Interview Q&As for COBOL

If you see any answers to questions that you know are wrong, please send email to
[email protected], so we can remove or correct them. Thanks for your help. Please use this
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View: [JCL] [COBOL] [CICS] [DB2] [VSAM] [IMS] [Misc.]

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Entered on: January 12, 2000

Submitted by: J

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the diffenence between Structured Cobol Programming and Object
Oriented COBOL programming ?

Answer: Structured programming is a Logical way of programming, you divide the

functionalities into modules and code logically. OOP is a Natural way of programming, you
identify the objects first, then write fuctions, procedures around the objects. Sorry, this may
not be an adequate answer, but they are two different programming paradigms which is
difficult to put in a sentence or two.

Entered on: January 12, 2000

Submitted by: J

Topic: COBOL

Question: what is difference between next sentence and continue

Answer: They appear to be similar, that is, the control goes to the next sentence in the
paragraph. But, Next Sentence would take the control to the sentence after it finds a fullstop
(.). Check out by writing the following code example, one if sentence followed by 3 display
statements (sorry they appear one line here because of formatting restrictions) If 1 > 0 then
next sentence end if display 'line 1' display 'line 2'. display 'line 3'. *** Note- there is a dot (.)
only at the end of the last 2 statements, see the effect by replacing Next Sentence with Continue
*** Hope this helps!

Entered on: January 10, 2000

Submitted by: vipul shar

Topic: COBOL
Question: what is difference between next sentence and continue

Answer: i don't know

Entered on: December 05, 1999

Submitted by: Charles

Topic: COBOL

Question: I understand the possible causes for S0C1 & S0C4 abends, but what are they really?

Answer: A S0C1 occurs if the CPU attempts to execute binary code that isn't a valid machine
instruction; e.g. if you attempt to execute data. A S0C4 is a memory protection violation. This
occurs if a program attempts to access storage beyond the areas assigned to it.

Entered on: October 22, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: which type of sort do you know?

Answer: internal sort and external sort.

Entered on: September 22, 1999

Submitted by: Reddy

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the diffenence between Structured Cobol Programming and Object
Oriented COBOL programming ?

Answer: ?????????

Entered on: September 01, 1999

Submitted by: A.KRISHNAN

Topic: COBOL

Question: I HAVE HEARD ABOUT VSCOBOL AND COBOL II. IS THERE ANY OTHER
CATEGORY/CLASSIFICATION IN COBOL ? KINDLY GIVE ME A DETAILED
EXPLANATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COBOL 370 IS.

Answer: ?????????????
Entered on: August 25, 1999
Submitted by: Mallika

Topic: COBOL

Question: Can you use INSPECT command under CICS? Is it costly?

Answer:

Entered on: August 19, 1999

Submitted by: JSR

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is SET Logic TO TRUE?

Answer: ?

Entered on: July 16, 1999

Submitted by: KVR RAJU

Topic: COBOL

Question: PIC S9(4)COMP IS USED INPSPITE OF COMP-3 WHICH OCCUPIES LESS

SPACE.WHY?

Answer: The Q&A submitted by sivakumar on March 24,1998 is absolutely wrong. Dear
Sivakumar, for your kind information: 9(4) COMP uses only 2 bytes and 2 bytes is not = 4
words. 9(4) COMP-3 uses 3 bytes. 3 bytes is more than 2 bytes. Hence COMP is preferred over
COMP-3 in this case.

Entered on: July 16, 1999

Submitted by: SREEKANTHA SWAMY

Topic: COBOL

Question: What divisions,sections and paragraphs are mandatory for a COBOL program?

Answer: IDENTIFICATION DIVISION and PROGRAM-ID paragraph are mandataory for a

compilation error free COBOL program.

Entered on: July 16, 1999

Submitted by: SREEKANTHA SWAMY

Topic: COBOL
Question: Can JUSTIFIED be used for all the data types?

Answer: No,it can be used only with alphabetic and alphanumeric data types.

Entered on: June 02, 1999

Submitted by: Anand Iyengar

Topic: COBOL

Question: Ans we to bala s bandlas question what happens when we move a comp-3 field to an
edited ( say z(9).zz-)

Answer: the edititing characters r to be used with data items with usage clause as display
which is the default.when u try displaying a data item with usage as computational it does not
give the desired display format becoz the data item is stored as packed decimal.So if u want
this particular data item to be edited u have to move it into a data item whose usage is diplay
and then have that particular data item edited in the format desired.

Entered on: June 01, 1999

Submitted by: MSR

Topic: COBOL

Question: rrr

Answer: Planning and Implementation Guide for prasad question: On the web at
www.ibm.com/year2000 www.year2000.com www.itaa.org/index.html

Entered on: May 31, 1999

Submitted by: bala s bandla

Topic: COBOL

Question: what happens when we move a comp-3 field to an edited ( say z(9).zz-) ?

Answer: ????

Entered on: May 05, 1999

Submitted by: Srinivasan Gogula

Topic: COBOL

Question: What are the causes for S0C1, S0C4, S0C5, S0C7, S0CB abends

Answer: S0C1 - May be due to 1.Missing or misspelled DD name 2.Read/Write to unopened

dataset 3.Read to dataset opened output 4.Write to dataset opened input 5.Called subprogram
not foundS0C4 may be due to 1.Missing Select statement(during compile) 2.Bad
Subscript/index 3.Protection Exception 4.Missing parameters on called subprogram
5.Read/Write to unopened file 6.Move data from/to unopened fileS0C5 May be due to 1.Bad
Subscript/index 2.Close an unopen dataset 3.Bad exit from a perform 4.Access to I/O area(FD)
before readS0C7 may be due to 1.Numeric operation on non-numeric data 2.Un-initialize
working-storage 3.Coding past the maximum allowed sub scriptS0CB may be due to 1.Division
by Zero

Entered on: May 05, 1999

Submitted by: Srinivasan Gogula

Topic: COBOL

Question: Question: What will happen if you code GO BACK instead of STOP RUN in a stand
alone COBOL program i.e. a program which is not calling any other program.

Answer: Both give the same results when a program is not calling any other program. The
answer given by Mr.Krishnan that when go back is coded the program goes into infinite loop is
not correct. Goback will give the control to the system even though it is a single program.

Entered on: April 21, 1999

Submitted by: Paul Andrew Saylor

Topic: COBOL

Question: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXTERNAL AND GLOBAL

VARIABLES?

Answer: Global variables are accessible only to the batch program whereas external variables
can be referenced from any batch program residing in the same system library.

Entered on: April 04, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: yOU ARE WRITING REPORT PROGRAM WITH 4 LEVELS OF

TOTALS:CITY,STATE,REGION AND COUNTRY. tHE CODES BEING USED CAN BE
THE SAME OVER THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, MEANING A CITY CODE OF 01 CAN BE
IN ANE NUMBER OF STATES, AND THE SAME APPLIES TO STATE AND REGION
CODEShOW DO YOU DO YOUR CHEKING FOR BREAKS AND HOW DO YOU DO ADD
TO EACH LEVEL?

Answer: ALWAYS COMPARE ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL FIRST, BECAUSE IF YOU

HAVE A BREAK AT A HIGHEST LEVEL, EACH LEVEL BENEATH IT MUST ALSO
BREAK. ADD TO THE LOWEST LEVEL FOR EACH REC BUT ADD TO THE HIGHER
LEVEL ONLY ON A BREAK.

Entered on: March 10, 1999

Submitted by: Rama Bhupal reddy P V

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is difference between COBOL and VS COBOL II?.

Answer: In using COBOL on PC we have only flat files and the programs can access only
limited storage, whereas in VS COBOL II on M/F the programs can access upto 16MB or 2GB
depending on the addressing and can use VSAM files to make I/O operations faster.

Entered on: February 17, 1999

Submitted by: Srinivas

Topic: COBOL

Question: Why occurs can not be used in 01 level ?

Answer: because, Occurs clause is there to repeat fields with same format, not the records.

Entered on: November 13, 1998

Submitted by: SRINIVAS CH

Topic: COBOL

Question: WHAT IS REPORT-ITEM?

Answer: A REPORT-ITEM IS A FIELD TO BE PRINTED THAT CONTAINS EDIT

SYMBOLS

Entered on: November 11, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is PSB & ACB?

Answer: PSB : Program specification block. Infor about how a specific program is to be access
one or more IMS DB. It consist of PCB(Prg Communication Block). Information to which
which segment in DB can be accessed, what the program is allowed to do with those segment
and how the DB is to be accessed. ACB : Access Control Blocks are generated by IMS as an
expansion of information contained in the PSB in order to speed up the access to the applicable
DBD's.

Entered on: November 06, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: Question: What's a LDS(Linear Data Set) and what's it used for ?

Answer: LDS is a VSAM dataset in name only. It has unstructured 4k (4096 bytes) fixed size
CIs which do not contain control fields and therefore from VSAM's standpoint they do not
contain any logical records. There is no freespace, and no access from Cobol. Can be accessed
by DB2 and IMS fast path datasets. LDS is essentially a table of data maintained on disk. The
'table entries' must be created via a user program and can only be logically accessed via a user
program. When passed, the entire LDS must be mapped into storage, then data is accessed via
base and displacement type processing.

Entered on: October 12, 1998

Submitted by: DEEPAK,noida

Topic: COBOL

Question: answer to anon question for difference between next and continue cluase

Answer: FOR ANON , Dear friend the difference between the next and continue verb is that in
the continue verb it is used for a situation where there in no eof condition that is the records
are to be accessed again and again in an file , whereas in the next verb the indexed file is
accessed sequentially ,hence when index clase is accessed sequentially read next record
command is used,i hope that is satisfactory

Entered on: September 18, 1998

Submitted by: Srinivas Rao Rajulapati

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the Importance of GLOBAL clause According to new standards of COBOL

Answer: When any data name, file-name , Record-name, condition name or Index defined in
an Including Program can be referenced by a directly or indirectly in an included program,
Provided the said name has been declared to be a global name by GLOBALFormat of Global
Clause is01 data-1 pic 9(5) IS GLOBAL.

Entered on: September 18, 1998

Submitted by: Srinivasa Rao Rajulapati
Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the Purpose of POINTER Phrase in STRING command

Answer: The Purpose of POINTER phrase is to specify the leftmost position whithin Receiving
field where the first transfered character will be stored

Entered on: August 28, 1998

Submitted by: Aila Tirupathi

Topic: COBOL

Question: How do we get currentdate from system with century?

Answer: By using Intrinsic function, FUNCTION CURRENT-DATE

Entered on: August 27, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: COBOL

Question: what is the difference between search and search all in the table handling?

Answer: search is a linear search and search all is a binary search.

Entered on: August 19, 1998

Submitted by: Madesha

Topic: COBOL.

Question: What is the maximum length of a field you can define using COMP-3?

Answer: 10 Bytes (S9(18) COMP-3).

Entered on: August 19, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: COBOL

Question: What will happen if you code GO BACK instead of STOP RUN in a stand alone
COBOL program i.e. a program which is not calling any other program.

Answer: The program will go in an infinite loop.

Entered on: August 18, 1998
Submitted by: narayana rao .T

Topic: COBOL

Question: Q.HOW MANY SECTIONS ARE THERE IN DATA DIVISION?.

Answer: SIX SECTIONS1.FILE SECTION2.WORKING-STORAGE SECTION3.LOCAL-

STORAGE SECTION4.SCREEN SECTION5.REPORT SECTION6.LINKAGE SECTION

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: R. Paine

Topic: COBOL

Question: How can I tell if a module is being called DYNAMICALLY or STATICALLY?

Answer: The ONLY way is to look at the output of the linkage editor (IEWL)or the load
module itself. If the module is being called DYNAMICALLY then it will not exist in the main
module, if it is being called STATICALLY then it will be seen in the load module.Calling a
working storage varible, containing a program name, does not make a DYNAMIC call. This
type of calling is known as IMPLICITE calling as the name of the module is implied by the
contents of the working storage varible. Calling a program name literal (CALL

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: R. Paine

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the difference between a DYNAMIC and STATIC call in COBOL.

Answer: To correct an earlier answer:All called modules cannot run standalone if they require
program varibles passed to them via the LINKAGE section. DYNAMICally called modules are
those that are not bound with the calling program at link edit time (IEWL for IBM) and so are
loaded from the program library (joblib or steplib) associated with the job. For DYNAMIC
calling of a module the DYNAM compiler option must be choosen, else the linkage editor will
not generate an executable as it will expect ull address resolution of all called modules. A
STATICally called module is one that is bound with the calling module at link edit, and
therefore becomes part of the executable load module.

Entered on: June 18, 1998

Submitted by: Srinivas Reddy

Topic: COBOL
Question: What is the defference between PIC 9.99 and 9v99?

Answer: PIC 9.99is a FOUR-POSITION field that actually contains a decimal point where as
PIC 9v99 is THREE-POSITION numeric field with implied or assumed decimal position.

Entered on: June 18, 1998

Submitted by: Srinivas Reddy

Topic: COBOL

Question: How is PIC 9.99 is defferent from PIC 9v99?

Answer: PIC 9.99 is a four position field that actually contains a decimal point where as 9v99
is a three position numeric field with an implied or assumed decimal point.

Entered on: June 18, 1998

Submitted by: Srinivas Reddy

Topic: COBOL

Question: what is Pic 9v99 Indicates?

Answer: PICTURE 9v99 is a three position Numeric field with an implied or assumed decimal
point after the first position; the v means an implied decimal point.

Entered on: June 03, 1998

Submitted by: NEERAJ BHATIA

Topic: COBOL

Question: WHAT GUIDELINES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED TO WRITE A STRUCTURED

COBOL PRG'M?

Answer: 1) USE 'EVALUATE' STMT FOR CONSTRUCTING CASES. 2) USE SCOPE

TERMINATORS FOR NESTING. 3)USE IN LINE PERFORM STMT FOR WRITING 'DO '
CONTRUCTIONS. 4)USE TEST BEFORE AND TEST AFTER IN THE PERFORM STMT
FOR WRITING DO-WHILE CONSTRUCTIONS.

Entered on: June 01, 1998

Submitted by: srinivas y

Topic: COBOL

Question: read the following code. 01 ws-n pic 9(2) value zero. a-para move 5 to ws-n. perform
b-para ws-n times.b-para. move 10 to ws-n.how many times will b-para be executed ?

Answer: 5 times only. it will not take the value 10 that is initialized in the loop.

Entered on: May 27, 1998

Submitted by: Thomas

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the difference between SEARCH and SEARCH ALL? What is more
efficient?

Answer: SEARCH is a sequential search from the beginning of the table. SEARCH ALL is a
binary search, continually dividing the table in two halves until a match is found. SEARCH
ALL is more efficient for tables larger than 70 items.

Entered on: May 21, 1998

Submitted by: Kathy

Topic: COBOL

Question: What are some examples of command terminators?

Answer: END-IF, END-EVALUATE

Entered on: May 20, 1998

Submitted by: Deepak Pradhan.

Topic: COBOL

Question: What care has to be taken to force program to execute above 16 Meg line?

Answer: Make sure that link option is AMODE=31 and RMODE=ANY.Compile option should
never have SIZE(MAX).BUFSIZE can be 2K, effecient enough.

Entered on: April 29, 1998

Submitted by: Nagarajan.D

Topic: COBOL

Question: Give some advantages of REDEFINES clause.

Answer: 1. You can REDEFINE a Variable from one PICTURE class to another PICTURE
class by using the same memory location.2. By REDEFINES we can INITIALISE the variable
in WORKING-STORAGE Section itself.3. We can REDEFINE a Single Variable into somany
subvariables.(This facility is very useful in solving Y2000 Problem.)

Entered on: March 24, 1998

Submitted by: sivakumar

Topic: COBOL.

Question: Why do we code s9(4)comp.Inspite of knowing comp-3 willoccupy less space.

Answer: Here s9(4)comp is small integer ,so two words equal to i byteso totally it will occupy 2
bytes(4 words).here in s9(4) comp-3 as one word is equal to 1/2 byte.4 words equal to 2 bytes
and sign will occupy 1/2 byteso totally it will occupy 3 bytes.

Entered on: March 15, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: COBOL

Question: The maximum number of dimensions that an array can have in COBOL-85 is
________.

Answer: SEVEN in COBOL - 85 and THREE in COBOL - 84

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: What is the LINKAGE SECTION used for?

Answer: The linkage section is used to pass data from one program toanother program or to
pass data from a PROC to a program.

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: COBOL

Question: Describe the difference between subscripting and indexing

Answer: Indexing uses binary displacement. Subscripts use the value of the occurrence.

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View: [JCL] [COBOL] [CICS] [DB2] [VSAM] [IMS] [Misc.]

Interview Q&As for JCL

If you see any answers to questions that you know are

wrong, please send email to [email protected], so we
can remove or correct them. Thanks for your help. Please
use this ONLY for Interview Questions and Answers. If you
are looking for help and want to aska question, use the
Message Board. Other users will help you there.

View: [JCL] [COBOL] [CICS] [DB2] [VSAM] [IMS]

[Misc.]

Add a new Question and Answer.

Entered on: January 12, 2000

Submitted by: J

Topic: JCL

Question: Can you execute a PROC from another PROC?

(Entered on: November 27, 1999 by lugo)

Answer: Nesting is allowed. I think upto 15 levels. Please

check out.

Entered on: December 27, 1999

Submitted by: Adrian

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a DD statement?

Answer: Data Definition

Entered on: November 27, 1999

Submitted by: lugo

Topic: JCL

Question: Can you execute a PROC from another PROC?

Answer: I did not know the answer and my interviewer said

NO. Later I tried and executed PROC from a PROC, three
levels deep. Manuals do not state any limit on PROC calling
PROC, or nesting.
Entered on: October 27, 1999
Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: what is dd statement

Answer: lkjkj

Entered on: October 27, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: what is dd statement

Answer: ddd

Entered on: October 04, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What will happen if you attempt to restart a job

in the middle of a JCL // IF .... // ENDIF?

Answer: Job will fall through to the ENDIF (not executing

any steps), then resume execution with the first step
AFTER the // ENDIF.

Entered on: July 20, 1999

Submitted by: H-BOMB

Topic: JCL

Question: WHAT IS A FILE?

Answer: A FILE IS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF

RECORDS. THE NUMBER OF RECORDS ON A FILE
DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE APPLICATION
ASSOCIATAD WITH THE FILE. FILES MAY CONTAIN
A FEW RECORDS, THOUSANDS, OR EVEN MILLIONS
OF RECORDS.

Entered on: July 20, 1999

Submitted by: HBOMB
Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MANY POSITONAL PARAMETERS

ARE THERE IN JOBSTATEMENT?

Answer: THER ARE TWO POSITION PARAMETERS IN

JOB STATEMENT.

Entered on: June 25, 1999

Submitted by: Kaushal

Topic: JCL

Question: What are three parameters you can specify on

Job statement as well as on exec stmt ?

Answer: Time , Region and Cond parameters

Entered on: June 09, 1999

Submitted by: Geetha Velu

Topic: JCL

Question: How can you trap abends in the JCL?

Answer: Use IF ABEND statement in the JCL.

Entered on: June 09, 1999

Submitted by: Geetha Velu

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you restart a step in JCl?

Answer: Use RESTART=step name.

Entered on: May 31, 1999

Submitted by: bala s bandla

Topic: JCL

Question: how do you pass parameters to tne program as

the job is being executed ?

Answer: by using 'parm' parameter in exec statement. the

value mentioned here should be declared in linkage section
in the program and process thru procedure division. this
technique is very useful when you do not know the
parametrs at the time of coding the programs.

Entered on: May 06, 1999

Submitted by: Srinivasan Gogula

Topic: JCL

Question: Why do you use a controlcard?

Answer: A controlcard can be a member of a pds or a

sequential dataset and is used for storing the date fields,
Definitions of VSAM files....etc. You use controlcard
because you cannot use a instream procedure in a
procedure.Generally you will be calling a Proc from your
Jcl and you cannot code instream procedure in the Proc
and so you will point to the dataset which is called
controlcard.

Entered on: May 06, 1999

Submitted by: Visveish R

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you submit JCL via a Cobol program?

For the above question the solution is as follows..

Answer: In your JCL define as//JOBA JOB

1111,JOB1//STEP01 EXEC PGM=PROG1//ddname DD
SYSOUT=(*,INTRDR)....and your COBOL(PROG1)
should look like thisSELECT JCL-FILE ASSIGN TO
ddname.Open this file and write the JCL statements into
this file.Example.MOVE '//TESTJOB JOB
1111,VISVEISH' TO JCL-REC.MOVE '//STEP01 EXEC
PGM=IEFBR14' TO JCL-REC.and close this file.Then
TESTJOB will be submitted.

Entered on: April 28, 1999

Submitted by: HR

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you submit a JCL under CICS

environment ?

Answer: pass all the jcl codes to a COBOL variable(should

be declare using OCCURS clas) and the write the line one
by one to the spool using CICS commands like
SPOOLClose SPOOLOpen SPOOLWrite . For more help
reffer CECI of CICS or CICS manual

Entered on: March 30, 1999

Submitted by: kalyan

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the parameter to be passed in the job

card for the unlimited time , irrespective of the job class

Answer: TIME=1440

Entered on: January 28, 1999

Submitted by: Tracy

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: January 25, 1999

Submitted by: SARADA VEMURI

Topic: JCL

Question: Q) WHAT IS MEANT BY S07C AND S0C30

SYSTEM ABEND CODES(QUESTION ASKED BY Mr.
PRAVEEN)?

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.S0C 30 - I have never heard of it, let you know if I
come accross it.

Entered on: January 21, 1999

Submitted by: sarada vemuri

Topic: JCL

Question: How to pass the temp dataset form one JOB step
to another?

Answer: By specifying the DISP as PASS for the temp

dataset

Entered on: December 17, 1998

Submitted by: upender

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a COND parameter in JCL?

Answer: COND means condition parameter. It is compared

with systemreturn 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 isless than 4.

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI. SAN JOSE, CA

Topic: JCL.

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)

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI. SAN JOSE, CA.

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MANY TYPES OF LIBRARIES ARE

THERE IN JCL ?

Answer: LIBRARIES ARE OF THREE TYPES.1.SYTEM

LIBRARIES: SUCH AS SYS1.LINKLIB2.PRIVATE
LIBRARIES: SPECIFIED IN A JOBLIB OR STEPLIB DD
STATEMENTS.3.TEMPORARY LIBRARIES:CREATED
IN A PREVIOUS STEP OF THE JOB.

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI ,SAN JOSE. CA

Topic: JCL

Question: WHAT U MEAN 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.

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI,SAN JOSE

Topic: JCL

Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF IN-STREAM

PROCEDURE YOU CAN CODE IN ANY JCL IS ?

Answer: 15.

Entered on: October 27, 1998

Submitted by: Vijay

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What you mean by skeleton JCl?

Answer: Jcl which changes during run time ie the values for
the jcl such as pgm name ,dd name will change .ie same jcl
can be used for various job, equvalent to dynamic sql...

Entered on: October 20, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, CICS etc.,

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....

Entered on: October 12, 1998

Submitted by: Ramesh

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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

Entered on: September 22, 1998

Submitted by: Malayarasan Chelliah

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the max blocksize for a Tape file?

Answer: It is 32,760.Based on that we can calculate

effecient number of Records in a Block

Entered on: September 21, 1998

Submitted by: Aurobindo K.S. ([email protected])

Topic: JCL

Question: What are the basic JCL Statements for a Job?

Answer: 1.JOB : Idenfies 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.

Entered on: September 18, 1998

Submitted by: Courtney

Topic: JCL

Question: What does the statements: typrun=scan and

typrun=hold doin a JCL statement

Answer: typrun=scan checks the JCL for errors,

typrun=hold holdsthe job until further notice.

Entered on: September 17, 1998

Submitted by: Usha

Topic: JCL, CICS

Question: Which of the following is Online transaction?

CICS, DB2 and JCl

Answer: CICS

Entered on: September 15, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: How many PERFORM's are there in COBOL-

II?

Answer: 5

Entered on: September 02, 1998

Submitted by: devi charan

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: which is the most widely used batch performance

monitor for DB2?

Answer: DB2PM
Entered on: September 02, 1998
Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, Easytrieve.

Question: What is QSAM error usually when it is occurs?

Answer: Usually it is occurs at the time of job submission.

Entered on: August 31, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: jcl

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.

Entered on: August 24, 1998

Submitted by: DEEPAK

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: jcl,cobol etc

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.

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: Satya Kumar
Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: In which table PLAN is registered in ?

Answer: RCT

Entered on: August 13, 1998

Submitted by: Alex

Topic: JCL, COBOL, DB2

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
Entered on: August 11, 1998
Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: what is jcl

Answer: it is used to commmunicate between the terminals.

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL

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

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: raghu

Topic: JCL

Question: How many Instream-Procedures(procs) can be

Coded in a single Job?

Answer: The Answer is: 15

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: NAKIRIKANTI

Topic: JCL

Question: FOR HOW LONG A JOB CAN BE EXECUTED

CONTINUEOUSLY IN A MAINFRAME

Answer: 248 DAYS

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: How may divisions are there in JCL-COBOL?

Answer: SIX

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: ARJUN RAO V

Topic: JCL

Question: MAX. NO OF DD STATEMENTS IN A JOB

Answer: 3273

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: SARADHI V

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MUCH SPACE OS ALLOCATES WHEN

YOU CREATE A PS OR PDS?

Answer: 56 KB

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: SRINIVAS RAO N

Topic: JCL

Question: MIN NO OF DATASET NAMES(PDS) IN ONE

DIRECTORY BLOCK?

Answer: SIX

Entered on: August 06, 1998

Submitted by: S.SundaraRaman

Topic: JCL

Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STEPS IN A

JOB?

Answer: 255

Entered on: July 22, 1998

Submitted by: Manoj Loy Pinto
Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: July 22, 1998

Submitted by: Manoj Loy Pinto

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: Corrections in the answers.

Answer: I think the answer for the question by Kyati on

march 19/1998 about Maximum number of extents in
secondary allocation is 16 & not one.I think there is a
missing Diposition parameter for the question by Anon on
march 11\1998-- Please add PASS.

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: Shravan K Miryala

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is DSNDB06 ?

Answer: This is the Place where DB2 Catalog resides

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the use of DSNDB07 ?

Answer: This is the area where sorting takes place in DB2

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: V.Rajkumar

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.cobol

Question: What is the purpose of Identification Division?

Answer: Documentation.

Entered on: July 06, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What is JCL?

Answer: job control language

Entered on: July 03, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: WHAT IS DATACOM DB?

Answer: IT IS A DATABASE USED WITH VSE.

Entered on: May 29, 1998

Submitted by: Siddharth Mahodaya

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a Dummy Utility and what it does ?

Answer: IEFBR14 is a Dummy utility and it is used for the

sakeof EXEC PGM= .... statment in JCL[when used it
wouldn't perform any task]. e.g. While Allocating a
datasetyou don't have to run any utility [this could be done
by giving disp=new inDD statment]. But for a PGM name
must be given in EXEC statment, it is used.

Entered on: May 27, 1998

Submitted by: Thomas

Topic: JCL

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 blocksize must be
listed first.

Entered on: May 21, 1998

Submitted by: Kathy

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: May 20, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the difference between IEBGENER,

IEBCOPY and REPRO in IDCAMS utlity?

Answer: IEBGENER -- This is a dataset utility for copying

sequential datasets which produces a PDS or a member
from a sequntial dataset.IEBCOPY -- This is a dataset
utility for copying one PDS to another or to merge
PDSs.REPRO -- This is for copying sequential datasets.
More or less same as the IEBGENER.RAVI

Entered on: May 08, 1998

Submitted by: Bipin Shah

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: May 07, 1998

Submitted by: Siddharth Mahodaya
Topic: JCL, COBOL

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.

Entered on: April 28, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the difference betebeen static call &

Dynamic call

Answer: In the case of Static call, the called program is a

stand alog 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

Entered on: April 15, 1998

Submitted by: siddharth

Topic: JCL

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
cataloge procedures. Cataloged procedure is cataloged on
the procedure library and is called by specifying the
procedure name on the EXEC statement.

Entered on: April 15, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: March 23, 1998

Submitted by: sivakumar

Topic: JCL

Question: can we browse or edit the GDG dataset if it is a

tape entry?

Answer: No ,

Entered on: March 15, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL

Question: What are the maximum and minimum sizes of

any CONTROL AREA (VSAM datasets) ?

Answer: Minimum Size : 1 trackMaximum size : 1 cylinder

Entered on: March 11, 1998

Submitted by: KANNAN

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW TO GET CURSOR POSITION FROM

SYSTEM IN CICS ENVIRONMENT ?

Answer: GET IT FROM EIBCURPOS !

Entered on: March 11, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: How many parameters are there to a DISP

statement and what are thier 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).

Entered on: March 08, 1998

Submitted by: ilakkumi

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the error code SOC01 indicate ?

Answer: Operation exception error For eg a dataset open

error

Entered on: March 04, 1998

Submitted by: Sugata

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.COBOL

Question: WHAT IS COMM?

Answer: COMM - HALF WORD BINARY

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.
 Entered on: February 27, 1998
Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What are the three basic types of statements in a

jobstream?

Answer: JOB(one per jobstream)EXEC(one or more per

job)DD(one or more per jobstep)

Entered on: February 26, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: February 25, 1998

Submitted by: Mike

Topic: JCL

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).

To TOP

View: [JCL] [COBOL] [CICS] [DB2] [VSAM] [IMS]

[Misc.]
Interview Q&As for JCL

If you see any answers to questions that you

know are wrong, please send email to
[email protected], so we can remove or
correct them. Thanks for your help. Please use
this ONLY for Interview Questions and Answers.
If you are looking for help and want to aska
question, use the Message Board. Other users
will help you there.

View: [JCL] [COBOL] [CICS] [DB2] [VSAM]

[IMS] [Misc.]

Add a new Question and Answer.

Entered on: January 12, 2000

Submitted by: J

Topic: JCL

Question: Can you execute a PROC from

another PROC? (Entered on: November 27, 1999
by lugo)

Answer: Nesting is allowed. I think upto 15

levels. Please check out.

Entered on: December 27, 1999

Submitted by: Adrian

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a DD statement?

Answer: Data Definition

Entered on: November 27, 1999

Submitted by: lugo

Topic: JCL

Question: Can you execute a PROC from

another PROC?

Answer: I did not know the answer and my

interviewer said NO. Later I tried and executed
PROC from a PROC, three levels deep. Manuals
do not state any limit on PROC calling PROC, or
nesting.

Entered on: October 27, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: what is dd statement

Answer: lkjkj

Entered on: October 27, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: what is dd statement

Answer: ddd

Entered on: October 04, 1999

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What will happen if you attempt to

restart a job in the middle of a JCL // IF .... //
ENDIF?

Answer: Job will fall through to the ENDIF (not

executing any steps), then resume execution with
the first step AFTER the // ENDIF.

Entered on: July 20, 1999

Submitted by: H-BOMB

Topic: JCL

Question: WHAT IS A FILE?

Answer: A FILE IS A COLLECTIVE GROUP

OF RECORDS. THE NUMBER OF RECORDS
ON A FILE DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE
APPLICATION ASSOCIATAD WITH THE
FILE. FILES MAY CONTAIN A FEW
RECORDS, THOUSANDS, OR EVEN
MILLIONS OF RECORDS.

Entered on: July 20, 1999

Submitted by: HBOMB

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MANY POSITONAL

PARAMETERS ARE THERE IN
JOBSTATEMENT?

Answer: THER ARE TWO POSITION

PARAMETERS IN JOB STATEMENT.

Entered on: June 25, 1999

Submitted by: Kaushal

Topic: JCL

Question: What are three parameters you can

specify on Job statement as well as on exec stmt ?

Answer: Time , Region and Cond parameters

Entered on: June 09, 1999

Submitted by: Geetha Velu

Topic: JCL

Question: How can you trap abends in the JCL?

Answer: Use IF ABEND statement in the JCL.

Entered on: June 09, 1999

Submitted by: Geetha Velu

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you restart a step in JCl?

Answer: Use RESTART=step name.

Entered on: May 31, 1999

Submitted by: bala s bandla

Topic: JCL

Question: how do you pass parameters to tne

program as the job is being executed ?

Answer: by using 'parm' parameter in exec

statement. the value mentioned here should be
declared in linkage section in the program and
process thru procedure division. this technique is
very useful when you do not know the parametrs
at the time of coding the programs.

Entered on: May 06, 1999

Submitted by: Srinivasan Gogula

Topic: JCL

Question: Why do you use a controlcard?

Answer: A controlcard can be a member of a pds

or a sequential dataset and is used for storing the
date fields, Definitions of VSAM files....etc. You
use controlcard because you cannot use a
instream procedure in a procedure.Generally
you will be calling a Proc from your Jcl and you
cannot code instream procedure in the Proc and
so you will point to the dataset which is called
controlcard.

Entered on: May 06, 1999

Submitted by: Visveish R

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you submit JCL via a Cobol

program? For the above question the solution is
as follows..

Answer: In your JCL define as//JOBA JOB

1111,JOB1//STEP01 EXEC
PGM=PROG1//ddname DD
SYSOUT=(*,INTRDR)....and your
COBOL(PROG1) should look like thisSELECT
JCL-FILE ASSIGN TO ddname.Open this file
and write the JCL statements into this
file.Example.MOVE '//TESTJOB JOB
1111,VISVEISH' TO JCL-REC.MOVE
'//STEP01 EXEC PGM=IEFBR14' TO JCL-
REC.and close this file.Then TESTJOB will be
submitted.

Entered on: April 28, 1999

Submitted by: HR

Topic: JCL

Question: How do you submit a JCL under CICS

environment ?

Answer: pass all the jcl codes to a COBOL

variable(should be declare using OCCURS clas)
and the write the line one by one to the spool
using CICS commands like SPOOLClose
SPOOLOpen SPOOLWrite . For more help
reffer CECI of CICS or CICS manual

Entered on: March 30, 1999

Submitted by: kalyan

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the parameter to be passed in

the job card for the unlimited time , irrespective
of the job class

Answer: TIME=1440

Entered on: January 28, 1999

Submitted by: Tracy

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: January 25, 1999

Submitted by: SARADA VEMURI

Topic: JCL

Question: Q) WHAT IS MEANT BY S07C AND

S0C30 SYSTEM ABEND CODES(QUESTION
ASKED BY Mr. PRAVEEN)?

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.S0C 30 - I have never heard of it, let
you know if I come accross it.

Entered on: January 21, 1999

Submitted by: sarada vemuri

Topic: JCL

Question: How to pass the temp dataset form one

JOB step to another?

Answer: By specifying the DISP as PASS for the

temp dataset

Entered on: December 17, 1998

Submitted by: upender

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a COND parameter in JCL?

Answer: COND means condition parameter. It is

compared with systemreturn 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 isless than 4.
Entered on: October 28, 1998
Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI. SAN JOSE,
CA

Topic: JCL.

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)

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI. SAN JOSE,
CA.

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MANY TYPES OF

LIBRARIES ARE THERE IN JCL ?

Answer: LIBRARIES ARE OF THREE

TYPES.1.SYTEM LIBRARIES: SUCH AS
SYS1.LINKLIB2.PRIVATE LIBRARIES:
SPECIFIED IN A JOBLIB OR STEPLIB DD
STATEMENTS.3.TEMPORARY
LIBRARIES:CREATED IN A PREVIOUS
STEP OF THE JOB.

Entered on: October 28, 1998

Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI ,SAN JOSE.
CA

Topic: JCL

Question: WHAT U MEAN 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.
Entered on: October 28, 1998
Submitted by: MOHAMED RAFI,SAN JOSE

Topic: JCL

Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF IN-

STREAM PROCEDURE YOU CAN CODE IN
ANY JCL IS ?

Answer: 15.

Entered on: October 27, 1998

Submitted by: Vijay

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What you mean by skeleton JCl?

Answer: Jcl which changes during run time ie

the values for the jcl such as pgm name ,dd name
will change .ie same jcl can be used for various
job, equvalent to dynamic sql...

Entered on: October 20, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, CICS etc.,

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....

Entered on: October 12, 1998

Submitted by: Ramesh

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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

Entered on: September 22, 1998

Submitted by: Malayarasan Chelliah

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the max blocksize for a Tape

file?

Answer: It is 32,760.Based on that we can

calculate effecient number of Records in a Block

Entered on: September 21, 1998

Submitted by: Aurobindo K.S.
([email protected])

Topic: JCL

Question: What are the basic JCL Statements for

a Job?

Answer: 1.JOB : Idenfies 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.

Entered on: September 18, 1998

Submitted by: Courtney

Topic: JCL

Question: What does the statements:

typrun=scan and typrun=hold doin a JCL
statement

Answer: typrun=scan checks the JCL for errors,

typrun=hold holdsthe job until further notice.

Entered on: September 17, 1998

Submitted by: Usha

Topic: JCL, CICS

Question: Which of the following is Online

transaction? CICS, DB2 and JCl

Answer: CICS

Entered on: September 15, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: How many PERFORM's are there in

COBOL-II?

Answer: 5

Entered on: September 02, 1998

Submitted by: devi charan

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: which is the most widely used batch

performance monitor for DB2?

Answer: DB2PM

Entered on: September 02, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, Easytrieve.

Question: What is QSAM error usually when it is

occurs?

Answer: Usually it is occurs at the time of job

submission.

Entered on: August 31, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]
Topic: jcl

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.

Entered on: August 24, 1998

Submitted by: DEEPAK

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: jcl,cobol etc

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.

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: Satya Kumar

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: August 18, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: In which table PLAN is registered in ?

Answer: RCT

Entered on: August 13, 1998

Submitted by: Alex

Topic: JCL, COBOL, DB2

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

Entered on: August 11, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]
Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: what is jcl

Answer: it is used to commmunicate between the

terminals.

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]

Topic: JCL

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

Entered on: August 10, 1998

Submitted by: raghu

Topic: JCL

Question: How many Instream-

Procedures(procs) can be Coded in a single Job?

Answer: The Answer is: 15

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: NAKIRIKANTI

Topic: JCL

Question: FOR HOW LONG A JOB CAN BE

EXECUTED CONTINUEOUSLY IN A
MAINFRAME

Answer: 248 DAYS

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]
Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: How may divisions are there in JCL-

COBOL?

Answer: SIX

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: ARJUN RAO V

Topic: JCL

Question: MAX. NO OF DD STATEMENTS IN

A JOB

Answer: 3273

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: SARADHI V

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW MUCH SPACE OS

ALLOCATES WHEN YOU CREATE A PS OR
PDS?

Answer: 56 KB

Entered on: August 09, 1998

Submitted by: SRINIVAS RAO N

Topic: JCL

Question: MIN NO OF DATASET

NAMES(PDS) IN ONE DIRECTORY BLOCK?

Answer: SIX

Entered on: August 06, 1998

Submitted by: S.SundaraRaman

Topic: JCL

Question: THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF

STEPS IN A JOB?

Answer: 255

Entered on: July 22, 1998

Submitted by: Manoj Loy Pinto

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: July 22, 1998

Submitted by: Manoj Loy Pinto

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: Corrections in the answers.

Answer: I think the answer for the question by

Kyati on march 19/1998 about Maximum
number of extents in secondary allocation is 16 &
not one.I think there is a missing Diposition
parameter for the question by Anon on march
11\1998-- Please add PASS.

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: Shravan K Miryala

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is DSNDB06 ?

Answer: This is the Place where DB2 Catalog

resides

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: Anon
Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the use of DSNDB07 ?

Answer: This is the area where sorting takes

place in DB2

Entered on: July 16, 1998

Submitted by: V.Rajkumar

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.cobol

Question: What is the purpose of Identification

Division?

Answer: Documentation.

Entered on: July 06, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What is JCL?

Answer: job control language

Entered on: July 03, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: WHAT IS DATACOM DB?

Answer: IT IS A DATABASE USED WITH

VSE.

Entered on: May 29, 1998

Submitted by: Siddharth Mahodaya

Topic: JCL

Question: What is a Dummy Utility and what it

does ?

Answer: IEFBR14 is a Dummy utility and it is

used for the sakeof EXEC PGM= .... statment in
JCL[when used it wouldn't perform any task].
e.g. While Allocating a datasetyou don't have to
run any utility [this could be done by giving
disp=new inDD statment]. But for a PGM name
must be given in EXEC statment, it is used.

Entered on: May 27, 1998

Submitted by: Thomas

Topic: JCL

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 blocksize must be listed first.

Entered on: May 21, 1998

Submitted by: Kathy

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: May 20, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What is the difference between

IEBGENER, IEBCOPY and REPRO in
IDCAMS utlity?

Answer: IEBGENER -- This is a dataset utility

for copying sequential datasets which produces a
PDS or a member from a sequntial
dataset.IEBCOPY -- This is a dataset utility for
copying one PDS to another or to merge
PDSs.REPRO -- This is for copying sequential
datasets. More or less same as the
IEBGENER.RAVI

Entered on: May 08, 1998

Submitted by: Bipin Shah

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: May 07, 1998

Submitted by: Siddharth Mahodaya

Topic: JCL, COBOL

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.

Entered on: April 28, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the difference betebeen static

call & Dynamic call

Answer: In the case of Static call, the called

program is a stand alog 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

Entered on: April 15, 1998

Submitted by: siddharth

Topic: JCL

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 cataloge
procedures. Cataloged procedure is cataloged on
the procedure library and is called by specifying
the procedure name on the EXEC statement.

Entered on: April 15, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

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.

Entered on: March 23, 1998

Submitted by: sivakumar

Topic: JCL

Question: can we browse or edit the GDG dataset

if it is a tape entry?

Answer: No ,

Entered on: March 15, 1998

Submitted by: [email protected]
Topic: JCL

Question: What are the maximum and minimum

sizes of any CONTROL AREA (VSAM
datasets) ?

Answer: Minimum Size : 1 trackMaximum size :

1 cylinder

Entered on: March 11, 1998

Submitted by: KANNAN

Topic: JCL

Question: HOW TO GET CURSOR POSITION

FROM SYSTEM IN CICS ENVIRONMENT ?

Answer: GET IT FROM EIBCURPOS !

Entered on: March 11, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: How many parameters are there to a

DISP statement and what are thier 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).

Entered on: March 08, 1998

Submitted by: ilakkumi

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.

Question: What is the error code SOC01 indicate

?

Answer: Operation exception error For eg a

dataset open error

Entered on: March 04, 1998

Submitted by: Sugata

Topic: JCL, COBOL, etc.COBOL

Question: WHAT IS COMM?

Answer: COMM - HALF WORD BINARY

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: February 27, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

Question: What are the three basic types of

statements in a jobstream?

Answer: JOB(one per jobstream)EXEC(one or

more per job)DD(one or more per jobstep)

Entered on: February 26, 1998

Submitted by: Anon

Topic: JCL

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.

Entered on: February 25, 1998

Submitted by: Mike

Topic: JCL

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).

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