Hi there!

Today we’re going to learn a bit more about data sets. This will be a somewhat longer challenge, but hey, what has to be done has to be done. That’s a fully correct English sentence.

Data Sets

IBM Master the Mainframe Part Two – Challenge #07

Create a data set using JCL DD parameter provided by local storage administrator

Again, for starters we need to allocate a new data set using a series of commands. I will list them here for quick completion.

• tso submit ‘zos.public.jcl(p2ch7a)’ as primary command.
• a as jobname character.

1. sd as primary command.
2. prefix ; owner Z50087; st; as primary command, change my ID it to your ID.
3. f3 to return to the ISPF Primary Option Menu.

View attributes of newly created data set

1. dslist p2ch7.seq1 as primary command.
2. v as line command next to the DDNAME, press enter if the VIEW ENTRY PANEL pops up.

Now we see the following data. Make a note of the LRECL, RECFM, and DSORG values. The values are needed to complete the challenge.

I took note of these values, did you?

Modify JCL to create a sequential data set using attributes you specify

Again we need a series of commands to get to the JCL we need to modify.

• dslist JCL as primary command.
• e as line command next to the data set name.
• s p2ch7b as primary command to create a new member inside JCL.
•  copy ‘zos.public.jcl(p2ch7b)’ as primary command when you’re inside P2CH7B.

Inside the JCL above we need to change several things. In my case I need to change the following.

• ###### to VPWRKA
• LRECL=80
• RECFM=FB
• DSORG=PS

I have made the changes, I have also highlighted them on the screenshot above. Submit it using sub ; =sd ; st and if it asks for a jobname character choose b.

Complete the challenge by creating member #07 into your P2.OUTPUT data set

Again a series of commands.

• tso submit ‘zos.public.jcl(p2ch7c)’ as primary command.
• c as jobname character.
• dslist p2.output as primary command.
• v as line command next to P2.OUTPUT, press enter if the view panel comes up.
• s as line command next to member #07 to see if the output is there.

P2CH7.SEQ1 and P2CH7.SEQ2 are present in this list. This means I have completed the challenge correctly!