Monitoring using job variables

openFT makes it possible to use a job variable to monitor an FT request. The name of the job variable together with any password that may be necessary in order to access this job variable are specified in the FT request. If the job variable does not yet exist, it is entered in the catalog. An existing job variable is overwritten unless it is currently monitoring another FT request. The user must also be authorized to access this job variable.

A job variable that is monitoring an FT request is not protected against write accesses. Processing of the FT request continues even if openFT recognizes that the content of a job variable is inconsistent. However, in this case the job variable is no longer used. The system issues the following warning at the terminal at which the command was issued:

FTR0802 Request (&00). Warning: Job variable contents inconsistent

This warning also appears in the result list if one is generated.

A job variable that monitors a request is also used to identify the request and can be used as a selection criterion to cancel the request in the CANCEL-FILE-TRANSFER command or for information on the request in the SHOW-FILE-TRANSFER command. It can also be used for event control purposes.

Contents of the job variable

Column	Length	Meaning
1 - 2	(2)	Transfer status with the possible values:
		’$W’:The FT request has been accepted and is waiting for the necessary resources or for restart. ’$R’: The FT request is running. ’$A’: The FT request has terminated incorrectly or has been deleted by means of a command. ’$T’: The FT request has been terminated successfully.
3	(1)	Space
4 - 14	(11)	Transfer identification
15	(1)	Space
16 - 71	(56)	Local file or library name
72 - 72	(1)	Space
73 - 136	(64)	Local member name when library members are transferred, otherwise space
137 - 137	(1)	Space
138 - 145	(8)	Local member type when library members are transferred, otherwise space
146 - 146	(1)	Space
147 - 153	(7)	Message number for status ’$T’ or ’$A’, otherwise space
154 - 154	(1)	Space
155 - 218	(64)	Additional information about the termination of a request
219 - 247	(29)	Space
248 - 256	(9)	’FT-BS2000’ or space. While the job variable is monitoring an FT request, this area contains the entry ‘FT-BS2000’. Any other FT requests that want to use this variable are rejected. When transfer is complete, the field is overwritten with spaces.