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psridhar · Beginner Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 68 Topics: 26

Hi

I need to pass a variable to a COBOL program through a JCL using SYSIN.

I have two steps in a JCL. One is FTP and another one is COBOL program execution. I need to pass the return code of the FTP step to the COBOL program using SYSIN. I will use ACCEPT in my COBOL to read the value.

How can I pass a variable to a program using SYSIN.

Regards
Sridhar P

vkphani · Intermediate Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 483 Topics: 48

In the second step use the COND parameter to check the return code from the first step and pass this return code to cobol pgm in the second step thru sysin.

superk · Advanced Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Posts: 684 Topics: 5

This is a piece of REXX (shareware) code that will retrieve the STEP NAME and RETURN-CODE values from any steps that have run prior to it being called:

kolusu · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:41 am Post subject:

Psridhar,

You cannot pass the return-code of a step as sysin. What exactly are you trying to do ? Are you bypassing your processing if the ftp step returns a return code other than zero ? If so you can use JCL COND parameter to skip the step.

Kolusu
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psridhar · Beginner Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 68 Topics: 26

Hi friends

Thanks for the reply.

Hi Kolusu,

What I want to do is, in my program, I have to check the return code of the FTP step and perform different processes depending on the return code of the FTP step. I have to execute my program. That is for sure. But the path it takes depends on the FTP return code.

In general, Can I pass a variable like date, etc.. as SYSIN parameter to a cobol program.

Hope I am clear.

Regards
Sridhar P

kolusu · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:16 am Post subject:

vkphani · Intermediate Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 483 Topics: 48

Yes you can pass variables like date etc thru SYSIN parameter to a cobol program.

These link might be useful;

http://mvsforums.com/helpboards/viewtopic.php?t=442&highlight=passing+value

http://mvsforums.com/helpboards/viewtopic.php?t=2456&highlight=pass+data

psridhar · Beginner Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 68 Topics: 26

Hi Kolusu,

I really searched for more than one hour in this forum to get the answer to my requirement but I did not find.

None of your two postings answered my question.

Let me explain my problem again.

In my program, I have to check the return code of the FTP step and perform different processes depending on the return code of the FTP step. I have to execute my program what ever may be the return code of the previous step. That is for sure. But the path it takes depends on the FTP return code.

I tried the below code.

kolusu · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:02 am Post subject:

psridhar · Beginner Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 68 Topics: 26

Hi Kolusu,

Lets have a look at the below JCL.

superk · Advanced Joined: 19 Dec 2002 Posts: 684 Topics: 5

kolusu · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:49 am Post subject:

Psirdhar,

I give up. You are going in circles. There is no direct way to pass the return code as sysin to a cobol program. clipart {frustrated}

You need to use the rexx routine posted by superk in this thread which will create the sysin cards for cobol program.

Another alternative is to use IF/THEN/ELSE/ENDIF statement constructs for all the possible return codes.

semigeezer · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

Psirdhar, you are confused about what a DD statement does. A DD statement simply references a file. It is data. Nothing more. A SYSIN DD * statement is also just data. The JCL interpreter does not look at or change the data in files or in inline data. It just makes that data, unchanged, available to the program. As many others have pointed out, you can find the previous return codes by looking at MVS control blocks, as Kevin's rexx exec does. If you understand using control blocks in a COBOL program, you can look at the previous return codes from directly within your COBOL program and not bother with any special JCL.

In general however, be aware that IBM publishes which control blocks are for public use and which ones are subject to change without notice. Before you use control blocks, you should verify that they are intended interfaces by looking in the data areas books.

If the return code is important to you, your best options are to either use multiple COBOL steps with IF/ELSE logic or COND conditions, or to do the whole process in Rexx under IKJEFT01 (invoke FTP , get the return code, write tht to a file and call your COBOL program all within the same Rexx program). Doing everything in Rexx would be my choice because it is fairly easy to write and maintain and it doesn't depend on control blocks that might change someday

Phantom · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:37 am Post subject:

psridhar,

I am just summarizing whatever is been discussed by others so far.

You just have 3 options left.
1. Use REXX to get the return code of a JOB or Job Step. For this, you first need to understand Control Blocks.

2. If you are sure that the FTP step can return only few possible return-codes 2 or 3 then follow the IF/THEN/ELSE logic provided by Kolusu. You invoke the same cobol program but with different Hard-Coded Sysin cards. This solution is not feasible (doesn't look good) when you have lots of possible return-codes.

3. Introduce a new step b/w your FTP and COBOL program. This could be a REXX or something else. Using the new step you need to build a SYSIN card dynamically.

Does this solve your problem,

Thanks,
Phantom