Mainframe, MVS and zOS Discussion

If a JCLLIB isn't provided, the default JCL library is searched.

The default JCL library sequence is defined in JES (JES2 or JES3) and the best source of information about the libraries included would be the site support group since each site may (almoist certainly) have different libraries listed.

The AMS for Catalogs manual gives the parameters for DEFINE GENERATIONDATAGROUP and indicates the difference: EMPTY|NOEMPTY Specifies what action is to be taken for the catalog entries for the GDG base when the number of generation data sets in the GDG base is equal to the LIMIT value and another GD...

What language is the program you are attempting to execute? Enterprise COBOL, for example, does not support the use of BDAM files in any way and you MUST use VSAM RRDS instead of BDAM if you are writing Enterprise COBOL code. I believe you can still access BDAM files in HLASM, but I would have to re...

I think one thing you need to be very aware of is that there really is no way to test for all potential abends. There are thousands of potential abends, many of which only occur under very selective circumstances that may never apply to your code, and others occur based on external factors (example:...

Attached is READPDS2.COB, the COBOL code. It reads a file of PDS data set names, dynamically allocates each, then prints the ISPF statistics (if any) for the PDS.

If you need a system abend, something like this untested code should do it:

I am currently a senior technical analyst supporting applications and our mainframe for the last 4 years. Before that, I spent 10 years as a system programmer, 12 years doing pure application development and support, and 8 years doing QA/testing, software installations, and releases for a software v...

DFSORT (or Syncsort -- whichever you use) is a very sophisticated product. I suspect (but do not know for a fact) that it analyzes the SYSIN and ensures that INREC processing is performed before the sort and OUTREC processing after the sort -- no matter the order of those statements in the SYSIN. Yo...

1. Use Sort to an output dummy file and manually look at the sort output count. 2. Use SAS or EASYTRIEVE if installed at your site 3. Write a program in the language of your choice There are other ways depending upon the specifics of the file and the site, but three should give you a way to proceed.

1. There is no such thing as an 88-level variable. 2. 88 levels are called conditions, not variables. 3. You can display the variable associated with the 88-level, but not the condition. Code like this (untested) would achieve what you asked: 05 WS-VAR PIC X(01). 88 COND-A VALUE 'A'. 88 COND-B VALUE...

Yes, there are subprograms that can be called to invoke an abend. The specific program called depends upon the release of COBOL you are using on the mainframe -- Enterprise COBOL, for example, would CALL 'CEE3ABD' or CALL 'CEE3AB2' to abend (check the Language Environment Programming Reference manua...

Yes, it is possible -- I've written a COBOL program that produces a report of the ISPF statistics for all members of a PDS. The code is not particularly tricky, but it is definitely well beyond a beginner's level (for example, the PDS directory is 256-byte records no matter what the LRECL of the PDS...

People want to misuse terminology. Even when IBM was using the term, MIPS never (I repeat, NEVER) referred to anything less than a processor (an LPAR in current terminology). If someone wants to cut the total CPU seconds used by an application, then that is the phrase to use -- suggesting they want ...

You first must understand that data set names go back to 1964 when the first 360 was announced. Back then, 44 characters was considered adequate and a good compromise between longer names for readability and shorter names for faster system processing. Tape data set names are 17 characters because th...

IBM supports Linux on System z, which is completely free and done under the GNU General Public License.

SAS has announced release 9.4, which includes a number of enhancements for cloud computing, security, and integrated processing. See the SAS web site at http://www.sas.com/software/sas9/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for details.

Sort allows you to use the date; or, a program written in the language of your choice will allow you to access the date. However, one thing you need to consider: what is RUN DATE? Example: the job is scheduled in CA-7 to be submitted at 11:55 PM. Even though the job is submitted and eligible to run,...

Go to the web site, use either the search function or browse the list by clicking on the "CBTnnn is available to download now" link, then when you click on one of the file links the download prompt box appears. After the download is complete, unzip the cbtxxx.zip file and you will have a f...

Regarding tip 1: COBOL recognizes a VSAM ESDS file by the presence of AS-ddname in the SELECT statement.

A CATALOG contains pointers to data sets and basically consist of data set names and volume serials; the term is not specific as to which type of catalog is being used. The MASTER CATALOG is defined during the IPL process and contains pointers to system data sets required during the IPL process. USE...