Planning Jobs

Job Input

Jobs sent to a host system using a physical card reader normally consist of Job Control Language (JCL) and data. These cards are concatenated to form a job stream.

Jobs sent to a host system using NRJE must be constructed as if they would be sent directly to the host using a card reader. However, input through NRJE is in card images instead of physical cards. Card record image sizes must be a minimum of 80 bytes for all supported host job entry subsystems, and can be a maximum size of the following:

You combine records into files. Then you identify to NRJE the files to be sent to the host. You can use the first and last files of the set for routine JCL statements.

When NRJE processes a SUBMIT command, it opens each card reader image file in sequence. Each file is opened, its records are read and then written to a spool file that is submitted to the host. Then the file is closed.

SNA NRJE accepts input from two types of card image files:

FD Files

FD files are similar to Infiles in that they may contain the same kind of information, they are constructed in the same way, and they can be transmitted without translation. They are referenced directly by means of ##FD cards in the Infile. (SeeFigure 2-1 “Relationship Among Files in a Job Stream”).

FD files may reference other FD files. This nesting can be continued up to 20 levels deep. Figure 2-1 “Relationship Among Files in a Job Stream” illustrates the relationships among several card image files that have been merged into a single job stream. The names of the Infiles were indicated by the user when submitting the job. First-level FD files, RED and BLUE, were specified indirectly by means of records—card images—contained in Infile A. Two records within RED point to the two level-two files.

When SNA NRJE processes a SUBMIT command, it opens each Infile named directly in the command, and each FD file as it is referenced. The files are opened with the MPE share and read-only file restrictions. Each file remains open until all of its records have been processed, at which time it is immediately closed.

	NOTE: If an Infile or FD file is kept as a numbered file and the record width is less than 80 bytes, NRJE will transmit the line numbers as part of the data record.

Figure 2-1 Relationship Among Files in a Job Stream

Figure 2-1 “Relationship Among Files in a Job Stream” shows the relationship among infiles and FD files in a job stream. Figure 2-2 “Order of Card Images Transmitted” shows the order in which the card images from the files in Figure 2-1 “Relationship Among Files in a Job Stream” are transmitted to the host.

Figure 2-2 Order of Card Images Transmitted

Host System Job Control

SNA NRJE checks for valid JOB cards, SIGNOFF cards, and host console commands before transmission. If NRJE detects a SIGNOFF card, it prints a warning message. The card is not transmitted to the host.

SNA NRJE requires at least one JOB card whenever a SUBMIT command is issued. If the TRANSPARENT parameter is omitted from an FD card image, SNA NRJE recognizes all JOB cards contained in the referenced file as job delimiters, not data.

Valid JOB cards are used to break an input job stream into separate spool files, which are placed in the reader transmission queue. If any host command card images are between host jobs in an input job stream, they are sent with the first of the jobs. For example, host system PRIORITY cards have no effect on the host when associated with the second or subsequent job in a job stream. Figure 2-3 “Priority Card to Job Stream Relationship” shows two jobs that are submitted to SNA NRJE together. SNA NRJE merges Infile A with FD file RED. The first priority card has the desired effect on JOB1. The second priority card is transmitted to the host as part of JOB1 and therefore does not influence JOB2.

When priorities are important, each job should be submitted to SNA NRJE separately.

Figure 2-3 Priority Card to Job Stream Relationship

Input File Libraries

The job streaming feature of SNA NRJE allows you to construct jobs from job control cards, programs, and data that already exist in disk files. You can create libraries of job modules that can be assembled into a variety of different jobs.

The SNA NRJE user must ensure that Infiles and FD files submitted together constitute a valid job according to host system requirements.