Overview of FOCUS 7709

Starting with Version 7.7, the FOCUS library structure is being modeled after the WebFOCUS paradigm so that a small number of libraries is being distributed. We recognize that the Mainframe FOCUS customer has a need to maintain continuity in the procedures used to run FOCUS. In order to ensure compatibility with the JCL (batch) and CLIST (TSO) procedures from prior FOCUS releases, FOCUS has implemented a new construct of physical and logical libraries. While the physical libraries have new names and functions, the logical libraries have the same names as the traditional FOCUS libraries so that the FOCUS startup procedures will be familiar to FOCUS users.

Because of the new construct that maps the logical (traditional) library names to the physical libraries actually distributed, it is no longer possible to run your own JCL procedures to install FOCUS 7.7. You must use the ISETUP procedure distributed with your current release of FOCUS in order to do the install. That is, the FOCUS 7.6 version of ISETUP will not work for installing FOCUS 7.7.x versions.

Note: Information about the new distribution library structure is being provided for the benefit of the FOCUS installer. End users should be able to interact with FOCUS using the traditional library names and have no need to know about the new structure.

FOCUS 7709 is a fully 64-bit application. In concert with IBM, files are now delivered and must be run in Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE) LIBRARY format. Concatenation of these distributed libraries with existing 32-bit or PDS resources will have to be managed carefully. You also have the option to copy existing PDS data sets to PDSE data sets.

Starting in FOCUS Version 7.6, the HLI module was removed and replaced by HLIH.

FOCUS 7709 is an LE application. If an existing HLI program is not LE compliant, it must be made so. There is a new stub to be used for linking 31-bit code to 64-bit FOCUS (ZOS31STB). This stub must be linked to customer code.