JCL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is primary allocation for a dataset?

The space allocated when the dataset is first created.

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary allocations for a dataset?

Secondary allocation is done when more space is required than what has already
been allocated.

3.How many extents are possible for a sequential file ? For a VSAM file ?

16 extents on a volume for a sequential file and 123 for a VSAM file.

4. What does a disposition of (NEW,CATLG,DELETE) mean?

That this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated, to CATLG the dataset if the
step is successful and to delete the dataset if the step abends.

5. What does a disposition of (NEW,CATLG,KEEP) mean?

That this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated, to CATLG the dataset if the
step is successful and to KEEP but not CATLG the dataset if the step abends. Thus if
the step abends, the dataset would not be catalogued and we would need to supply
the vol. ser the next time we refer to it.

6. How do you access a file that had a disposition of KEEP?

Need to supply volume serial no. VOL=SER=xxxx.

7. What does a disposition of (MOD,DELETE,DELETE) mean ?

The MOD will cause the dataset to be created (if it does not exist), and then the two
DELETEs will cause the dataset to be deleted whether the step abends or not. This
disposition is used to clear out a dataset at the beginning of a job.

8. What is the DD statement for a output file?

Unless allocated earlier, will have the foll parameters: DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),

UNIT , SPACE & DCB .

9. What do you do if you do not want to keep all the space allocated to a dataset?

Specify the parameter RLSE ( release ) in the SPACE e.g. SPACE=(CYL,(50,50),RLSE)

10. What is DISP=(NEW,PASS,DELETE)?

This is a new file and create it, if the step terminates normally, pass it to the
subsequent steps and if step abends, delete it. This dataset will not exist beyond
the JCL.

11. How do you create a temporary dataset? Where will you use them?

Temporary datasets can be created either by not specifying any DSNAME or by

specifying the temporary file indicator as in DSN=&&TEMP.

We use them to carry the output of one step to another step in the same job. The
dataset will not be retained once the job completes.

12. How do you restart a proc from a particular step?

In job card, specify RESTART=procstep.stepname

where procstep = name of the jcl step that invoked the proc

and stepname = name of the proc step where you want execution to start

13. How do you skip a particular step in a proc/JOB?

Can use either condition codes or use the jcl control statement IF (only in ESA JCL)

13a. A PROC has five steps. Step 3 has a condition code. How can you
override/nullify this condition code?

Provide the override on the EXEC stmt in the JCL as follows:

//STEP001 EXEC procname,COND.stepname=value

All parameters on an EXEC stmt in the proc such as COND, PARM have to be
overridden like this.

14. How do you override a specific DDNAME/SYSIN in PROC from a JCL?

//<stepname.dd> DSN=...

15. What is NOTCAT 2 ?

This is an MVS message indicating that a duplicate catalog entry exists. E.g., if you
already have a dataset with dsn = ‘xxxx.yyyy’ and u try to create one with disp
new,catlg, you would get this error. the program open and write would go through
and at the end of the step the system would try to put it in the system catalog. at
this point since an entry already exists the catlg would fail and give this message.
you can fix the problem by deleting/uncataloging the first data set and going to the
volume where the new dataset exists(this info is in the msglog of the job) and
cataloging it.

16. What is 'S0C7' abend?

Caused by invalid data in a numeric field.

17. What is a S0C4 error ?

Storage violation error - can be due to various reasons. e.g.: READING a file that is
not open, invalid address referenced due to subscript error.

18. What are SD37, SB37, SE37 abends?

All indicate dataset out of space. SD37 - no secondary allocation was specified.
SB37 - end of vol. and no further volumes specified. SE37 - Max. of 16 extents
already allocated.

19. What is S322 abend ?

Indicates a time out abend. Your program has taken more CPU time than the default
limit for the job class. Could indicate an infinite loop.

20. Why do you want to specify the REGION parameter in a JCL step?

To override the REGION defined at the JOB card level.

REGION specifies the max region size. REGION=0K or 0M or omitting REGION means
no limit will be applied.

21. What does the TIME parameter signify ? What does TIME=1440 mean ?

TIME parameter can be used to overcome S322 abends for programs that genuinely
need more CPU time. TIME=1440 means no CPU time limit is to be applied to this
step.

22. What is COND=EVEN ?

Means execute this step even if any of the previous steps, terminated abnormally.

23. What is COND=ONLY ?

Means execute this step only if any of the previous steps, terminated abnormally.

24. How do you check the syntax of a JCL without running it?

TYPERUN=SCAN on the JOB card or use JSCAN.

25. What does IEBGENER do?

Used to copy one QSAM file to another. Source dataset should be described using
SYSUT1 ddname. Destination dataset should be decribed using SYSUT2. IEBGENR
can also do some reformatting of data by supplying control cards via SYSIN.
26. How do you send the output of a COBOL program to a member of a PDS?

Code the DSN as pds(member) with a DISP of SHR. The disp applies to the pds and
not to a specific member.

27. I have multiple jobs ( JCLs with several JOB cards ) in a member. What happens if
I submit it?

Multiple jobs are submitted (as many jobs as the number of JOB cards).

28. I have a COBOL program that ACCEPTs some input data. How do you code the
JCL statment for this? ( How do you code instream data in a JCL? )

//SYSIN DD*

input data

input data

/*

29. Can you code instream data in a PROC ?

No.

30. How do you overcome this limitation ?

One way is to code SYSIN DD DUMMY in the PROC, and then override this from the
JCL with instream data.

31. How do you run a COBOL batch program from a JCL? How do you run a
COBOL/DB2 program?

To run a non DB2 program,

//STEP001 EXEC PGM=MYPROG

To run a DB2 program,

//STEP001 EXEC PGM=IKJEFT01

//SYSTSIN DD *

DSN SYSTEM(....)

RUN PROGRAM(MYPROG)

PLAN(.....) LIB(....) PARMS(...)

/*
32. What is STEPLIB, JOBLIB? What is it used for?

Specifies that the private library (or libraries) specified should be searched before
the default system libraries in order to locate a program to be executed.

STEPLIB applies only to the particular step, JOBLIB to all steps in the job.

33. What is order of searching of the libraries in a JCL?

First any private libraries as specified in the STEPLIB or JOBLIB, then the system
libraries such as SYS1.LINKLIB. The system libraries are specified in the linklist.

34. What happens if both JOBLIB & STEPLIB is specified ?

JOBLIB is ignored.

35. When you specify mutiple datasets in a JOBLIB or STEPLIB, what factor
determines the order?

The library with the largest block size should be the first one.

36. How to change default proclib ?

//ABCD JCLLIB ORDER=(ME.MYPROCLIB,SYS1.PROCLIB)

37. The disp in the JCL is MOD and the program opens the file in OUTPUT mode.
What happens ?

The disp in the JCL is SHR and the pgm opens the file in EXTEND mode. What
happens ?

Records will be written to end of file (append) when a WRITE is done in both cases.

38. What are the valid DSORG values ?

PS - QSAM, PO - Partitioned, IS - ISAM

39. What are the differences between JES2 & JES3 ?

JES3 allocates datasets for all the steps before the job is scheduled. In JES2,
allocation of datasets required by a step are done only just before the step
executes.