CA XCOM Solution Notices
April 14, 2003

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As a Computer Associates Diamond Level Enterprise Solution Provider, G & Z Systems is automatically apprised of XCOM problem solutions. As a service to our customers we list below the notices we have received after May 1, 2001. For notices prior to this date, please contact us at (914) 345-5600 or support@g-and-z.com. Customers under current maintenance with G&Z Systems are entitled to no charge updates.¹ If you are not under current maintenance, upgrade versions are available for purchase. These notices are grouped below by platform.

NT/2000/XP Server/Workstation
QI35305
Solution #: 7
New Pre-allocation Exit
6 MAR 2003

APAR QO35302 includes an additional pre-allocation exit, xcompre, for customizing the processing of locally and remotely initiated transfers.

Using the pre-allocation exit, xcompre, for customizing the processing of locally and remotely initiated transfers.

When to Use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use the xcompre exit to validate all locally and remotely initiated transfers before they begin, and to customize parameters for that transfer as indicated below. This exit is invoked by specifying the XPRECMD parameter in xcom.glb:

XPRECMD=%XCOM_HOME%\xcompre.bat

If XPRECMD is set when the XCOMD Advantage CA-XCOM Scheduler Service is invoked, the pre-allocation exit will be active for locally and remotely initiated transfers. This gives the system administrator additional capabilities to control access, such as allowing only a particular user to perform a transfer, or only allowing transfers to or from a particular directory.

Customization is useful where the remote user does not specify the true file name, and the local system use a database to map the specified name to the true local name as in cetain e-mail applications. For example, an incoming transfer specifies a certain file name, but the administrator of the local system that is receiving the file wants to place the data into a different file, depending on the userid of the sender. The script is passed parameter values and sends the relevant information to standard output, and if desired, changes the values using the -p option.


About xcompre
------------------------------------------------------------------------
An xcompre sample script, xcompre.bat, is provided with the installation of Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport. This optional exit is run on the local system before a transfer starts and can be tailored to meet individual user requirements. The xcompre exit collects information such as the transfer ID (tid), along with the parameter values specified by the available option -p and passes them to xcomqm.

Note: The -p option, as shown in the sample script, is intended only for use with the xcompre exit and is not supported with the xcomqm command line options.

The pre-allocation exit is invoked after Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport receives the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport header from the partner, but before the transfer commences.


xcompre options
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The available options for xcompre and their associated parameters are listed below:

-p Changes the values for the following parameters based upon the specified transfer ID (tid) and applies them to the transfer.
FILE_OPTION
LOCAL_FILE
REMOTE_FILE



Sample Script
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sample script xcompre.bat is included with APAR QO35302. In the sample script, the only LOCAL file transfers permitted are ones that do not specify %XCOM_HOME%\config\xcom.reject. If %XCOM_HOME%\config\xcom.force is in the LOCAL_FILE, the -p option is used to specify the values to use for LOCAL_FILE, REMOTE_FILE and FILE_OPTION.

The only REMOTE file transfers permitted are ones that do not have xcomv31 in USERID. If %XCOM_HOME%\config\xcom.force is in the LOCAL_FILE, the -p option is used to specify the values to use for LOCAL_FILE, REMOTE_FILE and FILE_OPTION.

QI35304
Solution #: 6
XcomQAPI: XCOMQM Application Programming Interface
6 MAR 2003

APAR QO35302 includes an additional Application Programming Interface.
The API option must be installed to take advantage of this new API.

About the APIs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are two Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport APIs. They are:

  • XcomAPI
  • XcomQAPI

The XcomAPI provides the ability to submit transfers to Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport. The XcomQAPI provides the same functionality as the XCOMQM command line, but through an API.

Please see Chapter 4 in the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport for Windows NT Server/Professional User Guide for more details on XcomAPI.

About XcomQAPI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The XcomQAPI routine uses C structures defined in the xcomapi.h file to return information from the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport Queue. The Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport XcomQAPI() function call takes a parameter field as its argument, which allows you to delete entries from the queue, suspend a transfer, resume a suspended transfer, display the list of entries in the queue, and display detailed information about the queue entries.

Upgrading from Previous Releases
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The XcomAPI distributed with previous versions of Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport is different from this API. The XcomQAPI is new. If you have versions of the XcomAPI that were distributed prior to this version, recompile your Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport applications with the current version.

Using XcomQAPI Option Parameters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The XcomQAPI option parameters below are for use by application programmers to pass and retrieve information in a C structure to and from the XcomQAPI routine. These parameters need to be supplied by you and passed on to the XcomQAPI. The rest of the parameters are a receive buffer. They will receive data from XcomQAPI.

Option Parameters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The option parameters in the following list are used to pass and retrieve information from the queue request.

funccode -
Used to define a function parameter (see list below) to pass to XcomQAPI().
Function Parameters:

r

Display the version of Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport software installed.

Aentryname

Release a held transfer.

Centryname

Get a trace of a transfer.

Dentryname

Display details about a queue entry.

Hentryname

Hold a scheduled transfer.

L

List your queued transfers.

La

List all queued transfers.

Rentryname

Remove a queue entry.

Rfentryname

Force the entry to be removed from the queue. Use this command when you want to remove a transfer that is still active.

R*

Remove all completed or scheduled entries from the queue. If you use this option on an active transfer, it interrupts the transfer.

Tentryname

Terminate an active transfer.

Tfentryname

Force termination of a transfer. Use this command when you want to remove a transfer that is still active. Caution: When using SNA/APPC protocols, the TP will abend and it may be necessary to restart the underlying SNA software. When using TCP/IP, xcomtcp will abend.

Sentryname

Suspend a transfer.

Eentryname

- Resume a suspended transfer.

d

Create a trace file.

gentryname

Display queue entry information.

pentryname

- Used to change the value of: FILE_OPTION, LOCAL_FILE and REMOTE_FILE Note: This option is only allowed to be used from the XCOMPRE exit.

Note: Entryname represents the Transaction ID, which is the six-digit number of the transfer entry in the queue.




The following are parameters that can be set within the XcomQAPI program:

tid

A queue entry TID number.

queue_open_once

Open queue flag. Define this only once at the first call of XcomQAPI. The value should be set to 0.

nMax_Queue_Entries

Defines maximum queue entries. The value should be set equal to MAX_QUEUE_ENTRIES in the xcom.glb file.

trace_level

Defines the trace level. The values can be set to 0,1 or 9.

trace_filename

Defines a trace file name and its location, such as C:\temp\xcomqapi.tra



API Example
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The XcomQAPI sample is an example of a queue request. It uses the XcomQAPI() routine to pass information to Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport. The sample XcomQAPI is distributed with QO35302 as file qapitest

QI35295
Solution #: 4
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR ADVANTAGE CA-XCOM DATA TRANSPORT
6 MAR 2003

Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport published APARs will now be distributed using the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport maintenance program. The Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport maintenance program, XCOMMNT.EXE, is distributed with the published APAR. Note that future service packs will include XCOMMNT.EXE as part of the install.

The Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport maintenance program, XCOMMNT.EXE, is a command line program with the following syntax:

XCOMMNT <function> <APAR>

<function> - one of the functions detailed below
<APAR> - the apar to process

The Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport maintenance program, XCOMMNT.EXE, provides the following functions:

I. RECEIVE

Once an APAR has been downloaded it must first be received into the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport maintenance system. The receive function creates the following directories:

%XCOM_HOME%\Maint - Maintenance directory
%XCOM_HOME%\Maint\%APAR% - APAR directory
%XCOM_HOME%\Maint\%APAR%\Backup - Backup files required for RESTORE

The Maintenance directory will be created if it does not exist. If the APAR or Backup directories exist the receive will fail as the APAR has already been received.

The receive function prepares the APAR to be applied by extracting the <APAR>.EXE file into the Maintenance directory.

II. APPLY

The APPLY function upgrades your current Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport system to the level distributed by the APAR.

The current version of the files that are upgraded is saved in the Backup directory. This directory is used by the restore function to remove the APAR from your Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport system.

The APPLY function has the following requirements:
- ALL Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport services MUST BE STOPPED.
- You must be running the correct service pack to apply the APAR.

III. REAPPLY

The APPLY function will not allow you to apply the same APAR a second time. This is to prevent the previous version that was saved in the Backup processing during the apply from being lost.

The REAPPLY function acts the same as the APPLY function except that it does not copy the current version of the files that are upgraded to the Backup directory.

The REAPPLY function has the following requirements:
- ALL Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport services MUST BE STOPPED.
- You must be running the same level as the APAR.

IV. RESTORE

The RESTORE function copies the files from the Backup directory back to your %XCOM_HOME% directory. This will return your Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport system to the previous level (removing the APAR).

The RESTORE function has the following requirements:
- ALL Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport services MUST BE STOPPED.
- You must be running the same level as the APAR.

V. DELETE

The DELETE function removes the APAR from the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport Maintenance System. This functions deletes the following directories:

%XCOM_HOME%\Maint\%APAR% - APAR directory
%XCOM_HOME%\Maint\%APAR%\Backup - Backup files required for RESTORE

Note that this function only cleans the Maintenance directory, the current Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport services are not affected.

** WARNING ** The DELETE function includes the Backup directory - once the APAR is deleted it cannot be restored

QI30334
Solution #: 3
Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport Release 3.1 for Windows NT Server/Professional is now GA.   
12 NOV 2002

Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport for Windows NT Server/Professional
Product Enhancements:

  • Domain Name Support. Added functionality to allow Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport for Windows NT to include a domain name as part of the Logon User process.
  • Trusted Security. Trusted transfers can now be initiated and version of Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport.
  • DIRTREE Support. Allow multiple PDS/PDSE members to be transferred together and saved as separate files using the PDS/PDSE member name as a file name. Additionally, this allows a PC directory to be uploaded to Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport for z/OS and OS/390 as members of a PDS.
  • Application Programming Interface. Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport for Windows NT Server/Professional now provides an API.
  • Microsoft Terminal Services. Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport now allows Windows 2000 and XP users to take advantage of Microsoft Terminal Services. Users signed onto a Server that is running Terminal Services via a Terminal Services client are not able to initiate and schedule transfers as well as use the Advantage CA-XCOM Data Transport GUI to monitor transfers.
LI93859
Solution #: 14
GUI:   LOCAL FILE BROWSE, NEW OPEN/SAVE DIALOGS
Release 3.0 Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3   
14 MAY 2001

New Local File Browse button.
The Local File static label has been replaced by a Local File button on the Edit Transfer Window for Send File / Send Job / Send Report / Receive File. The Local File button opens a Browse Local File dialog box which allows the user to choose the local file name via an "Open"/"Save as" style dialog box.

The "Open"/"Save as" dialogs have been updated to support file names which include a space.
The CA-XCOM for Windows NT Window "Open"/"Save as" menu options now use the Windows common "open"/"save as" dialog box. This change was done to make the "Open" and "Save as" dialog boxes consistent with the Local File Browse dialog box. Also, since the Windows common "open"/"save as" dialog box supports file names which include a space, the Config file name may now include a space.

Passwords encrypted when updating xcom.glb file.
The Security tab on the CA-XCOM for Windows/NT Properties window now encrypts the following fields when updating the xcom.glb file:
FILE_ACCESS_PASSWORD -> F

LI93860
Solution #: 15
THE CA-XCOM-BATCH-INTERACTIVE GROUP
Release Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3    
14 MAY 2001

All jobs received by CA-XCOM and any CA-XCOM Scripts are submitted to the operating system by creating a new process. The new process runs in the security context of the user of the transfer that causes the process to be created. To allow the new process to interact with the user, CA-XCOM adds an access control entry to the Windows window station and Windows desktop. Once the process is complete, CA-XCOM removes the access control entry from the Windows window station and Windows desktop. However, if the process that was created in turn creates a new process which will continue to run after the initial process completes, then the new process no longer has access to the Windows window station or Windows desktop once CA-XCOM has removed the access control entry.
To allow a job or script to create a new process that will interact with the user you need to create a local group named CA-XCOM-Batch-Interactive and include the user of the transfer in that group. CA-XCOM now adds an access control entry to the Windows window station and Windows desktop for group CA-XCOM-Batch-Interactive that is not removed when the initial process completes.
See the section Create the CA-XCOM-Batch-Interactive group in the CA-XCOM for Windows NT Installation Guide for more information on creating the CA-XCOM-Batch-Interactive group.

LI93862
Solution #: 16
INSTALL CHANGES FOR GENLEVEL 0105 SP 3
Release Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3    
14 MAY 2001

The CA-XCOM install procedure will attempt to update the current XCOMD Scheduler Service during an upgrade or reinstall. The update will preserve the previous service settings. The XCOMD Scheduler Service can be removed using the new uninstall facility described below.
CA-XCOM for Windows NT Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3 includes an uninstall program which may be used to uninstall CA-XCOM. You will need to uninstall your current CA-XCOM before upgrading or reinstalling if any one of the following apply to your installation:
- CA-XCOM will be upgraded or reinstalled into a different directory.
- Different components of CA-XCOM will be installed. For example, if you originally had both the SNA Component and the TCP/IP Component installed and you are now choosing to install only the TCP/IP Component.
- You would like to have the CA-XCOM Scheduler Service rebuilt using the default settings.
Please refer to the CA-XCOM for Windows NT Installation Guide chapter 2 for more information on Installing and Uninstalling CA-XCOM.

LI97617
Solution #: 17
CA-XCOM RELEASE 3.0 GENLEVEL 0105 SERVICE PACK 3
Release Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3    
17 JUL 2001

Computer Associates International, Inc., is pleased to announce that CA-XCOM Release 3.0 Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3 for both Windows NT Server and Windows NT Workstation are now GA.
Prerequisties:
CA-XCOM for Windows NT can run in a Server or WorkStation environment. Installation requires Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, or Windows 2000 Professional and one or a combination of the following:
For TCP/IP Protocol Support:
* The TCP/IP release packaged with Windows NT Operating System
For SNA Protocol Support:
* Microsoft Client for SNA Server v4.0
* Microsoft SNA Server

Windows 95
LI97241
Solution #: 11
CA-XCOM FOR WINDOWS 95, R3.0 GENLEVEL 0105
Release 3.0 Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3   
10 JUL 2001

New Local File Browse button.
Computer Associates International, Inc., is pleased to announce that CA-XCOM for Windows 95, Release 3.0 Genlevel 0105 Service Pack 3 is now GA.
Prerequisties:
The installation of CA-XCOM for Windows 95 requires one of the following operating environments:
For TCP/IP Protocol Support:
* The TCP/IP release packaged with Windows 95
For SNA Protocol Support:
* Microsoft Client for SNA Server Version 4.0
* Wall Data's RUMBA Version 5.1 or higher
* Attachmate EXTRA Personal Client Version 6.3 or higher
* IBM's PCOMM

1. Nominal shipping charges may apply.

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