JCL FAQS

JCL FAQ's :-
Question: What is the parameter to be passed in the job card for the unlimited time, irrespective of the job class?
Answer: TIME=1440
Question: How do you submit JCL via a Cobol program?
Answer: Use a file //dd1 DD sysout=(*,intrdr) write your JCL to this file.
Question: Definition of COND p-r in JCL and a correction to a previously posted question
Answer: COND is a condition parameter, consists of 2 subparameters,
1st - return code from the previous step,
2nd - condition. If COND is true, the step on which COND is coded will be BYPASSED.
Question: Q) WHAT IS MEANT BY S0C7 AND S0C30 SYSTEM ABEND CODES.
Answer: A) S0C7 - Data exception error - you will get it whenever you are trying to move the low values or spaces into the numeric field, or compare the numeric fields with low values, or try to do some arithmetic operations on the low values. To avoid this you have to always initialize the numeric fields otherwise they will contain the low values.
B)S0C 30 - I have never heard of it, let you know if I come accross it.
Question: How to pass the temp dataset form one JOB step to another?
Answer: By specifying the DISP as PASS for the temp dataset
Question: What is a COND parameter in JCL?
Answer: COND means condition parameter. It is compared with system return code of previous step. //step1 exec pgm=abcd//step2 exec pgm=xyz, cond=(4,lt) step2 will be executed when system return code of step1 is less than 4.
Question: WRITE A JCL TO EXECUTE A JOB BY 7 A.M ON JAN 20,1986?
Answer: THE code IS: //*MAIN DEADLINE=(0700,B, 012086)
Question: HOW MANY TYPES OF LIBRARIES ARE THERE IN JCL?
Answer: LIBRARIES ARE OF THREE TYPES.
1.SYTEM LIBRARIES: SUCH AS SYS1.LINKLIB
2.PRIVATE LIBRARIES: SPECIFIED IN A JOBLIB OR STEPLIB DD STATEMENTS.
3.TEMPORARY LIBRARIES: CREATED IN A PREVIOUS STEP OF THE JOB.
Question: WHAT U MEANS BY INCLUDE STATEMENT IN JCL?
Answer: AN INCLUDE STATEMENT IDENTIFIES A MEMBER PF A PDS OR PDSE THAT CONTAINS.THIS SET OF JCL STATEMENTS IS CALLED AN INCLUDE GROUP.THE SYSTEM REPLACES THE INCLUDE STATEMENT WITH THE STATEMENTS IN THE INCLUDE GROUP.
Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF IN-STREAM PROCEDURE YOU CAN CODE IN ANY JCL IS?
Answer: 15.
Question: What you mean by skeleton Jcl?
Answer: Jell which changes during run time i.e. the values for the jell such as pigmy name, did name will change .i.e. same jell can be used for various job, equivalent to dynamic sql...
Question: How do you submit a JCL under CICS environment?
Answer: Edit the JCL in Extra partition TDQ and submit the same using some system command (not sure) under CICS subsystem. This is what i think, please clarify....
Question: what is JCL
Answer: It is interface between operating system (mvs) & application program. when 2 related programs are combined together on control statements is called job control language
Question: What is the max blocksize for a Tape file?
Answer: It is 32,760.Based on that we can calculate efficient number of Records in a Block

Question: What are the basic JCL Statements for a Job?
Answer: 1.JOB : Identifies a job and supplies accounting info.
2.EXEC: Identifies a job step by indicating the name of the program to be executed.
3.DD: Identifies a data set to be allocated for the job step.
4.Delimiter (/*): Marks the end of an in-stream dataset.
5.Null (//):Marks the end of a job.
6.Comments (//*): Provides Comments.
7.PROC : Marks the beginning of a procedure.
8.PEND : Marks the end of a procedure.
9.OUTPUT: Supplies options for SYSOUT processing.
Question: What does the statements: type run=scan and type run=hold doing a JCL statement
Answer: Typrun=scan checks the JCL for errors,
Typrun=hold holds the job until further notice.
Question: Which of the following is online transaction? CICS, DB2 and JCl
Answer: CICS
Question: How many PERFORM's are there in COBOL-II?
Answer: 5
Question: which is the most widely used batch performance monitor for DB2?
Answer: DB2PM
Question: What is QSAM error usually when it is occurs?
Answer: Usually it is occurs at the time of job submission.
Question: what is the purpose of include statement in a jcl?
Answer: It is used as an alternative for steplib.When we specify the dataset name in include, it will search in all the datasets specified in the include dataset.
Question: IS IT POSSIBLE TO KNOW THE REMAINING FREE SPACE IN AN CONTROL INTERVAL/CONTROL AREA ONCE AN INSERTION HAS BEEN MADE.
Answer: NOT POSSIBLE
Question: what does soc04 error mean?
Answer: This error is faced when we execute the cobol program.the main reason for this error is that a variable is defined with less characters and we are trying to move data which is larger than the actual storage space.
Question: What is JCL
Answer: JCL is Job Control Language and is used for Batch processing. The startup procedures of OS and standard products like CICS etc are written in JCL.
Question: In which table PLAN is registered in?
Answer: RCT
Question: GDG?
Answer: GDG - group of dataset that are logically or chronologically related, referred by name and a relative generation number - an integer which identifies the generation of a dataset and is coded in parentheses after dataset name. Absolute GDG name - GxxxxVyy, where xxxx-absolute gen.number, yy-version number. Can be sequential, direct, partitioned. (VSAM - no). Must always be cataloged. Advantage - all datasets have the same name and system keeps track of adding new and retaining previous generations and deleting oldest successive generation. To create a GDG we create a GDG index in the system catalog with IDCAMS utility and then a model (prototype, DSCB) on the same volume to supply DCB information. Empty - when limit is reached all members are removed from the index, otherwise-only oldest. Scratch-removed members are uncataloged & deleted, otherwise - removed & uncataloged, but remain in the system (not members of GDG any more). GDG number is updated at the end of the job. If number is not specified all generations will be processed from the beginning.

Question: what is jcl
Answer: It is used to communicate between the terminals.
Question: what do you mean By spooling? Expand SPOOL?
Answer: This is managed by JES.This is used for Queuing the Outputs that are intended for Printing and are first stored in SPOOLDASD. This can be managed Using
Question: How many Instream-Procedures(procs) can be Coded in a single Job?
Answer: The Answer is: 15
Question: FOR HOW LONG A JOB CAN BE EXECUTED CONTINUEOUSLY IN A MAINFRAME
Answer: 248 DAYS
Question: How may divisions are there in JCL-COBOL?
Answer: SIX
Question: MAX. NO OF DD STATEMENTS IN A JOB
Answer: 3273
Question: HOW MUCH SPACE OS ALLOCATES WHEN YOU CREATE A PS OR PDS?
Answer: 56 KB
Question: MIN NO OF DATASET NAMES(PDS) IN ONE DIRECTORY BLOCK?
Answer: SIX
Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STEPS IN A JOB?
Answer: 255
Question: How much is memory space involved, when we code BLOCKSIZE, TRK & CYL
Answer: One block constitutes 32KB of formatted memory/ 42KB of Unformatted memory, 6 blocks makes one Track & 15 Tracks makes one cylinder.
Question: What is DSNDB06?
Answer: This is the Place where DB2 Catalog resides.
Question: What is the use of DSNDB07?
Answer: This is the area where sorting takes place in DB2.
Question: What is the purpose of Identification Division?
Answer: Documentation.
Question: WHAT IS DATACOM DB?
Answer: IT IS A DATABASE USED WITH VSE.
Question: What is a Dummy Utility and what it does ?
Answer: IEFBR14 is a Dummy utility and it is used for the take of EXEC PGM= .... Statement in JCL[when used it wouldn't perform any task]. e.g. While Allocating a dataset you don't have to run any utility [this could be done by giving disp=new in DD statement]. But for a PGM name must be given in EXEC statement, it is used.
Question: What 3 guidelines do we have to follow when concatenating DD statements?
Answer: 1. Datasets must be of the same type (disk or tape)
2. All datasets must have the same logical record length
3. The dataset with the largest block size must be listed first.
Question: On the DD statement, what is the main difference between creating a new sequential flat file and a partitioned dataset?
Answer: SPACE=(n,m) for a sequential file, SPACE=(n,m,p) for a PDS where n, m, and p are numbers. The p designates how many directory blocks to allocate.
Question: What is the difference between IEBGENER, IEBCOPY and REPRO in IDCAMS utility?
Answer: IEBGENER -- This is a dataset utility for copying sequential datasets which produces a PDS or a member from a sequential dataset.
IEBCOPY -- This is a dataset utility for copying one PDS to another or to merge PDSs.
REPRO -- This is for copying sequential datasets.
Question: How do you submit JCL via a Cobol program?
Answer: Use a file //dd1 DD sysout=(*,intrdr) write your JCL to this file. Pl some on try this out.
Question: How to execute a set of JCL statements from a COBOL program
Answer: Using EXEC CICS SPOOL WRITE(var-name) END-EXEC command.var-name is a COBOL host structure containing JCL statements.
Question: What is the difference between static call & Dynamic call
Answer: In the case of Static call, the called program is a stand along program, it is an executable program . During run time we can call it in our called program. As about Dynamic call, the called program is not an executable program it can executed thru the called program
Question: What is the difference between catalouge procedure and In-Stream procedure?
Answer: In Stream procedures are set of JCL statements written between JOB and EXEC statements, start with PROC and end with PEND statement. Mainly used to test catalog procedures. Cataloged procedure is cataloged on the procedure library and is called by specifying the procedure name on the EXEC statement.
Question: What do you feel makes a good program?
Answer: A program that follows a top down approach. It is also one that other programmers or users can follow logically and is easy to read and understand.
Question: Can we browse or edit the GDG dataset if it is a tape entry?
Answer: No
Question: What are the maximum and minimum sizes of any CONTROL AREA (VSAM datasets) ?
Answer: Minimum Size: 1 track Maximum size: 1 cylinder
Question: HOW TO GET CURSOR POSITION FROM SYSTEM IN CICS ENVIRONMENT?
Answer: GET IT FROM EIBCURPOS!
Question: How many parameters are there to a DISP statement and what are their uses.
Answer: There are three(3) parameters.
Parameter 1: current data set disposition (new, shr, old, mod)
Parameter 2: normal close action for data set (catlg, keep, delete)
Parameter 3:abend action for data set (catlg, keep, delete).
Question: What is the error code SOC01 indicate?
Answer: Operation exception error For eg a dataset open error
Question: WHAT IS COMM?
Answer: COMM - HALF WORD BINARY
Question: What is a procedure?
Answer: A set of precoded JCL that can be modified through the use of parameters or override cards. Note: Procedures can be catalogued or instream.
Question: What is the difference between specifying DISP=OLD and DISP=SHR for a dataset?
Answer: OLD specifies exclusive use of a dataset, SHR allows multiple jobs to concurrently access the dataset Note: When updating a dataset, you would normally use OLD.
Question: What are the three basic types of statements in a job stream?
Answer: JOB(one per job stream) EXEC(one or more per job) DD(one or more per jobstep)
Question: What does SYSIN * indicate?
Answer: Instream data follows this card and is terminated when followed by a card containing // or /* in columns 1 and 2.
Question: What are three major types of JCL statements? What are their functions?
Answer: JOB, EXEC, DD. JOB - indicates start of jobstream to the operating system and through parms coded on it, certain details about the job (time, region, message level, job accounting data). EXEC - indicates the start of execution of a particular job step, be that step a program or a proc.DD - is a data definition, which is used to describe the attributes of a data set (name, unit, type, space, disposition).
Question: What happens if the Time specified is exceeded?
Answer: The job ends with the ABEND code S322.
Question: Abbreviation of ST.
Answer: ST stands for STATUS.
Question: What is STEPLIB, JOBLIB? What is it used for? What is order of searching of the libraries in a JCL?
Answer: Specifies that the private library (or libraries) specified should be searched before the default system libraries in order to locate a program to be executed.
STEPLIB applies only to the particular step, JOBLIB to all steps in the job. First any private libraries as specified in the STEPLIB or JOBLIB, then the system libraries such as SYS1.LINKLIB. The system libraries are specified in the linklist.
Question: What is primary allocation for a data set?
Answer: The space is allocated when the data set is first created.
Question: What is the difference between primary and secondary allocations for a data set?
Answer:Secondary allocation is done when more space is required than what has already been allocated.
Question: How many extents are possible for a sequential file ? For a VSAM file ?
Answer:16 extents on a volume for a sequential file and 123 for a VSAM file.
Question: What does a disposition of (NEW,CATLG, DELETE) mean?
Answer: That this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated, to CATLG the Data set if the step is successful and to delete the data set if the step abends