On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• describe the format of machine instructions
• demonstrate an understanding of addressing and base registers
• explain how control sections and dummy sections are used
• describe how to use a working set of machine instructions
• explain the difference between machine and Assembler instructions
• define constants and storage
• code instructions which will perform: arithmetic, data manipulation, program control, file handling and table handling
• explain how condition codes and masks are used
• read dumps
• explain how module linkage works
• use BASSM and BSM instructions
• understand the concepts of 31 & 64 bit addressing and its effects on existing machine instructions.

• Introduction to Assembler Programs
  • Programming languages
  • The Assembly process
  • The Linking process
  • Assembler program structure
  • Assembler directives
  • Macro instructions
  • Assembler instructions
  • Instruction formats
  • Storage locations and addresses
  • Machine instructions
  • Symbolic statements
  • Syntax
  • Statement format
  • The Operation & operand fields
  • Hexadecimal - a shorthand form of binary
  • Character Assignments
• Handling Character Data
  • Defining fields
  • Define Storage & Constants
  • Examples of DS & DC
  • Defining areas with zero repetition
  • Move instructions
  • Move Long instruction
  • Literals, constants and immediate data
  • Dummy Sections (DSECTs)
  • Equates (EQU)
• Comparisons, Branching & Structure
  • Comparison instructions
  • Branching Instructions
  • Branch Mnemonics (BC instruction)
  • BCT/BCTR for looping
  • Program skeleton
  • Executable code
  • The location counter
  • Addressing
  • Register convention
  • Save area chaining
  • Relative addressing
  • Indexing
  • Declarative part
  • Instructions to the Assembler
  • Subroutines
  • Branch and Link Instructions
  • BASSM & BSM instructions
  • Branch Register instruction
  • BXH / BXLE For looping
  • Execute
  • Program linkage with BAKR
  • Linkage Stack
  • Linkage Stack operations - PICs
• Binary Instructions
  • Signed binary arithmetic instructions
  • Types of Binary Instruction
  • Loading and Storing
  • Load and Store Instructions
  • The Binary Add Instructions
  • Binary Subtraction Instructions
  • Binary comparisons
  • Convert to Binary
  • Convert to Decimal
  • Multiplying Fullwords
  • Binary Division
  • Bit shifting instructions
• Macros & Input/Output
  • Macros
  • File handling
  • Building a control block
  • The DCB
  • DCB tied to File
  • The DCB explained
  • DCB parameters explained
  • The OPEN macro
  • The GET macro
  • The PUT macro
  • The CLOSE macro
  • Printed output data sets
  • Clearing the print line
• Packed Decimal Arithmetic
  • Summary of 'Decimal Manipulating Instructions'
  • Summary of decimal instructions
  • Packed Decimal
  • Add Packed instruction
  • SP and ZAP instructions
  • Pack and Unpack instructions
  • Move Zone Instruction
  • Move Numeric Instruction
  • Decimal Condition Codes
  • Editing Packed Decimal Data
  • Constructing patterns
  • EDIT example
  • EDMK instruction
  • Packed Decimal multiplication
  • Packed Decimal division
• Translations and Bit Manipulations
  • Summary of bit manipulating instructions
  • 'OR'ing
  • 'AND'ing
  • Exclusive 'OR'ing
  • Testing the bits
  • Translate instruction
  • Translation Tables + 'ORG'
  • TRT- Translate and Test instruction
• MVS Error Reporting, Dumps & Binder
  • System error reporting
  • MVS dumps
  • Stand-Alone Dump (SADUMP)
  • SVC Dumps
  • User ABEND Dumps
  • Generating a User ABEND Dump
  • System Generated ABEND dump
  • Snap dumps
  • Symptom dumps
  • Program Interruption Codes (PICs)
  • Explanations of the Assembler program listings
  • The External Symbol Dictionary (ESD)
  • The Source and Object program listing
  • The Relocation Dictionary
  • The Symbol and Literal cross-reference (HLASM)
  • The Diagnostic Cross Reference and Summary (HLASM)
  • Options Summary (HLASM)
  • Dump labs
• 24, 31 & 64 Bit Programming
  • Impact of 31-bit addressing
  • Addressing Memory - when and where?
  • Extended Addressing
  • 31-bit Virtual Addressing
  • Dynamic Address Translation
  • Addressing-mode control
  • Instruction differences
  • different addressing
  • Setting the mode when branching
  • Branch-And-Save-and-Set-Mode (BASSM)
  • Branch-and-Set-Mode (BSM)
  • Coding examples
  • The z/Architecture differences
  • z/Architecture - the bottom line
  • Tri-modal addressing mode
  • Memory boundaries
  • Registers in a z/Architecture machine
  • 64-bit registers and instructions
  • z/Architecture PSW
  • The 64-bit virtual address
  • Changing to 64-bit mode
  • Setting the mode when branching
  • Indicating 64-bit mode in pointers
  • Branch-And-Save-and-Set-Mode (BASSM)
  • A z/OS address space
  • Characteristics of Memory Objects

Live instructor-led training, with plenty of opportunities for hands-on exercises and discussion.
This course is also available for exclusive, one-company presentations and for live presentation over the Internet, via the Virtual Classroom Environment service.

Delivered as a live, interactive online training

Experience of using z/OS, including using TSO/ISPF and submitting batch jobs.
For programmers it is an advantage to have a good knowledge of either a high level (e.g. COBOL or PL/I) or a procedural language (e.g. CLISTs or REXX).

Systems Programmers who will need to 'read, mend and modify' Assembler programs.