Compile a COBOL program in rexx

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

Can i compile a cobol program in rexx ??

i have a cobol program which writes out some records to output file. The layout of the output file is dynamically changed, so every time i need to change the output layout, recompile the cobol program and run.

Can this be done using rexx which will

- Ask user for input and output lay out
- Update cobol program with the desired changes
- Compile cobol program
- Run and generate output file in new format ???

Apart from compilations, other things are managable, i know. But can i compile cobol program is REXX ???

Can this be done .....

superk · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:48 am

The compiler and link editor are just programs that can be called. Don't you normally call them to compile your programs anyway?

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

Yes ........... but as far as i remember, we use to call one utility IJK**** something .... for cobol compile and link edit. I am searching for that utility.
Will that be installation dependant ,where can i search?
Or there are default compilers provided with installations ?

dick scherrer · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:50 am

Hello,

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

I was searching for compilers and found some utilities like
IGYCRCTL/CWPCMAIN .... IEWBLINK/IEWL

I would check anything of these (or something else) are available in my shop, but

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

dick scherrer · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:14 pm

Hello,

I've heard of places that support online compiles, but am not knowledgable of the secifics of what they use.

Arun Raj · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:17 pm

hsk,

How about submitting a job from REXX with compile/link edit steps followed by the run step.

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

Hi Arun,

Yes, that's the option i see but have few doubts

1. It will no more 'User interactive', user has to go to spool and check for results or would need to browse the output file manually.
I know i can run rexx from JCL also but i doubt if it can bring me back to interactive mode from batch.

2. can we have compile and run steps in the same JCL , not sure if there would be any SHR issue and updated load module will be available in next step?
or i need two different JCL's

Arun Raj · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:27 pm

What do you want to do after the successful execution of the job?

You can access the updated load module in your final step.

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

expat · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:41 pm

I'd go with Arun and submit a batch job. Otherwise you could lock the terminal for a long time.

The job can notify the user that the job has completed, so then browsing the file is just a formality.

hsk · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Location: India

Thank you guys, for your suggessions that helped a lot ...........

let me see how it works out !!!

Thanks !!!!!

MBabu · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:35 am

Superk's original point was that you can call any program from rexx the same way you call it from JCL. Allocate dd names and call the program. That is all that JCL does! I think there is a general frustration that the answer to questions about running programs always seems to involve running a batch job. That is almost never necessary for an online program to do!

Just look at some compile JCL. Replicate those DD statements in the Rexx program by using TSO allocate statements. Call the compiler using a TSO call statement (not Rexx Call). Roughly (yours will be different!!):

dick scherrer · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:25 am

Hello,

Most organizations have standard compile/link jcl and to use something else is grounds for a reprimand and in some cases dismissal. There simply cannot be a separate way to compile for every developer that has an idea. The standards are for quality and consistency and to minimize the amount of modification needed when some environmental change is made.

hsk,
I strongly urge that if you intend to try this you get permission in writing or at least an e-mail from management that is it permissable to use other than your system standard.

fwiw - in the last 20+ years i have been involved with more than 100 mainframes for over 30 clients. None of these permits online compiles of cobol code by the development staff. They do not want the extra overhead in tso. Also, they have had standards in place for many years and as we know - change does not come easily

On the forum here, there have been very few people who have posted that their cobol programmers compile online.

As more an more "mainframers" come with pc background (where there isn't much "real" batch), online compiles will possibly become more common even if it costs more machine. Use of Change/Configuration Management (CM) software like Endevor and ChangeMan may have an impact as well. It should be interesting. . .

MBabu · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:11 am

Dick is absolutely right that most shops don't want compiles of code destined for production to be compiled in foreground or through unapproved methods. If you are new to the shop, understand their procedures before writing your own tools.

Having said that, there are many reasons for a programmer to invoke programs, including compilers, in foreground. These may be syntax checking tools, code analysis, test and report preparation, code formatting, third party tool integration, programmer education, various edit macro uses such as content assist, and others, many of which don't even generate object code. I won't judge the validity of the original question. I've worked in shops where almost everything is done in foreground because the system is dedicated to development and the source code managers have online functions. A well tuned system will throw long running TSO transactions into low priority anyway.

dick scherrer · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:36 am

Marso · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:24 pm

At our site, I use this method to check some copybooks:
Once the copy has been envelopped with the minimum cobol divisions and sections,
I run a small compilation:

Pedro · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:23 pm

Our site allows either online compile or batch. If the compiles take too long, the person will only do it a few times then learn to use batch.

During development, the developer compiles numerous times, sometimes using private libraries and other parts still under development. It would be difficult to have a 'standard compile'.

But when the code is checked into the library system and for production use, it can only be compiled by the librarian.

Arun Kumar S · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Bangalore

Hi,

I have the below rexx macro to compile a cobol program.