JCL Overriding Datasets & Parameters

Overriding parameters is a technique that allows us to replace the coded parameter values temporarily. This technique is mainly used to replace the parameter values coded in the PROC from the calling JCL. This way, we can modify all parameter values without changing the actual PROC.

The overriding parameters can be coded with the EXEC statement at the step level. This is useful when running the same job with different input or output datasets without changing the PROC.

Overriding parameter can be done in 3 ways -

• Replacing existing parameter.
• Adding new parameter.
• Nullify existing parameters.

Replacing existing parameter -

This overriding type replaces the existing parameter, which is already coded in PROC.

Syntax -

//STEPname EXEC proc-name,modifying-parameter1,
//              modifying-parameter2,..

//PROC   proc-name

Examples -

PROC - Let us assume the PROC is calling in all steps.

//MTHPROC PROC
//STEP01  EXEC PGM=PROG1,COND=EVEN
//STEPLIB DD   DSN=MATEPK.COBOL.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR
//INPUT   DD   DSN=MATEPK.INPUT.OLDPS,DISP=SHR

PROG1 runs using MATEPK.INPUT.NEWPS as input.

Scenario1 - Changing the dataset name.

JCL -

//STEPPR  EXEC MTHPROC
//STEP01.INPUT   DD   DSN=MATEPK.INPUT.NEWPS,DISP=SHR

Adding new parameter -

This type of overriding adds the parameter to the statement that is not already coded in PROC.

Syntax -

//STEPname EXEC proc-name,new-parameter1,
//              new-parameter2,..

//PROC   proc-name

Examples -

Scenario1 - Adding new DSNTYPE.

JCL -

//STEP01  EXEC PROC=MTHPROC
//STEP01.INPUT   DD   DSNTYPE=LARGE

PROC -

//MTHPROC PROC
//STEP01  EXEC PGM=PROG1
//INPUT   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEFBR14.PSFILE,
//           DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//           SPACE=(TRK,(3,2),RLSE),
//           UNIT=SYSDA,VOLUME=SER=DEVHD4,
//           DCB=(DSORG=PS,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800)

MATEPK.IEFBR14.PSFILE creates with DSNTYPE parameter which is not coded in PROC.

Nullify existing parameters -

This type of overriding deletes the existing parameter that is already coded in PROC.

Syntax -

//STEPname EXEC proc-name
//STEPname.DDname   DD parameter1,parameter2,..

//PROC   proc-name

Examples -

Scenario -Nullify DSNTYPE.

JCL -

//STEP01  EXEC PROC=MTHPROC
//STEP01.INPUT   DD  DSNTYPE= 

PROC -

//MTHPROC PROC
//STEP01  EXEC PGM=PROG1
//INPUT   DD DSN=MATEPK.IEFBR14.PSFILE,
//           DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
//           SPACE=(TRK,(3,2),RLSE),
//           UNIT=SYSDA,VOLUME=SER=DEVHD4,
//           DCB=(DSORG=PS,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800),
//           DSNTYPE=LARGE

MATEPK.IEFBR14.PSFILE creates with DSNTYPE parameter as empty.

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