FAQs


Which M204 Versions are supported?
The following table lists Model 204 releases with the corresponding SoftSpy releases.

Model 204 Release SoftSpy Release
4.0 2.1
4.1.0 2.2C
4.1.1 3.0C
4.2.0 3.0D
4.2.1 3.0E
5.1.0 3.1A


Is it possible to show the variables and program objects of the current line in the watch window?
PF10 in the debugging context is titled watch. When PF10 is issued the variables and other program objects of the current line are placed in the watch window.


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Can printed reports be printed from SoftSpy screens?
Any of the SoftSpy windows may be printed. This includes listings of User Language requests, including any added columns which may include performance statistics, server table usage, nesting level, include level, tested, and unreachable. To accomplish this you must issue the SoftSpy default printer command which will specify any defined Model 204 printer. Then the SoftSpy print command will output to that printer.



Do applications need to be modified to be debugged using SoftSpy?
Absolutely not. SoftSpy was designed so that the User Language changes would not be necessary and that the normal behavior of applications would not be altered. When SoftSpy is activated with the SPY ON command, the execution of the User Language is controlled by SoftSpy. There is one SoftSpy command which requires modification of User Language source code. The BREAKS command will set break points on the line following *BREAK comments in User Language. This feature allows one to have breakpoints persist across multiple SoftSpy sessions.


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Can SoftSpy be customized on a user by user basis?
The appearance and behavior of the SoftSpy environments is determined by the SoftSpy profile macro and other macros. A user may write a personal profile macro names userid_PROFILE. This macro will run after the installation profile is run. This macro could do a number of things including reassigning the PFKEYS to different commands, moving or resizing the watch window. Users may specify actions to be performed when User Language requests are evaluated, at the end of evaluation, when errors or breakpoints are encountered.



Does the watch window scroll?
The watch window scrolls using the same scroll commands as the source window and all other SoftSpy windows. All scroll commands may be prefaced with IN windowname to direct the scroll command to the appropriate window. Ordinarily the watch window could be scrolled with a command such as IN MONITOR FORWARD 5. This may be cumbersome so the ACTIVE WINDOW (PF2) command may be issued so that the active window is changed from the source window to the watch window. At this point the scroll commands, without the prefix, and the scrolling pfkeys will work properly on the watch window. A subsequent ACTIVE WINDOW command will restore the default scrolling environment to the source window.


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An APSY contains a large number of procedures and it is cumbersome to run it under SoftSpy when trying to debug a procedure deep within the apsy. Is there a SoftSpy feature to make this process easier?
The SoftSpy GO command is very powerful in that it not only executes entire requests or until breakpoints are encountered. There is a flavor of the command, GO UNTIL expression, where expression may be any valid SoftSpy expression. One of the SoftSpy functions returns the current procedure. Issuing the command, GO UNTIL $PROCNAME = procedurename , results in the apsy running as it normally would, with SoftSpy in the background, until the specified procedure is reached.



How can I force a program to selectively branch?
In version 2.2 percent variable and global values may be dynamically reset using the SoftSpy SET command. If a variable or a global is part of an expression this technique will allow the program flow to be altered. In SoftSpy 3.0 and later there is a set of commands to allow one to dynamically alter the flow of execution e.g. jump to a line, prematurely end loops, prematurely return from subroutines.


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When the TUNE command is executed CPU, Page requests, and CCA temp columns are added to the source display. Is there a way to add other columns?
Yes and in several ways. The TUNE command is implemented as a SoftSpy macro. Using the SoftSpy macro editor the SoftSpy administrator could modify the TUNE macro to display columns of other information. Alternatively an individual developer could make a copy of the TUNE macro and modify the TUNE profile. There is a SoftSpy command called SHOW which adds columns to the source display. This command can be issued from the SoftSpy command line prior the start of execution of a User Language request.



Is there a language you have to learn to use SoftSpy?
SoftSpy contains a large number of commands although knowledge of only a few commands will allow you to make productive use of the product.

SPY ON – to start debugging using SoftSpy

STEP or GO – to executive statements

BREAK – to set breakpoints

WATCH – to place variables and other program objects in a watch window


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Can SoftSpy be used to debug batch programs?
You can use the SPY ON USER or SPY ON THREAD commands to debug another User Language thread such as BATCH2 and IODEV=3 threads.



Does SoftSpy work with M204 Editor?
To edit procedures you must stop executing the procedure (an enqueue would prevent you from editing) and then bring up the M204 editor as you normally would.



Are there any "hidden" features?
We have included some functions to allow system administrators to monitor SoftSpy client/server connections. We have written some sample monitoring procedures which should be available on our website.

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