Additional activity information

As a trace-route message is routed through a queue manager network, user applications can record additional information by including one or more additional PCF parameters when writing the Activity group to the message data of the trace-route message or activity report.

Additional activity information can help system administrators to identify the route taken by a trace-route message took, or why that route was taken.

If we use the IBM MQ display route application to display the recorded information for a trace-route message, any additional PCF parameters can only be displayed with a numeric identifier, unless the parameter identifier of each parameter is recognized by the IBM MQ display route application. To recognize a parameter identifier, additional information must be recorded using the following PCF parameters. Include these PCF parameters in an appropriate place in the Activity PCF group.

    GroupName
    Table 1. Group name
    Description Grouped parameters specifying the additional information.
    Identifier MQGACF_VALUE_NAMING.
    Data type MQCFGR
    Parameters in group

    • ParameterName
    • ParameterValue

    ParameterName
    Table 2. Parameter name
    Description Contains the name to be displayed by the IBM MQ display route application, which puts the value of ParameterValue into context.
    Identifier MQCA_VALUE_NAME.
    Data type MQCFST
    Included in PCF group: GroupName.
    Value: The name to be displayed.

    ParameterValue
    Table 3. Parameter value
    Description Contains the value to be displayed by the IBM MQ display route application.
    Identifier: The PCF structure identifier for the additional information.
    Data type: The PCF structure data type for the additional information.
    Included in PCF group: GroupName.
    Value: The value to be displayed.


Examples of recording additional activity information

The following examples illustrate how a user application can record additional information when performing an activity on behalf of a trace-route message. In both examples, the IBM MQ display route application is used to generate a trace-route message, and display the activity information returned to it.