELP Text
***SAMP/RGENIM1 CMND
IMA RGEN Row Sel cols.
***SAMP/RGENIM2 CMND
IMA RGEN Report Sel cols.
***SAMP/RGENIM3 CMND
IMA RGEN Total window.
***SAMP/RGENP1 CMND
PRO RGEN Row Select.
***SAMP/RGENP2 CMND
PRO RGEN Report Select.
***SAMP/RGENRGEN CMND PRO
RGEN Report Generator.
***SAMP/RGENRPC CMND
PRO RGEN % Pre-Process.
***SAMP/RGENRT01 CMND PRO
RGEN Routines 1.
***SAMP/RGENRT02 CMND PRO
RGEN Routines 2.
***SAMP/RGENRT02 CMND PRO
RGEN Routines 2.
