Introduction To PL/I Debugging

• Setting the Context
• Overall Strategy
• Computer Exercise:  Course setup

Language Environment and PL/I
Debugging Resources

• Compiler Parameters
• Compiler Messages
• Execution-Time Parameters

Debugging Techniques

• PL/I Statements
• Conditions
• Computer Exercise:  PONION

How does PL/I store variables

• Arithmetic Variables
• Bit and Character Variables
• Pointer and Offset Variables
• Area Variables
• Arrays
• Structures
• Parameters

Where Does PL/I store variables

• Storage Classes
• Static, Automatic, Controlled, and Based Storage
• Dynamic Storage Areas (DSAs)
• The User Heap
• Computer Exercise:  PONION, continued

The Enterprise PL/I Compiler

• Inputs and Outputs
• Compile Time Parameters

Anatomy of a PL/I Compiler Listing
Anatomy of a Binder Listing
Execution Time Parameters

• Computer Exercise:  PONION, continued

Generating Dumps

• PLIDUMP
• CEE3DMP
• CEE3ABD

Working with Dumps

• Common Abends
• CEEDUMPs
  • Finding where your program blew up
  • Finding data in a dump
• SYSUDUMPs
  • Finding where your program blew up
  • Finding data in a dump
• Computer Exercise:  CEEDUMP

Subroutines, Arguments, and Parameters

• Locators and Descriptors
• Dummy Arguments
• Dynamic Calls

Subroutines in Other Languages
PL/I Debugging Techniques

• ON ERROR
• PUT DATA, PUT LIST
• Pointer debugging
• Conditions
• Computer Exercise:  Locators and Descriptors

Common PL/I programming errors
Good coding techniques
Poor coding techniques
Performance Considerations