ICETOOL JCL Setup

Required DDs for Every ICETOOL Step

These three DDs are required regardless of which operators you use:

TOOLIN: Operator Statements

TOOLIN can be in-stream (DD *) or a cataloged dataset. In-stream is common for small jobs:

1
2
3
4
5
//TOOLIN   DD *
  COPY FROM(INDD) TO(OUTDD)
  COUNT FROM(INDD) USING(CTL1)
/*
 

The lines between DD * and /* are the operator list. Continuation is with a hyphen at end of line. Blanks and lines starting with * (comment) are allowed.

USING and the xxxxCNTL DD

When an operator specifies USING(prefix), ICETOOL looks for a DD named prefix + CNTL. So USING(CTL1) requires CTL1CNTL. That DD holds the DFSORT control statements (SORT FIELDS=, INCLUDE, OUTREC, etc.) for that operation. You can use in-stream or a PDS member:

1
2
3
4
//CTL1CNTL DD *
  INCLUDE COND=(60,2,CH,EQ,C'IN')
/*
//CTL2CNTL DD DSN=MY.PROCS(SORT1),DISP=SHR

Input and Output DDs

Each operator that uses FROM(indd) needs that DD allocated. Each operator that uses TO(outdd) needs that DD. Names are arbitrary: FROM(MYIN) and TO(MYOUT) require MYIN and MYOUT. Allocate them with the usual DISP, SPACE, DCB (or DSN for existing datasets).

Complete Example

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
//STEP01   EXEC PGM=ICETOOL
//TOOLMSG  DD SYSOUT=*
//DFSMSG   DD SYSOUT=*
//INDD     DD DSN=MY.INPUT,DISP=SHR
//OUTDD    DD DSN=MY.OUTPUT,DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//            SPACE=(CYL,(2,1)),DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=27920)
//TOOLIN   DD *
  SORT FROM(INDD) TO(OUTDD) USING(CTL1)
/*
//CTL1CNTL DD *
  SORT FIELDS=(1,20,CH,A)
  OUTREC FIELDS=(1,80)
/*

TOOLMSG and DFSMSG are required. INDD and OUTDD are used by SORT. CTL1CNTL holds the SORT FIELDS and OUTREC. The step runs one SORT operation.

Explain It Like I'm Five

JCL is like a checklist for the system. “Run ICETOOL” (EXEC). “Here’s where to put your messages” (TOOLMSG, DFSMSG). “Here’s the list of jobs to do” (TOOLIN). “Here’s the extra instructions for job 1” (CTL1CNTL). “Here’s the input box” (INDD) “and the output box” (OUTDD). If you forget the list (TOOLIN) or the message place (TOOLMSG/DFSMSG), the helper (ICETOOL) can’t run or can’t tell you what happened.

Exercises

1. Write the JCL for an ICETOOL step that runs COUNT FROM(INDD) USING(CTL1). Include TOOLMSG, DFSMSG, TOOLIN, INDD, and CTL1CNTL.
2. What DD name must you allocate if you code USING(MYCTL)?
3. Why might the step fail with return code 20 if TOOLMSG is missing?