ChangeMan® ZMF

Several years ago, we switched the shipped ChangeMan ZMF Server started task JCL to create unformatted, machine-readable dumps (SYSMDUMPs) rather than formatted dumps (SYSUDUMPs). We still occasionally get questions from customers on how they should handle these files if/when they are required to send them into us for assessment. If you are uncertain on what to do with such files, please refer to this blog. If questions remain after reading this article, please do ask the Customer Support team who will be happy to assist.#SYSMDUMP#Diagnostics#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#ChangeManZMF

Since version 8.1.3, the definitive sample ZDDOPTS parameter members have been shipped with the associated user interfaces to which they relate, i.e. ChangeMan ZDD and ChangeMan ZMF for Eclipse (ZMF4ECL). We finally stopped shipping these sample members with the ZMF Server and/or Sernet (i.e. mainframe) software in 8.2 Patch 1. So, how can the sample ZDDOPTS members now be accessed?- For ZDD, the sample members can be found in the Samples\ZddOpts subdirectory of the ChangeMan ZDD client installation directory. For example, the C:\Program Files\Micro Focus\ChangeMan ZDD\Samples\ZddOpts folder.- For ZMF4ECL, the sample ZDDOPTS members are shipped in the ChangeMan ZMF Eclipse Samples (ChangeMan ZMF4ECL Samples) plugin, which is supplied as a part of the ZMF4ECL Update Site. After installing this plugin, the sample members can be extracted to the local file system using the eclipse workbench File – Export option and selecting ChangeMan ZMF4ECL – ZDDOPTS Sample Files. #ZMF4ECL#Clientpack#Ch

There will be times when changes are required to various members that reside in the Client Pack options dataset (ZDDOPTS) referenced by any ChangeMan ZMF Server. Inadvertently introducing a syntax error into any ZDDOPTS member can result in it being totally ignored. So how can one easily syntax check changes being made to members in these datasets? In ZMF4ECL a useful option named 'Display ZDDOPTS parsing errors' exists under Window - Preferences - ZMF/Eclipse – Trace. This option should be enabled when testing ZDDOPTS changes, at a minimum. After making changes to the relevant ZDDOPTS member on your test ZMF system, logon to the ZMF Server, or right-click on the Server folder and select Refresh Options if already logged on. All ZDDOPTS members will be checked and any syntax errors will be reported at this point. In ChangeMan ZDD, a similar effect can be obtained by right-clicking on the ZMF Server and selecting ZDD Network – Refresh settings. The new ZDDOPTS member will then be re-rea

The package creates user options panel (i.e. the user options defined in the ZDDOPTS PKGCREAT member) is not always displayed when creating application change packages within ZMF4ECL. The issue is intermittent and affects ZMF Servers tasks running different levels of software.  Full article: https://portal.microfocus.com/s/article/KM000009982#ChangeManZMF#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs

Several customers have recently asked how to find out the version of ChangeMan ZMF that they are running on the mainframe. Although a 'splash screen' containing this information is displayed on connection to the ZMF ISPF user interface, this can often disappear very quickly, too fast to actually read. Also many users do not access ZMF via ISPF. The following is a list of other ways in which you can discover the version of ZMF you are running: a) locate the active ZMF Server started task and find the CMNs308I message in the SERPRINT output (where s=subsystem ID). So, for example, subsystem W will issue the following message: CMNW308I CMNSTART ZMF version: 8.2 Patch 6 b) browse the CMNVRM load module in the distributed product libraries and find the fingerprint information. It will look similar to the following: CMNVRM (MVS-8.2 Patch 6:CMNVRM/73DB8712/CZMF000125) c) if connecting via ChangeMan ZDD, right-click the ChangeMan ZMF server folder and select Properties. This will show a ZMF ve

In order to optimize Db2 performance for both, ChangeMan ZMF customers running the Db2 or ERO options should schedule regular RUNSTATS and re-binds of their ZMF Db2 tablespaces and packages, respectively. This is especially important when the Db2 tables are initially loaded with data or when, for example, the data is moved to a new location. As mentioned in the ZMF ERO Getting Started Guide, which is available here, failure to ensure that the defined Db2 indexes are actually being used could lead to unacceptable performance in this functionality.#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#ChangeManZMF#DB2

In StarTool FDM 7.8.3 for a dataset that is a load library, from the Primary Option menu selecting ‘3’ (Utilities), then ‘1’ (Library), then typing ‘copy’ next to the first member displayed in the MEMBER list results in the error:  ISPP169 Panel 'PDSMLCP' error Invalid IF logical expression (not a dialog or control variable or VER statement construct). Note:  Problem does not occur with a non-load library. Full article: https://portal.microfocus.com/s/article/KM000009482#StarTool#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#Comparex

I have been asked a couple of times as to where to find files that are created by the ZMF Explorer.  This is a standard VSCode extension and as such all files are under VSCode control and located in VSCode managed folders. A key file is settings.json - this is edited directing with VSCode when you go into Settings - Extension - then select the extension in question and is shared by all installed extensions.   However, if you need to find the file for some other reason, it can be found in your <homedir>. On Windows this would be  <homedir>/AppData/Roaming/Code/user/settings.json If you experience a problem when running the ZMF Explorer, you may be asked to turn DEBUG logging on. This is done again via Settings- Extension- ZMF Explorer and scroll down to the logging option.  Logging should generally be left on the default of INFO when not specifically asked to turn on debug due to the amount of debug data logged.    The first thing to do is

Status: DeliveredWe are receiving 'SER1005E CMN Invalid TCP/IP protocol header received:' and 'SER8104E CMN Unidentifiable message received, header is' errors in our Changeman started task due to port scans. However, after discussed with Micro Focus we learned that these messages will not cause any problems and those are working as designed. Since, these messages are not causing any problems, is it possible for an enhancement to represent these messages as ‘Warning’ instead of ‘Error’?#Notification

ZMF Explorer V2.0.2 is now available on the VSCode Marketplace. Following on from ZMF Explorer V2.0.1, this version adds further support for tracking batch jobs arising from Recompile from Baseline requests. See the details supplied in the ZMF 2.0.1 announcement regarding the need for z/OSMF to be configured on the LPAR where ChangeMan ZMF is running and a z/OSMF profile has been configured in the zowe.config.user file.   (3) ZMF Explorer V2.0.1 is now available - ChangeMan ZMF Tips & Information - ChangeMan ZMF (microfocus.com) In addition, this release also provides  the ability to create  a profile by right clicking on the "Packages" indent in the tree structure.  - 2 types of Package are catered for:         - Simple ALL site Package         - Simple D / DP site Package To make use of this feature, you can set default parameters in settings.json by clicking on the ZMF Extension in VSCode  and editing the

Is any one running ChangeMan ZMF v8r2p02 on zOS 2.5? We are working to upgrade to ZMF v8r2p06 but they want to upgrade the zOS before our scheduled upgrade. Any issue found running ZMF v8r2P02 on zOS 2.5? #ChangeManZMF

Customer upgraded from ZMF 8.2 Patch 3 to 8.2 Patch 6 and is now seeing the following messages in the ZMF task. Note: the messages are not always for the same 'tsoid' :SER8005E tsoid SEROSTRM change direction failed with receive rc=00000008What do they mean? Full article: https://portal.microfocus.com/s/article/KM000009325#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#ChangeManZMF

When doing batch freeze in ZMF4ECL 8.2 Patch 6 and selecting 'Show user variables' the 'NEXT' button is not enabled. The User Variable panel is therefore never displayed resulting in the user variables not being set properly (via HLLX) in the submitted JCL. Full article: https://portal.microfocus.com/s/article/KM000009266#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#ChangeManZMF

The ChangeMan ZMF 8.2 Patch 3 & Patch 4 Readme files included the following type of information in the Installation section of the documents: "Format of Distributed Libraries Planned for ChangeMan ZMF Version 9 Currently all distributed libraries are shipped in PDS format. This is still true in 8.2 Patch 4. However, in order to support modern language features and executable module formats, from Version 9 all distributed libraries will be shipped in PDSE format. We are including this information in this document to provide customers with the maximum time to plan for any changes they may need to make to cater for this forthcoming change." After the changes to the forthcoming ChangeMan ZMF releases that are documented here we can confirm that this change to the format of the distributed libraries will now be included in the ChangeMan ZMF Version 8.3 release. Customers should plan accordingly for this change.#ChangeManZMF#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs

Ever wondered what's next for ChangeMan ZMF 8.2? Or when to expect ZMF 8.3 to GA? If so, take a look at Product Manager Jimmy O'Rourke's latest update here.#ChangeManZMF#Announcement#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#roadmap

ZMF Explorer V2.0.1 is now available on VSCode Marketplace. This version enhances the Package Component Build process and now provides the submitted batch job number allowing users to track the jobs status. In addition, if you have z/OSMF configured in your environment and have a Z/OSMF profile defined on the LPAR in the zowe.config.user then you can include that profile name within each ZMF profile as shown in this example:  "u820all": {    "properties": {    "basePath": "/zmfrest",    "port": 9992,     "protocol": "https",     "zosmfProfile": "zosmf"     },     "type": "zmf"}, If you are unsure as to the z/OSMF status in your environment , contact your Systems Programmer. If  you are using a Team's supplied zowe.config.user file supplied by your administrator and have them republish a new zowe.config.user file.  If you are already using Zowe cli or Zowe Explorer then most likely y

Version 2.0.2 of ChangeMan ZMF plugin for zowe cli is now available on the Micro Focus Marketplace.  This version has added the REST api to retrieve Event log entries. For command syntax, please refer to zowe --hw to generate the web help.  #Mainframe#CLI#ChangeManZMF#zowe#z/OS#Announcement#plugin

Please read the UPDATES at the end of this post. Last summer, I had socialized the idea with many of our customers, to slow down the patch update release cadence for 8.2. Although it was appreciated customers had the opportunity to take new changes every 6 months, the release cycle often felt like a foot race. As soon as you were done with an upgrade, you immediately had to plan for the next upgrade to take place. To help alleviate the burden of having to upgrade every 6 months, we developed patches to only include executable components and to deliver customizable components as part of a release rather than include them as part of the 8.2 patch update releases. We also began to deliver patches within a 9-12 month window to give customers more time to plan an upgrade and to slow down the urgency having to upgrade. Since we introduced this new patch update cadence, we have been hearing from many customers with positive feedback. Oddly enough, rather than see a dip in customer upgrades, w

Need information regarding ChangeMan ZMF (or ChangeMan SSM, Comparex, StarTool FDM, and StarTool IOO) compatibility with the host machine hardware on which it runs? This can be found in KM000006539.#hardware#ChangeManZMF#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#compatibility

Ever wondered on how frequently we plan to GA new releases of ChangeMan ZMF? Or when and where the defect you reported will be resolved? If so, please review KB article S142697 to gain some insight.#ChangeManZMF#fix#SupportTips/KnowledgeDocs#HotFix#ReleaseCadence

Hi, good morning. We would need certain users (developers) to be able to DEMOTE a package from a second promotion level even though they were not authorized to PROMOTE it to that environment. The point is that in ChangeMan ZMF it is a single RACF entity that manages both functions/actions (PROMOTE/DEMOTE). And while for the PROMOTE it is necessary for the QA team to pass certain controls and checks before executing the PROMOTE, if the tests in that environment by the developer teams determine that some component of that package must be modified again (which is audited and frozen) it would be necessary not to have to ask again, or depend on, the QA team to do the DEMOTE. That would be the objective, not to depend on the QA team, which is the one who does the PROMOTE to that environment, in order to DEMOTE it. Has anyone come across this scenario? Have you been able to give it any alternative, any solution? Thank you very much. Best regards.#ChangeManZMF

So far the ZMF explorer v2.0.0 has been working, but today (I think for the first time since I installed it) I tried to display the build listing for a component and got this message: Error cannot open file:///c%3A/users/carstenm/ChangeMan/tempzmf/ChangeMan/PTCH001377/COBMAIN/COBMAIN.txt. Detail: File seems to be binary and cannot be opened as text undefined#ChangeManZMF

I'm using Zowe CLI to create a ChangeMan package.  The package creator phone number is a string (U1 panel equivalent), but the contact and alt contact phone numbers (U7 panel equivalent) are numbers, so I can't use any separators. #ChangeManZMF

Fixed a type definition for package create phone number fields from 'number' to 'string'. Change tempChangeDuration from 'string' to 'number'.   #Announcement#z/OS#ChangeManZMF#zowe#CLI

This new release of the Changeman ZMF plugin for zowe cli is now available for download from the Micro Focus Community page ChangeMan ZMF plugin for zowe cli V2.0.0. Note that this zowe 2 cli must first be installed before installing this plugin.  zowe 1 'old style' profiles are no longer supported with this new ZMF cli plugin.  You must create a zowe 2 'Teams profile' before attempting to use any zowe 2 functionality.#CLI#ChangeManZMF#ZMF#zowe