JCL Interview question.

[RaGa]

Hi,

Can anyone please help me with below question :- 1). In a 5 step jcl temporary dataset is created at step 1 but the job abends at step 2. So, from which step should I restart the job now?

[zum13]

Hello.

Temporary datasets, those starting with "&&", do not persist beyond the current job. In the scenario described, you'd have to rerun the job from the begining as your original temporary dataset would be gone.

If it's essential that step 2 be restartable (say, it's a BMP), then you'd create a named, non-temporary dataset that's created at the start of the job and is deleted by the end. Should step 2 abend, the dataset will still exist and you'll be able to restart from that step.

[florry372]

Temporary datasets vanish with the abend, so restarting from step 2 isn't an option. Always a good reminder to use permanent datasets for critical steps if restartability matters.