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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Created by Guest
Created on May 15, 2017

Provide error handler for secondary thread of multi-threaded job

When a multi-threaded job encounters an unhandled exception, the system should be able to gracefully handle the error with the standard *INQ message to *EXT or QSYSOPR.

Background
When an unhandled exception occurs in the secondary thread of a multi-threaded job, instead of displaying the *INQ message panel for user response, the job loops on the error, filling the job message queue and crashes.

It is very important to have the error handling stability that IBM i has always had.

This is a poor way for IBM i to handle errors. The standard way has always been for the system to send *INQ~ to *EXT or QSYSOPR for handling by the user.


Use Case:

This problem came up when an SQL user-defined function had been incorrectly created without the "not fenced" statement to indicate "run single-threaded". When the job ran, SQL started a second thread. The function tried to use commands and programs that were not coded "thread safe", and the system tried to send *INQ to *EXT, which looped and crashed

Possible solutions
1. Allow the *INQ message program and display file to be used in a secondary thread.
2. Send the *INQ to QSYSOPR for handling.

=====================================
Resubmission information 2017/05/15

Since the development team determined that a secondary thread cannot access the WS I/O, my suggested option #1 above, that being an *INQ message to the screen, is eliminated.

So then, option #2 (which was not addressed by the developers) is the logical way to correctly handle the error, by treating the secondary thread as if it were a batch job, in which case error messages are sent to the QSYSOPR message queue.


Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 5, 2020

    Thank you for your request for enhancement. This request was prioritized against other requests and due to priority, size and complexity, it did not make it into our current development plan.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 25, 2017

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority requirement that should be addressed.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    For more details about CAAC's role with RFEs, see http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/Blogs/i-Can/May-2017/COMMON-Americas-Advisory-Council-%28CAAC%29-and-RFEs/

    Dawn May - CAAC Program Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 24, 2017

    Approved for CAAC consideration by Tom Duncan