February 23, 2006

More Efficient Processes for Recalling and Scratching Data Sets

The Titan Batch Processing manual has been updated to include more efficient methods for two tasks, recalling data sets and scratching data sets.

Recalling Data Sets

The IBM utility IKJEFT01 is now the recommended utility for recalling data sets. IKJEFT01 is the TSO Terminal Monitor Program and can be used to issue TSO commands. It can recall data sets using HSM recall commands. It is quick and efficient because it allows HSM to queue the requests, thus avoiding multiple mounts of the same tape. Up to 15 requests are executed simultaneously, which makes execution that much faster. This procedure is described in Section 4.9.1 of the Titan Batch Processing manual.

The format for issuing TSO commands through IKJEFT01 is the same as it is in an interactive TSO session. The TSO convention governing the use of single quotes around data set names applies here as well. That is, a data set name enclosed in single quotes will be processed as entered, but a data set name not enclosed in single quotes will automatically have the userid under which the job is run added as a prefix before processing.

Example


//STEP1     EXEC PGM=IKJEFT01,REGION=4M
//SYSTSPRT     DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSUDUMP     DD SYSOUT=*
//*
//SYSTSIN     DD *
HRECALL   'userid.dsn1'  NOWAIT
HRECALL   'userid.dsn2'   NOWAIT
HRECALL   'userid.dsn3'   NOWAIT
HRECALL   'userid.dsn4'   NOWAIT
/*

Scratching Data Sets

The manual now explains how to use the IBM utility IDCAMS for scratching one or more sequential data sets, PDSs, or VSAM data sets on disk. If the data set is cataloged, scratching it will result in the data set being uncataloged. IDCAMS is quick and efficient because it avoids recalling migrated data sets. If the data set exists and the program executes successfully, you will see the return code 0. If you see any other return code, you should examine the error messages. This procedure is described in Section 4.11.3 of the Titan Batch Processing manual.

The following example scratches a cataloged data set.

Example


//stepname   EXEC   PGM=IDCAMS
//SYSPRINT DD     SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN       DD     *
Delete userid.dsn1
Delete userid.dsn2
Delete userid.dsn3
Delete userid.dsn4
.
.
.
Delete userid.dsn999

How to Get a Copy

The Titan Batch Processing manual is available from CIT. On the CIT publications Web page, click on the link for "Batch Processing and JCL" under the category "z/OS Systems" or follow this link. The manual can be viewed online as a PDF or printed to the central printers. If you click the question mark next to the name of the manual, you will see the date, number of pages, and estimated printing charge. The charge is waived for the first printing of a new version.

Need Help?

If you need help ordering CIT publications, call the NIH Help Desk at (301) 496-4357.

Check the Date

The Titan Batch Processing manual is updated frequently, so check the date on your printed edition. The current version is dated February 2, 2006.