Sample JCL narrative

This describes some of the salient points which can be seen on the previous page, which shows a sample job comprising two steps (EXEC statements).

The bullet points represent a precise of Job Control Language rules.

The observant will note that the penultimate statement did not comply with the first bullet point, and that it because it is input data , not JCL.

Sample Job Control - narrative

The preceding page illustrated a sample job stream, which in this example executes two programs. There is an IF / ENDIF combination which will not be discussed further, except to say they are present to provide conditional execution of the second program.

The main points to emphasize are:

All JCL Statements begin // in columns 1 & 2
Traditional JCL operands are coded in upper case
Blanks separate fields within a statement
Commas separate operands on a statement
The two SYSUT2 Statements indicate continuation rules

The astute will notice that there is embedded data within the job stream as the penultimate statement does not begin //.