Method for representing and signaling run-time program conditions

Abstract

An improved method and system is described for generalized handling of conditions occurring during program execution in a computer system having a multi-language Condition Manager (CM). A general signaling routine having object code for an external entry point suitable for linking to application programs written in any language supporting external calls is used. The signaling routine may be used by programs to eliminate the step of checking return codes from subroutines by coding the subroutine to automatically signal the proper condition to the CM which in conjunction with user defined condition handlers takes proper actions in response to the condition. A general condition token which may be used as a feedback token is defined as a condition identifier, a format code for the condition identifier, a severity code for the condition, a control code for a facility identifier, a facility identifier and an optional handle for instance specific information. The signaling routine and the feedback token are used by subroutines which can optionally provide for passing an address, where a feedback token can be stored. The subroutine signals conditions if the severity of the condition is greater than a threshold or else stores a feedback token at the address.