Debugging and testing ISPF panels during development is essential for creating functional, user-friendly interfaces. Effective debugging identifies and fixes issues before deployment, while thorough testing ensures panels work correctly. Understanding debugging and testing techniques helps you develop reliable panels efficiently. This tutorial covers Dialog Test, debugging techniques, testing strategies, common issues, and best practices.
Panel development requires systematic debugging and testing. Dialog Test provides a quick way to test panels, while debugging techniques help identify and fix issues. Learning effective debugging and testing methods accelerates panel development and improves quality. This tutorial provides practical guidance for panel debugging and testing.
Understanding Panel Debugging
Panel debugging identifies and fixes issues in panel definitions.
What is Panel Debugging?
Panel debugging involves:
Identifying syntax errors
Fixing logic errors
Resolving display issues
Correcting validation problems
Fixing variable handling
Debugging Goals
Debugging aims to:
Ensure panels display correctly
Verify functionality works
Fix errors and issues
Improve user experience
Ensure reliability
Using Dialog Test
Dialog Test is the primary tool for testing panels.
What is Dialog Test?
Dialog Test (Option 7) is:
ISPF utility for testing panels
Displays panels without full application
Allows interaction with panels
Essential for development
Quick testing tool
Accessing Dialog Test
To use Dialog Test:
Select Option 7 (Dialog Test) from Primary Option Menu
Choose panel testing option
Enter panel name
Panel is displayed
Interact with panel
Testing with Dialog Test
When testing with Dialog Test:
Verify panel displays correctly
Test input fields
Check field behavior
Verify layout
Test basic functionality
Debugging Techniques
Various techniques for debugging panels.
Syntax Checking
Check panel syntax:
Verify all sections are present
Check for missing )END
Verify attribute definitions
Check BODY syntax
Verify PROC syntax
Incremental Testing
Test incrementally:
Start with basic panel
Add features one at a time
Test after each addition
Identify issues early
Isolate problems
Variable Checking
Check variable usage:
Verify variables in .ZVARS
Check variable references
Verify variable initialization
Check variable names
Common Debugging Issues
Common issues and how to fix them.
Syntax Errors
Common syntax errors:
Missing )END statement
Incorrect attribute syntax
Malformed )PROC statements
Incorrect section order
Variable Errors
Common variable errors:
Variables not in .ZVARS
Undefined variable references
Incorrect variable names
Variable initialization issues
Display Issues
Common display issues:
Fields not displaying
Incorrect field positioning
Attribute problems
Layout issues
Testing Strategies
Effective testing strategies for panels.
Functional Testing
Test panel functionality:
Test all input fields
Verify output fields
Test validation
Check return codes
Verify messages
Input Testing
Test various inputs:
Valid inputs
Invalid inputs
Boundary values
Empty fields
Special characters
Integration Testing
Test panel integration:
Test with full application
Verify panel flow
Check variable passing
Test error handling
Debugging from REXX
REXX provides additional debugging capabilities.
Using TRACE
TRACE in REXX:
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/*REXX*/
address ispexec
trace on
'DISPLAY PANEL(MYPANEL)'
say 'Return code:' rc
trace off
exit 0
Diagnostic Output
Add diagnostic WRITE statements:
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/*REXX*/
address ispexec
'VGET (ZUSER ZDSN)'
say 'User:' zuser
say 'Dataset:' zdsn
'DISPLAY PANEL(MYPANEL)'
say 'After panel, RC=' rc
exit 0
Best Practices
Following best practices improves debugging efficiency:
Test Early and Often: Test panels as you develop them
Use Dialog Test: Use Dialog Test for quick testing
Dialog Test is like trying out a new toy before you buy it. You play with it, see if all the buttons work, check if it does what it's supposed to do, and make sure nothing is broken. It's like a test drive for your panel!
Debugging is like fixing a broken toy. When something doesn't work, you figure out what's wrong - maybe a button is stuck, or a part is missing. You fix it, test it again, and keep fixing until everything works. It's like being a toy repair person!
Testing is like checking all the features of your toy. You try every button, test every function, and make sure everything works the way it should. You test it with different things - maybe it works with one thing but not another. It's like thoroughly checking your toy!
Finding Errors is like finding what's broken. You look carefully, try different things, and figure out exactly what's wrong. Once you find the problem, you can fix it. It's like being a detective who finds what's broken!
So debugging panels is like testing and fixing a toy - you try it out, find what's broken, fix it, and test it again until everything works perfectly!
Practice Exercises
Complete these exercises to reinforce your debugging skills:
Exercise 1: Use Dialog Test
Practice Dialog Test: use Dialog Test to test a panel, understand Dialog Test usage, verify panel display, and learn basic testing. Master Dialog Test usage.
Exercise 2: Debug Syntax Error
Practice syntax: create panel with intentional syntax error, use Dialog Test to identify error, fix the error, and learn syntax debugging. Master syntax debugging.
Exercise 3: Test Validation
Practice validation: test panel validation with various inputs, verify error messages, test return codes, and learn validation testing. Master validation testing.
Exercise 4: Debug from REXX
Practice REXX: debug panel from REXX script, use TRACE and WRITE, check return codes, and learn REXX debugging. Master REXX debugging.
Exercise 5: Complete Testing
Practice complete: perform complete panel testing, test all functionality, verify all cases, fix all issues, and learn complete testing. Master complete testing.