Need to get record count from a JCL step

Shaile · New User Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Chennai

Hi,
I have a COBOL program in JCL, let say STEP01. In this program I do not have logic to count the number of records. Now, is there a way I can get the count anywere from the Job in Spool e.g. Can I get the count from SYSOUT, SYSMSG or any where else from the JCL. I wonder if the record count is stored anywhere by defalut by MVS or OS (just a guess).

Thanks,
Shailendra

Arun Raj · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:42 pm

Shaile · New User Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Chennai

Hi Arun,

Thanks for quick reply.
I can not change the program now. Nor I can add any SORT or File-Aid step to get the count. All I have is Job in spool. I have to get the count which is used as input/output in that cobol program. Can you suggest something else?

Thanks,
Shailendra

expat · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:52 pm

OK, so you are not allowed to change anything. Therefor you can not achieve the requirement.

Who on earth makes up these darn stupid requirements

Shaile · New User Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Chennai

Hi Expat,
The program was made long time and we do not have source module with us. We are using only the load module. The file is so big we can not add another step like SORT or File-Aid as it will increase CPU time.
I wanted to know would the record count would be strored anywhere in MVS or OS like it keep in case of SORT and File-Aid.

Robert Sample · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:56 pm

Are you talking about record count of an input file, or count of spooled lines -- I assume you're talking about an input file but you keep mentioning the job is spooled.

z/OS does not maintain a record count for a file anywhere that I'm aware of. If the file is sequential, you can approximate the record count by finding the number of blocks (assuming that's the allocation unit) and multiplying by the records per block. That is approximate because the last block may not be a full block, so your count could differ from the actual number of records in the file by almost a full block's worth of records. If the file is not sequential, you may be able to approximate the record count depending upon the type of file it is.

Shaile · New User Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Chennai

Thanks Robert, it helps.

Arun Raj · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:13 pm

Itanium · Active User Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 114 Location: India

dick scherrer · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:32 am

Hello,

Why is there a requirement at this late date to have a record count of this input file? What decisions might be made knowing this?

Is this file on dasd or "tape". If it is on dasd you can get close using the dcb info and the space allocated. If it is on tape, the tape management system will probably know the data volume.