Three advanced capabilities are needed to achieve high-quality batch applications within a JCL Management and Testing environment (Figure 1):
- JCL Validation and Run-Time Simulation: Ensures JCL syntax is correctly coded, free from errors and defects.
- JCL Standards Enforcement: Guarantees JCL code adheres to organizational coding and execution standards.
- JCL Editing & Reformatting: Provides editing and reformatting capabilities for local and enterprise-wide JCL changes.
Advanced JCL management solutions offer capabilities far beyond legacy JCL software and should be considered for any JCL upgrade initiative or legacy software replacement project. This blog explores how advanced JCL solutions enhance these essential capabilities, their role in batch management and testing, and how using advanced technologies improves batch application quality.
The Goals of JCL Management
JCL Management is an ongoing process that covers all aspects of batch management to achieve high automation levels and improve the overall quality of your deliverables. Advanced JCL Management solutions provide a framework to ensure your batch assets effectively support IT Service Delivery in a way that legacy JCL software cannot. They enable high-quality batch applications that are defect-free, conform to in-house standards, and allow for easy maintenance.
Using advanced technologies, JCL Management solutions such as SEA’s JCLplus+ modernize JCL workflows and reduce costs.
JCL Validation and Run-Time Simulation
JCL Validation and Run-Time Simulation capabilities detect JCL syntax errors before jobs are released to production. Validation capabilities ensure that JCL syntax is verified.
They detect JCL issues such as:
- Incorrectly specified JCL
- Missing or invalid keywords and parameters
- Incompatible DCB characteristics
- Other errors
Validation can alert users when a dataset or program isn’t found or when a dataset already exists. It can also detect security violations, expand PROCs and INCLUDE groups, ensure all symbolics are resolved, and perform other validation checks.
When considering legacy JCL software replacement, look for solutions that ensure all JCL, JES2/3, and control card statements are validated. Replacement solutions should also support using user-defined rules for standards enforcement.
Further Reading: Modernization Options for IBM Z Batch Development & Testing
JCL Standards Enforcement
JCL Standards Enforcement verifies, reports on, and changes JCL to ensure adherence to site-specific standards. JCL Standards are user-defined rules governing the writing of batch JCL code. They specify the requirements developers should follow when creating JCL programs. Existing JCL should also be regularly evaluated to identify and modify code to align with relevant JCL Standards.
JCL Standards specify critical job requirements, such as:
- Data Set (DSN) qualifiers
- Authorized user IDs
- Job statement parameter values
- Relationships between Job and PROC steps
- DD names
Failure to comply with JCL Standards can lead to syntax errors, run defects, production reruns, and other issues.
JCL Standards Enforcement capabilities can automatically verify, report, and modify non-compliant JCL streams. Additionally, standards enforcement can enable automation and repetitive tasks that can be integrated into various workflows.
Standards enforcement rules can be written in standard mainframe languages like REXX, COBOL, or Assembler. Alternatively, they can be written in proprietary languages like the Standards Enforcement Language (SEL) available with SEA’s JCLplus+ JCL Management solution. Languages like SEL allow for conditional standards checking and structured JCL changes using If-Then-Else logic (Figure 2).
JCL Editing & Reformatting
JCL Editing & Reformatting capabilities provide editing, change, and refurbishment capabilities for local and enterprise-wide JCL changes, even for the most complex JCL streams. Advanced solutions can automate global and targeted JCL changes, ensuring that massive job changes can be efficiently and accurately applied. Some packages offer APIs that allow you to inspect and change any JCL keywords, parameters, and control cards.
JCL reformatting is important for improving readability, consistency, ease of maintenance, facilitating documentation and compliance, and to support automation. Some solutions such as JCLplus+ reformat JCL by using a high-level statement model, which can allow entire JCL libraries to be quickly and easily reformatted. Clearly and consistently formatted JCL is critical to being able to spot errors and omissions that, if left undetected, could be costly. Well-formatted JCL also allows you to understand your Jobs and PROCs at a glance for increased productivity.
Further Reading: The Business Case for ISV Tooling and Z Modernization
User Experiences
Advanced JCL management packages offer user-friendly interfaces that enhance productivity and reduce batch learning curves. Solutions can also support Eclipse-based Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) desktops (Figure 3). They may also support dual-mode interfaces for novice and advanced users.
The Benefits of Advanced JCL Management
Advanced JCL management solutions enable organizations to efficiently manage batch assets and produce high-quality batch applications that are defect-free, compliant with in-house standards, and easily maintainable. Consider upgrading your legacy JCL software to an advanced solution like JCLplus+ to reap these benefits.
For more information on the opportunities and technologies available for IBM Z JCL Management, please contact SEA.
