JOB Statement

Key Characteristics

• * Must be first statement in job (after comments) * Assigns unique jobname (1-8 characters) * Provides accounting and identification * Specifies job-level parameters * Controls job execution characteristics * Required for all batch jobs * Establishes job security context
• Basic Syntax:
• Minimal JOB Statement:

  jcl
  //JOBNAME  JOB

• Standard Format:

  jcl
  //jobname  JOB (accounting-info),'programmer-name',
  //         keyword-parameters

• Complete Example:

  jcl
  //PAYROLL  JOB (ACCT1234,PROJ-A),'JOHN DOE',
  //         CLASS=A,
  //         MSGCLASS=X,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1),
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID,
  //         REGION=4M,
  //         TIME=(,30)

• Jobname Rules:
• Naming Conventions:
  * 1-8 characters maximum * Must start with alphabetic (A-Z) or national (@, #, $) * Remaining characters: alphanumeric or national * No special characters or spaces * Must be unique in the system
• Examples:

  jcl
  //PROD001  JOB ...          Valid
  //PAY2024  JOB ...          Valid
  //@MONTHLY JOB ...          Valid (starts with @)
  //TEST#123 JOB ...          Valid (# is national)
  //1STRUN   JOB ...          Invalid (starts with number)
  //MY-JOB   JOB ...          Invalid (hyphen not allowed)
  //TOOLONGNAME JOB ...       Invalid (9 characters)

• Accounting Information:
• Format:

  jcl
  //JOBNAME  JOB (account,additional-info),'programmer'

• Single Account:

  jcl
  //JOB1     JOB (DEPT123),'DEVELOPER'

• Multiple Accounting Fields:

  jcl
  //JOB2     JOB (ACCT,PROJECT,ROOM,TIME),'PROGRAMMER'

• With Chargeback:

  jcl
  //BILLING  JOB (FIN001,'PROJECT-X','COST-CENTER-500'),
  //         'FINANCE TEAM'

• Programmer Name Field:
• Basic Format:

  jcl
  //JOBNAME  JOB (ACCT),'John Doe'

• Rules:
  * Enclosed in apostrophes * Maximum 20 characters * Can include spaces * Special characters allowed within quotes * Used for identification and notifications
• Examples:

  jcl
  //JOB1     JOB (123),'Smith, J.'
  //JOB2     JOB (456),'Development Team'
  //JOB3     JOB (789),'O''Brien'        O'Brien (doubled apostrophe)

• CLASS Parameter:
  * Assigns job to execution class * Controls scheduling priority * Format: CLASS=x (A-Z, 0-9)

  jcl
  //PRODRUN  JOB (ACCT),'PROGRAMMER',
  //         CLASS=A              Production class
  //TESTRUN  JOB (ACCT),'DEVELOPER',
  //         CLASS=T              Test class

• MSGCLASS Parameter:
  * Directs system messages and JCL listing * Specifies output class * Format: MSGCLASS=x

  jcl
  //JOB1     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         MSGCLASS=X           Hold for viewing
  //JOB2     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         MSGCLASS=A           Print immediately

• MSGLEVEL Parameter:
  * Controls JCL and allocation messages * Format: MSGLEVEL=(statements,messages) * statements: 0, 1, or 2 * messages: 0 or 1

  jcl
  //JOB1     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1)       JCL listing + all messages
  //JOB2     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         MSGLEVEL=(0,0)       Minimal messages
  //JOB3     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         MSGLEVEL=(2,1)       JCL + procedures + all messages

• Values Explained:
  * MSGLEVEL=(0,x): JCL statements only if error * MSGLEVEL=(1,x): Input JCL statements only * MSGLEVEL=(2,x): Input JCL + cataloged procedures * MSGLEVEL=(x,0): Allocation messages only if error * MSGLEVEL=(x,1): All allocation messages
• NOTIFY Parameter:
  * Sends TSO message when job completes * Format: NOTIFY=userid or NOTIFY=&SYSUID

  jcl
  //JOB1     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         NOTIFY=USERID1       Notify specific user
  //JOB2     JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID       Notify submitter

• REGION Parameter:
  * Specifies memory allocation * Format: REGION=nnnK or REGION=nnnM * Default varies by installation

  jcl
  //SMALLJOB JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         REGION=2M            2 megabytes
  //BIGJOB   JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         REGION=128M          128 megabytes
  //MAXJOB   JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         REGION=0M            Maximum available

• TIME Parameter:
  * CPU time limit for entire job * Format: TIME=(minutes,seconds) or TIME=minutes * Prevents runaway jobs

  jcl
  //QUICKJOB JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TIME=(,30)           30 seconds
  //NORMALJB JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TIME=(5,0)           5 minutes
  //LONGJOB  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TIME=60              60 minutes
  //NOLIMIT  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TIME=1440            24 hours (max typical)

• PRTY Parameter:
  * Job priority within class * Range: 0-15 (15=highest) * Works with job class

  jcl
  //HIGHJOB  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         CLASS=A,
  //         PRTY=15              Highest priority
  //LOWJOB   JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         CLASS=B,
  //         PRTY=5               Lower priority

• TYPRUN Parameter:
  * Special job processing * Values: SCAN, HOLD, COPY, JCLHOLD

  jcl
  //SYNTAXCK JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TYPRUN=SCAN          Check syntax only
  //HOLDJOB  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TYPRUN=HOLD          Submit but hold
  //COPYJCL  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TYPRUN=COPY          Copy to output only

• COND Parameter (Job-Level):
  * Applies to all job steps * Format: COND=(code,operator)

  jcl
  //CAUTIOUS JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         COND=(0,NE)          Stop if any RC≠0
  //TOLERANT JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         COND=(8,LT)          Stop if any RC<8

• USER Parameter:
  * Specifies security userid * Overrides submitter's userid * Requires proper authority

  jcl
  //SPECIAL  JOB (ACCT),'ADMIN',
  //         USER=PRODID          Run as PRODID

• PASSWORD Parameter:
  * Job password (legacy) * Rarely used in modern systems

  jcl
  //SECURED  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         PASSWORD=secret

• GROUP and SECLABEL Parameters:
  * RACF security controls * Specify security classifications

  jcl
  //SECURED  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         GROUP=PRODGRP,
  //         SECLABEL=CONFIDENT

• RESTART Parameter:
  * Restart job from specific step * Used for job recovery

  jcl
  //RESTARTJ JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         RESTART=STEP3        Restart at STEP3
  //CKPTREST JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         RESTART=(STEP2,CKPT4) Restart from checkpoint

• PERFORM Parameter:
  * WLM performance group * Assigns service class

  jcl
  //WLMJOB   JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         PERFORM=5            Performance group 5

• Complete JOB Statement Examples:
• Production Job:

  jcl
  //PROD001  JOB (FINANCE,'MONTH-END','ACCT-5000'),
  //         'ACCOUNTING SYSTEM',
  //         CLASS=A,
  //         MSGCLASS=X,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1),
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID,
  //         REGION=64M,
  //         TIME=(30,0),
  //         PRTY=14

• Test/Development Job:

  jcl
  //TEST123  JOB (DEVACCT,'PROJECT-A'),'J. Developer',
  //         CLASS=T,
  //         MSGCLASS=H,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(2,1),
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID,
  //         REGION=8M,
  //         TIME=(,30),
  //         TYPRUN=SCAN

• Long-Running Batch:

  jcl
  //NIGHTLY  JOB (BATCH001,'EOD-PROCESS'),'BATCH SYSTEM',
  //         CLASS=L,
  //         MSGCLASS=A,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1),
  //         NOTIFY=OPERATOR,
  //         REGION=0M,
  //         TIME=1440,
  //         PRTY=12,
  //         PERFORM=1

• Secure Production Job:

  jcl
  //PAYROLL  JOB (HR0001,'PAYROLL','WEEKLY'),
  //         'PAYROLL PROCESSING',
  //         CLASS=A,
  //         MSGCLASS=X,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1),
  //         USER=PAYID,
  //         GROUP=HRGROUP,
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID,
  //         REGION=128M,
  //         TIME=(60,0),
  //         PRTY=15

• JOB Statement Continuation:
• Continuation Rules:
  * Break after comma * Continue on next line with // in columns 1-2 * Continue parameter coding after // * Can span multiple lines
• Example:

  jcl
  //LONGNAME JOB (ACCOUNTING,PROJECT,DEPARTMENT),
  //         'Very Long Programmer Name Here',
  //         CLASS=A,
  //         MSGCLASS=X,
  //         MSGLEVEL=(1,1),
  //         NOTIFY=&SYSUID,
  //         REGION=64M,
  //         TIME=(30,0),
  //         PRTY=10,
  //         TYPRUN=HOLD

• JOB Statement Validation:
• Syntax Checking:

  jcl
  //TESTJOB  JOB (ACCT),'USER',
  //         TYPRUN=SCAN          Only check syntax

• * Missing comma between parameters * Invalid parameter values * Improperly quoted strings * Missing apostrophe closure * Invalid jobname format * Missing required fields
• Error Messages:

  IEF653I SUBSTITUTION JCL - jobname
  JCL ERROR - indicates specific problem
  HASP250 jobname IS PURGED - rejected by JES

• Security Considerations:S
• RACF Integration:
  * Jobname checked against RACF profiles * USER parameter requires SUBMIT authority * Password validation (if used) * Group and security label verification * Accounting field validation
• Best Security Practices:
  * Use GROUP parameter for shared IDs * Implement SECLABEL for classified data * Avoid PASSWORD parameter * Use RACF profiles for job authorization * Audit job submissions * Restrict TYPRUN=COPY usage
• Job Submission Methods:
• Internal Reader:

  jcl
  //SUBMIT   EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
  //SYSUT1   DD *
  //JOBNAME  JOB (ACCT),'USER'
  //STEP1    EXEC PGM=PROG
  /*
  //SYSUT2   DD SYSOUT=(A,INTRDR)
  //SYSIN    DD DUMMY

• TSO SUBMIT Command:

  SUBMIT 'MY.JCL.LIB(JOBNAME)'

• Automated Schedulers:
  * CA-7 * Control-M * TWS (Tivoli Workload Scheduler)
• SDSF Submission:
  * Edit JCL in SDSF * Use SUBMIT command * View in input queue
• Job Tracking and Monitoring:
• JES Job Number:
  * Assigned when job submitted * Format: JOBnnnnn or Jnnnnnnn * Unique identifier for tracking
• Job Status Commands:

  Display jobs:           $DJ
  Display specific job:    $DJ jobname
  Hold job:               $HJ jobname
  Release job:            $AJ jobname
  Cancel job:             $CJ jobname
  Purge job:              $PJ jobname

• SDSF Commands:

  ST              Status of jobs
  DA              Display active jobs
  H               Hold jobs
  O               View output
  ?               Filter display

• Performance and Monitoring:S
• SMF Records:
  * Type 30 records generated * Job start time * Job end time * CPU time used * I/O operations * Memory usage * Job completion code
• Accounting Reports:
  * Resource consumption by job * Chargeback information * Job statistics * Performance metrics * Trend analysis
• Best Practices:
• Naming Conventions:
  * Use meaningful jobnames * Follow site standards * Include date or sequence numbers * Identify application or system * Use consistent patterns
• Documentation:
  * Complete programmer name * Descriptive accounting info * Comment job purpose * Document special requirements * Note scheduling constraints
• Resource Management:
  * Appropriate CLASS assignment * Realistic TIME limits * Proper REGION sizing * Correct PRTY settings * Use NOTIFY for important jobs
• Error Prevention:
  * Use TYPRUN=SCAN for testing * Verify security authorizations * Check dataset availability * Validate parameter values * Test in non-production first
• Operational Efficiency:
  * Use appropriate MSGCLASS * Set MSGLEVEL wisely * Consider PERFORM groups * Plan for restart capability * Document dependencies
• Troubleshooting:S
• Job Not Submitting:
  * Check JCL syntax * Verify security authorization * Check accounting field format * Verify jobname uniqueness * Review system messages
• Job Held in Queue:
  * Check TYPRUN parameter * Verify CLASS availability * Check resource requirements * Review scheduling conflicts * Examine initiator status
• * JCL ERROR: Syntax problem * IEF653I: Substitution occurred * IEF142I: Invalid parameter * IEF450I: JOB statement missing * HASP250: Job purged
• Diagnostic Steps:
  1. Review JES messages 2. Check system log 3. Verify security authorization 4. Examine JCL syntax 5. Test with TYPRUN=SCAN 6. Check resource availability

Use Cases

• Production Processing:
  * Daily business batch jobs * End-of-day processing * Month-end procedures * Payroll processing * Report generation
• Development and Testing:
  * Program compilation jobs * Unit testing * Integration testing * Performance testing * Code deployment
• System Administration:
  * Backup procedures * File maintenance * Database reorganization * System monitoring * Cleanup jobs
• Data Management:
  * ETL processes * Data migration * Archive procedures * Data quality jobs * Report distribution

Related Concepts