Mainframe, MVS and zOS Discussion

Hi,

Can someone please suggest if it is possible to create a parm variable using COBOL program and pass it to the next step of the JCL? I need to create a PARM variable in one step and use it in the following step.

Thanks,

No, you can't do that.

Unless your level of z/OS supports PARMDD. Then you may be able to.

Why don't you just write the data to a dataset, and read that in the next program anyway?

When a job is submitted, the first thing that happens (from the programmer's point of view) is that the job goes through the converter / interpreter which expands INCLUDE and PROC references, among other things. Once a job has gone through the C/I, it is not possible to change that job's JCL -- PERIOD. You can create the PARM and submit another job through the internal reader that uses the PARM, or -- maybe -- use PARMDD, but as William suggested your best bet is to write the data into a data set and read it in the next step (assuming you are not using a utility in that step).

Thanks. I've used the suggestion of creating a intermediate dataset.