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Masking a Variable Block (VB) File Fails with "Invalid Record Descriptor word at line 1" (KBA7946)

 

 

KBA

KBA# 7946

 

Issue

Masking a mainframe file that has variable length records fails with the following error:

2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 - ERROR (version 7.1.0.0-12, build 1 from 2017-05-16 17.18.02 by buildguy) : Unexpected error
2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 - ERROR (version 7.1.0.0-12, build 1 from 2017-05-16 17.18.02 by buildguy) : org.pentaho.di.core.exception.KettleException:
2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 - Exception in reading vsam file
2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 -
2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 - Exception reading line in vsam file
2021/07/01 15:21:05 - VSAM Input.0 - Invalid Record Descriptor word at line 1 63476 48 48

Applicable Delphix Versions

Click here to view the versions of the Delphix engine to which this article applies
Major Release All Sub Releases
6.0 6.0.0.0, 6.0.1.0, 6.0.1.1, 6.0.2.0, 6.0.2.1, 6.0.3.0, 6.0.3.1, 6.0.4.0, 6.0.4.1, 6.0.4.2, 6.0.5.0, 6.0.6.0, 6.0.6.1, 6.0.7.0, 6.0.8.0, 6.0.8.1, 6.0.9.0

5.3

5.3.0.0, 5.3.0.1, 5.3.0.2, 5.3.0.3, 5.3.1.0, 5.3.1.1, 5.3.1.2, 5.3.2.0, 5.3.3.0, 5.3.3.1, 5.3.4.0, 5.3.5.0, 5.3.6.0, 5.3.7.0, 5.3.7.1, 5.3.8.0, 5.3.8.1, 5.3.9.0

5.2

5.2.2.0, 5.2.2.1, 5.2.3.0, 5.2.4.0, 5.2.5.0, 5.2.5.1, 5.2.6.0, 5.2.6.1

5.1

5.1.0.0, 5.1.1.0, 5.1.2.0, 5.1.3.0, 5.1.4.0, 5.1.5.0, 5.1.5.1, 5.1.6.0, 5.1.7.0, 5.1.8.0, 5.1.8.1, 5.1.9.0, 5.1.10.0

5.0

5.0.1.0, 5.0.1.1, 5.0.2.0, 5.0.2.1, 5.0.2.2, 5.0.2.3, 5.0.3.0, 5.0.3.1, 5.0.4.0, 5.0.4.1, 5.0.5.0, 5.0.5.1, 5.0.5.2, 5.0.5.3, 5.0.5.4

Resolution

To resolve this issue clear the Variable Length checkbox in the Ruleset.

Snip20210729_18.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this checkbox is selected, unselect it and test the Masking Job again.

The Variable Length parameter in the Ruleset popup is not a configuration parameter used to identify VSAM files that contain variable-length records. Variable-length records are supported but extra steps are often required to achieve the desired result. Each variation of record length is represented in the copybook file format by REDEFINES clauses. 

If the Masking Job continues to fail then please confirm that the error message has changed and engage Delphix for assistance (if necessary). 

Troubleshooting

To verify the failure event from the GUI Monitor tab:

Snip20210729_22.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The report will show the following error:

Snip20210729_23.png