An ABEND macro initiates error processing for a task. The DUMP option of ABEND requests a dump of storage and the DUMPOPT or DUMPOPX option may be used to specify the areas to be displayed. These dump options may be expanded by an ESTAE or ESTAI routine. The system usually requests a dump for you when it issues an ABEND macro. However, the system can provide an ABEND dump only if you include a DD statement (SYSABEND, SYSMDUMP, or SYSUDUMP) in the job step. The DD statement determines the type of dump provided and the system dump options that are used. When the dump is taken, the dump options that you requested (specified in the ABEND macro or by recovery routines) are added to the installation-selected options.
When writing an ESTAE-type recovery routine, note that the system accumulates the SYSABEND/SYSUDUMP/SYSMDUMP dump options specified by means of the SETRP macro and places them in the SDWA. During percolation, these options are merged with any dump options specified on an ABEND or CALLRTM macro or by other recovery routines. Also, the CHNGDUMP operator command can add to or override the options. The system takes one dump as specified by the accumulated options. If the recovery routine requests a retry, the system processes the dump before the retry. If the recovery routine does not request a retry, the system percolates through all recovery routines before processing the dump.