Clem:
In the early 80's we had looked at JOL and came away with mixed
feelings about it.
I see it has been kept up to date (and thats good).
Maybe in a few years we will look at it again when our plate is not
to full.
Thanks.
Ed
On Nov 13, 2013, at 9:57 PM, Clem Clarke wrote:
There has been much discussion about JCL and how enhance it. There
is a program that does much of what you require in an enhanced or
next generation JCL. And it can be enhanced to add other facilities
relatively easily.
It is available NOW, and is called Jol.
You can read about it here: http://www.Oscar-Jol.com
Not only does it run on Z/OS - there is a version that runs on
Windows, and the Linux version is in Beta Test. The non-Z/OS
versions can either run jobs on the mainframe, or act as a "Shell"
to run jobs on their own Operating Systems.
* It uses a free format language similar to PL/I.
* It uses Upper and Lower Case and automatically converts text to
upper case where necessary.
* It has Symbolic Variable Test and Replacement with functions such
as SUBSTR.
* It has Pre-initialised variables such as the current DAY, MONTH
and so on.
* It has a simple PANEL instruction that allows the EASY creation
of Full Screen Data Entry Panels such as you see on the main page
of the Jol Website above. This has Menu Bars and Pulldowns on a
standard 3270 screen.
* It allows Symbolic Parameters or Variables to replaced in CARD
files so that control cards can be generated.
* It can handle Parameters up to 3,000 characters.
* It has a Job Network Facility built in.
* It has a Job Scheduling Facility built in.
* It can run jobs directly under TSO using Dynamic Allocation, or
in Background.
* It contains an open-ended Macro Language so that the language can
be extended and new commands added.
* It has builtin READ and WRITE instructions to Standard OS Data Sets.
* It has a builtin Data Base of Data Set Attributes so that all
Data Set Definitions can be controlled centrally.
* and much more.
You can read about it at the main website: http://www.Oscar-
Jol.com. You see the Concepts and Facilities Manual, the
Instruction Manual, and even download the Z/OS version of Jol.
Incidentally, IBM has been aware of this program for years, and
nearly included it in Z/OS until contractual problems occurred with
our American Distributors. So, perhaps asking IBM to rethink their
position would be something to do so that you can enjoy an Open
Ended, fully extensible, easy to use language - one that makes Z/OS
about as easy to use as Windows, and may even help IBM sell more
mainframe machines.
Clement Victor Clarke
Author of the next generation JCL - Jol.
Tel +61401 054 155
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