JCL Xpander

JCL Xpander is a z/OS utility designed to display JCL as it would appear at runtime, expanding JCL PROCs and symbols. The architecture consists of a main processing module that reads JCL, expands PROCs and symbols, and generates a report. The components communicate through internal subroutine calls and data structures within the z/OS environment.

Configuration files, which are standard z/OS datasets, are used to define symbol libraries and other parameters. JCL Xpander integrates with existing JCL workflows by incorporating JCL Xpander steps into the process. It operates within the security context of z/OS, leveraging existing security mechanisms for access control and authorization.

Key features include the ability to process complex JCL structures, including nested PROCs and conditional logic. JCL Xpander generates standard z/OS SMF records, which can be used for auditing and monitoring. These records provide information about JCL expansion activities and can be analyzed using standard z/OS reporting tools.

Unlike some competing products that offer broader JCL management capabilities, JCL Xpander focuses specifically on JCL expansion, providing a targeted solution for understanding JCL execution. This targeted approach allows for a more streamlined and efficient JCL analysis process. The utility does not expose APIs; it operates as a batch utility, processing JCL input and generating reports.