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Overview of the Soap Call Interface

Like the VSAM option, this Info/Management option requires that you add the CMNINFO DD statement to your started task procedure. This DD is a PDS or PDSE dataset that will contain your soap file(s). A Record Length of 256 with a Record Format of VB or FB (VB is the better choice here) should be used for this PDS/PDSE dataset.

The Info administration begins in Global administration, enter A.G.O and select option 3 for Info/Management. This will bring you to panel CMNGOINF. Here is where you set the Connection type and the minimum INFO management rule. For the HTTP connection set INFO VSAM file interface off and set INFO System Bus Interface on. On this panel you also define the PDS member name that the HTTP ZMF connection will use to communicate with the INFO system. Set Info System Bus Soap Member to your PDS member name. If the change management system is Info/Management select the Info/Management Change System. Press enter to get to the set of Info/Management settings

CMNGOINF                      GLOBAL Info/Management Rule 
Command ===> _________________________________________________________________

Info/Management change rule . . . 0 (0-5)    

Enter "/" to select option   
 _ Info VSAM file interface 
 _ Info System Bus interface  
 / Info Change System  

 Info System Bus Soap Member . . . ________

...

Info/Management change rule

This rule controls the interface between ChangeMan ZMF and IBM's Information/Management Database. Global and Application Administrators may set different levels of Info/Management participation in ChangeMan ZMF change packages; the more restrictive (higher) level will prevail.

Liberal rules (0, 1 & 2):

  • 0 - INFO has no connection to change packages and no communication is attempted or required.

  • 1 - INFO is notified of change packages being created. If the INFO subtask is detached, package creation is allowed, with notification to the user.

  • 2 - Rule 1, plus: INFO is notified of updates (including status changes) to change packages.

Restrictive rules (3, 4, & 5):

  • 3 - Rule 2, plus: the INFO subtask must be attached. Package approval from INFO, under the entity INFOMGMT, begins at this level.

  • 4 Rule 3, plus: every planned change package must have a unique INFO change record created in advance, which is identified by the package's Work request. 5 Rule 4, plus: unplanned packages must also meet this requirement.

  • 5 Rule 4, plus: unplanned packages must also meet this requirement.

Info VSAM file interface

This option allows the use of an open VSAM file for the INFO interface. If you select this option there are more parameters to follow. You must have the INFO VSAM file defined to the started task in the startup JCL using CMNINFO as the DD name and specifing your VSAM file name. It is your responsibility to populate the VSAM file with data. It is also your responsibility to write any outside interfaces to the VSAM file. ChangeMan ZMF will read and update the VSAM file, but will not create new records. ChangeMan(R) will interface with this VSAM file like it is a live connection to INFO/MAN or any other information management database. Switching this option from on to off or off to on will require the started task to be cycled or Info/Management must be detached and attached again for the change to take affect.

Info System Bus Interface

This option allows the use of an open bus system for the Info/Management interface. If you select this option there are more parameters to follow. You must have the INFO soap PDS file defined to the started task in the startup JCL using CMNINFO as the DD name and specifing your SOAP file name. It is your responsibility to populate the SOAP file with data. It is also your responsibility to write any outside interfaces to INFO/MAN. ChangeMan ZMF will read the soap file and make a call for the READ or update to the INFO system. ChangeMan ZMF will interface with through the soap call like a live connection to Info/ Management or any other information management database. Switching this option from on to off or off to on will require the started task to be cycled or INFO must be detached and attached again for the change to take affect. The defined soap member in the SOAP PDS will determine what happens and allows you to point at test or productions systems without changing your startup JCL.

Info Change System

This option allows the Work request field to be used for other change mangement systems. The formatting of the field to an 8 digit number is skipped. Setting this option to '/' means you are using the INFO/MAN change management system and the formatting of the field will occur. Setting this option to blank means the field will not be formatted. The Work request field is any 12 characters that you choose to use. It is your responsibility to verify and format it to your change management system.

INFO System Bus Soap Member

This is the member name in the SOAP file defined to the started task. This allows you to create multiple members in the soap members in the PDS so you can point at test, production or whatever place you want or have just by changing the member name. The members in this file will contain the soap call and other proper data required for the soap call on your system. Follow the sample provided for more information. If changing the SOAP file name you must detach and re-attach the INFO subtask or you must cycle the ZMF started task.

Panel CMNGVINF is for more options for the INFO interface. Here is where you can modify the ZMF behavior of the ZMF system and INFO system interaction.

CMNGVINF                   GLOBAL Info VSAM Interface Options 
Command ===> _________________________________________________________________

Enter "/" to select option   
 _ Reuse INFO record number for deleted packages 
 _ INFO Management cannot reject packages   
 _ Create temporary package if INFO record not found   
 _ Approve package if INFO record is approved   
 _ Bypass INFO record updates during housekeeping

...

GLOBAL Info VSAM Interface Options

Reuse INFO record number for deleted packages

This option allows the reuse of INFO numbers previously used by deleted packages. Once the number is reused by another package the package in a DEL status cannot be undeleted.

INFO Management can not reject packages

This option if turned on will ignore any INFO record approval status except the actual approval.

Create temporary package if INFO record not found

This option if turned on will force the creation of an unplanned temporary package with a duration of 1 day if the INFO number specified is not found. If the duration was filled in for a longer period this duration will be used.

Approve package if INFO record is approved

This option if turned on will automatically approve the package for the INFO entity INFOMGMT if INFO has already approved the change request when install JCL is built.

Bypass INFO record updates during housekeeping

This option if turned on will bypass any calls for INFO record updates during the housekeeping process or the package aging process.