Blocking a Release

Blocking a release locks down the release and its areas in preparation for install. All areas in a release must be blocked before a release can be blocked, and all packages attached to the release must be approved.

Blocking a release also adds associated install approvers from the Global Release Management Approver List where conditions specified in the global definition are met in the release

When you attempt to block a release, ERO validates the release and the contents of the final release area. (Release components are installed from final area libraries.) Final area contents are validated by an internal execution of the test release function.

Note

You can test for problems with area components earlier in the release life cycle. See Testing an Area and Testing a Release.

Other release conditions are tested to detect errors, including:

Install date of attached package outside of the release install date range.
Attached package not in APR status.

If the release validation detects no errors, notification is sent to the approvers with the lowest install approver order number, and the release is blocked.

Follow these steps to block a release.

Follow these steps to access the release that you want to block.
1. Type =7 on the Command or Option line of any panel in ChangeMan ZMF, then press Enter.
2. Type release selection criteria in fields on the Release List Specifications Parameters panel, or leave the fields blank, and press Enter.
  
  The Release List panel is displayed.
```
CMNRMRLF            Release List            Row 1 to 2 of 2
Command ===>                                Scroll ===> CSR

    Release Sta Install  Work request   Dept Aud    Creator Pkgs
    FIN6410 DEV 20160328 WR 9010        FINANCE     USER015 00001
    FIN6430 DEV 20160328 WR 9030        FINANCE     USER015 00003
******************************* Bottom of data *******************************
```
  The Release List panel shows releases that satisfy the selection criteria you typed on the Release List Parameters panel.
On the Release List panel, type BK in the line command for the release you want to block. Press Enter to process your request.

If the release validations detects errors, a short message is displayed in the upper right corner of the Release List panel. Press PF1 to see a long message that provides more information about the error.
```
CMNRMRLF                Release List            Areas Unblocked
Command ===>                                    Scroll ===> CSR

    Release Sta Install  Work request   Dept Aud    Creator Pkgs
    FIN6410 DEV 20160328 WR 9010        FINANCE     USER015 00001
    BK FIN6430 DEV 20160328 WR 9030     FINANCE     USER015 00003
******************************* Bottom of data *******************************
...
    +------------------------------------------------------------+
    | CMR7029I - Area ACCTPAY is not blocked in Release FIN6430. |
    +------------------------------------------------------------+
```
Note

If the short message “Components Failed” is displayed, type TR in the line command of the release to execute the Test Release function. Details about the errors are displayed on the Release Install Components Disallowed panel. See Testing a Release for a description of the Test Release function and the errors it diagnoses.
When the release passes the validation, release install approver notifications are issued to the approvers with the lowest install approver order number.
```
CMR4600I - Change Man Release FIN6430 awaits your approval. CN(INTERNAL)
```

Press Enter to see the Release List panel, which shows an updated status for the blocked release.

CMNRMRLF            Release List            Release Blocked
Command ===>                                Scroll ===> CSR

    Release Sta Install  Work request   Dept Aud    Creator Pkgs
    FIN6410 DEV 20160328 WR 9010        FINANCE     USER015 00001
    FIN6430 BLK 20160328 WR 9030        FINANCE     USER015 00003
******************************* Bottom of data *******************************

Block release initiates the install JCL file tailoring process for each release package. When the file tailoring server finishes building install JCL, a message is sent to the creator of each release package.
```
CMN8700I - COMM000008 Installation JCL Build service completed CN(INTERNAL)
CMN8700I - ACTP000039 Installation JCL Build service completed CN(INTERNAL)
CMN8700I - ACTP000038 Installation JCL Build service completed CN(INTERNAL)
CMN8700I - GENL000005 Installation JCL Build service completed CN(INTERNAL)
***
```
Note

You cannot enter a release approval until the file tailoring for install JCL is completed and you have received a "JCL Build service completed" message for every package in the release.
Block release is complete.