Expert: Concise Systems/Laird Scranton - 11/29/2007

Question
Hi -  We have an AS400 system in our company, and have a programming staff that programs and supports all of our users.  Many times when an error occurs the user is given a choice of (C D I R).  Is there any way we can block our users from taking the choice, and have only a support person take the response?  Our users don't understand what they are doing and many times just keep taking a response before the call support.  By that time they have gone too far and we have bigger problems to take care of.  We would just like to block the users from reponding to the message and only allow an authorized support person to reply to the messages.  Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks - Jane

Answer
Dear Jane -

There is something you can do, but it involves a few steps and requires you to identify which users and messages you want to handle.

1. Write a CL program called MSGAUTH, prepared to receive two parameter fields 256 characters long each. Define a 32 character field called &REPLY.  Execute the command:
SNDUSRMSG MSG('Error: Call tech support') VALUES('12345') MSGRPY(&REPLY)

2. Make a backup copy of the QCPFMSG message file.

3. Change the default program parameter (DFTPGM) to 'MSGAUTH' for an error message in the message file.

4. Change the user profile DLVRY option to *DFT, indicating that the system should execute the default program for error messages for that user.

5. When the user receives the error, the system will issue the 'Call tech support' message and wait for the reply 12345.  Once your tech person enters the correct reply, the MSGAUTH program will end and they will then receive the actual error message.

If you try this, let me know how it works for you. My direct contact information is below.

- Laird Scranton
 Concise Systems
 Albany, NY 12206
 (518) 482-4508
 e-mail: concisesys@aol.com