What is a Repository orphan and how does it impact the tool?
All data stored in the repository has a corresponding reference in the cross reference table DBX_XREF.
If this reference is broken then it results in orphan rows and incomplete data.
There are several different types of orphan rows that can exist.
Below is a summary of the different types of orphans:
Orphaned XREF rows
An XREF row is orphaned when there is a relationship or association row in the DBX_XREF table and either the source or target object is not defined in the DBX_XREF table.
Orphaned Entities
An instance of an entity is orphaned when there is a row defined as an entity in one of the metadata tables, and no row exists for the instance in the DBX_XREF table.
An entity is also orphaned if a row exists in the DBX_XREF table for an entity and there is no corresponding row in the entity metadata table.
Orphaned Relationships
An instance of a relationship is orphaned when there is a row defined as a relationship in one of the metadata tables, and no row exists for the instance in the DBX_XREF table.
A relationship is also orphaned if a row exists in the DBX_XREF table for a relationship and there is no corresponding row in the relationship metadata table.
Orphaned Workstation XREF rows
A workstation XREF row is orphaned when there is a row in the DBX_WKSN_XREF table and no corresponding row in the DBX_XREF table.
A workstation XREF row is orphaned when there is a row in the DBX_WKSN_XREF table but no corresponding row in the DBX_WORKSTATION_D table.
Orphaned Text
Text is orphaned when there are rows in the text tables, but no corresponding row in the DBX_XREF table
Solution:
Orphans can be removed by executing the PRMORPH utility documented in Appendix A of the CA Repository for z/OS Administrator Guide.
Refer to Appendix A of the CA Repository for z/OS Administrator Guide for details on the PRMORPH utility