IBM JCL Interview Questions and Answers

The SPACE parameter specifies the space required for the dataset in the DASD (Direct Access Storage Disk).

Syntax − SPACE = (spcunits, (pri, sec, dir), RLSE)

IEBUPDTE is used to update PDS.

SORT utility is used to sort a file in a particular order based on the sort card.

In the SORT step mention the SYSIN & SYSOUT dataset name & in sort card code SORT FIELDS=COPY to copy data from input file to output file.

PEND statement is used to end the in-stream procedure.

DSN(Dataset Name) is used to declare the name of dataset in a DD statement.

IKJEFT01 utility is used to run a COBOL-DB2 program.

DISP = (NEW,PASS). PASS is valid only for normal disposition. This is used when the dataset is to be passed and processed by the next job step in a JCL.

IEFBR14 is no operation utility. Used to return control to user and terminate. It is usually used to create empty dataset or delete an existing dataset.

Code SYSOUT = *, then the data will be directed to spool.

A temporary dataset is the one that is created and deleted within a job and is declared as DSN=&&TEMP. Do not mention the DSN parameters with this.

The Data Control Block (DCB) parameter details the physical characteristics of a dataset. This parameter is required for datasets that are newly created in the job step. LRECL is the length of each record held within the dataset. RECFM is the record format of the dataset.

The DISP parameter is used to describe the status of the dataset, disposition at the end of the job step on normal and abnormal completion. DISP is not required in a DD statement only when the dataset gets created and deleted in the same job step (like the temporary datasets). Syntax − DISP = (status, normal-disposition, abnormal-disposition)

The DSN parameter refers to the physical dataset name of a newly created or existing dataset. The DSN value can be made up of sub-names each of 1 to 8 characters length, separated by periods and of total length of 44 characters (alphanumeric).

TYPRUN = SCAN checks the syntax errors of the JCL without executing it.

The system sends the success or failure message (Maximum Condition Code) to the user specified in this parameter. Syntax − NOTIFY = “userid | &SYSUID”

Based on the time duration and the number of resources required by the job, companies assign different job classes. These can be visualized as individual schedulers used by the OS to receive the jobs. Placing the jobs in the right scheduler will aid in easy execution of the jobs. Some companies have different classes for jobs in test and production environment. Valid values for CLASS parameter are A to Z characters and 0 to 9 numeric (of length 1). Following is the syntax − CLASS=0 to 9 | A to Z

JCL is terminated by a null statement which is optional. For a null statement code only // starting from column 1. All the lines after this will not be executed.

Specifies the information required for SPOOLing of the job such as job id, priority of execution, user-id to be notified upon completion of the job.

When the job reaches its highest priority, it is taken up for execution from the job queue. The JCL is read from the SPOOL, the program is executed and the output is redirected to the corresponding output destination as specified in the JCL.

The JCL along with the PROC is converted into an interpreted text to be understood by JES and stored into a dataset, which we call as SPOOL.

Input −> Conversion −> Execution −> Output −> Hard copy −> Purge

Identifiers are two slashes (//) starting from column number 1. All JCL statements starts with identifiers except for two exceptions – For a delimiter statement, /* starting in col 1 and for a comment statement, //* starting at col 1

MVS stands for Multiple Virtual storage which is the operating system for the IBM mainframe systems.

JCL stands for Job Control Language which provides the specifications necessary to process a job. It is a set of control statements which provides the specifications necessary to process a job. It is a interface between programs & MVS operating system.

A job time-out error can occur when the program takes more time than the time limit for the specified class. This is called a S322 abend. This error is encountered when there are some looping errors in the program and it does not reach completion.

If the data processed in the program is genuinely huge and needs more time than the class limit, then the TIME parameter can be coded as TIME = 1440 to get infinite time until job completion.

When it is defined with DISP = (NEW,KEEP) at the time of creation. In case of a GDG, least recent generation is uncataloged if the GDG base had been defined with NOEMPTY parameter when the LIMIT is reached. All generations are uncataloged when coded with EMPTY.

Using RD parameter in JOB/EXEC statement. The abend codes for which RESTART need to be performed can be mentioned in the SCHEDxx member of the IBM system parmlib library.

Dummy DD statements, data card specifications, PROCs, JOB, PROC statements cannot be coded within an INCLUDE member. An INLCUDE statement can be coded within an INCLUDE member and further nesting can be done up to 15 levels.

By using the UNIT and VOL serial parameters in the dataset DD statement.

The varying portion of the JCL can be specified using symbolic parameters in the JOB and the static parts can be specified in the PROC. For example, if the file name changes for every JOB that uses the PROC, then the varying portion of the file name can be coded in JCL using symbolic parameter.

//IN1 DD DSN = &ID.URMI.IN1, DISP = SHR  //*Coded in PROCID=MYDATA1 is coded in JOB1, ID = MYDATA2 is coded in JOB2 and so on.

Data can be passed to a COBOL program through files, PARM parameter and SYSIN DD statement.

When the file is used as input in IDCAMS, job completes with a warning (return code 4) if the file is empty.