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how to avoid a "data set not found"


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jctgf
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:36 pm
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Hi,

I have a cobol program that reads a data-set that sometimes hasn't yet been created when the program runs.

the data-set is not that important.

in this case, the program should simply go on with no damage for the application.

my problem is:

when a steps starts and it references a data-set that doesn't exist, the job abends promptly.

the data-set doens't have to be effectiveley used by the program. the job abends before the data-set is opened by the program.

is it possible to cause Z/OS only to check the data-set existence when my program issues an OPEN command, please?

Thanks.
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expat

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:38 pm
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Does it issue an ABEND or does it fail with a JCL error.

Basically, IMHO, what this comes down to is just plain poor planning and implementation. Is it really that difficult to write JCL that you know will work for at least 99% of the time because the files that are required are actually available.
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Escapa

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:39 pm
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Quote:
is it possible to cause Z/OS only to check the data-set existence when my program issues an OPEN command, please?
icon_eek.gif

Not always what we want is possible...
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jctgf
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:43 pm
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this is a very particular case.

what I mean is:

is there a jcl parameter - like free=close, defer and so on - that would make ZOS only check the data-set existence when I open the file?

thanks a lot.
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dbzTHEdinosauer

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:43 pm
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expat wrote:
Does it issue an ABEND or does it fail with a JCL error.

expecting him to know the definition and proper user of two terms: ABEND and JCL error?

you must think santa clause is just around the corner.
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jctgf
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:01 pm
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the job abends with:

IEF212I J948JT61 EVTPTST6 ARQA - DATA SET NOT FOUND.

the job is critical and can't be postponed.

i'd like to dynamically check if the file exists.

if it doesn't, i wouldn't use (open, read, close) the file and this way the abend would be avoided.

my problem is: even if I don't open the file, ZOS checks it's existence and abends the job.

what I need is to say to ZOS "don't check the file existence until I open the file".

is it possible, please?

thanks.
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Robert Sample

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:02 pm
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jctgf: you could dynamically allocate the file using BPXWDYN in your COBOL program so there would not be a DD statement for the file. How to do so has been extensively covered in other topics so if you search this forum for BPXWDYN you can find everything you need to use it.
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expat

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:15 pm
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Robert Sample wrote:
jctgf: you could dynamically allocate the file using BPXWDYN in your COBOL program so there would not be a DD statement for the file. How to do so has been extensively covered in other topics so if you search this forum for BPXWDYN you can find everything you need to use it.


From an operational point of view that suggestion is way out of line. Us support jockeys like to know what file gets used where, and let's face it allowing developers to go around using dynamic allocation uncontrolled is a bit like letting the loonies run the asylum.

The support people need to know exactly what is going on to resolve abends etc. etc.

If some idiot changes the files used in a program at least with the correct DD statements in place we stand half a chance of knowing what is going on when things go belly up.
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expat

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:27 pm
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jctgf wrote:

the job is critical and can't be postponed.

That is the whole theory behind a well planned and implemented application, so that critical jobs do not get delayed because of stupid problems.

I suppose that you could always have an IEFBR14 as the first step of the job with a DD statement for every file that needs to exist, and if it does it ignores it and if it doesn't it creates it.

Certainly a workaround, but definitely no substitution for correct implementation.
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dbzTHEdinosauer

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:28 pm
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Quote:
the job is critical and can't be postponed


if it is so critical, why does it reference a dataset, that apparently does not have to exist?

this FU!
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expat

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:29 pm
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dbzTHEdinosauer wrote:
you must think santa clause is just around the corner.

if it is so critical, why does it reference a dataset, that apparently does not have to exist?

Maybe he'll bring a few extra datasets on Christmas day icon_biggrin.gif
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vasanthz

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:33 pm
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Hi,
As a temporary fix,
Probably you could add a JCL step to determine if the dataset exists and based upon the return code, you can execute the COBOL step with the "created" file or a similar dummy file.

You may have to allocate a new dummy file though.


Code:
//LSTSDENT  EXEC PGM=IDCAMS,COND=(4,LT)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=A                 
//SYSIN    DD *                       
     LISTCAT ENT('THE CREATED FILE')   
/*                                     
//        IF LSTSDENT.RC NE 0 THEN
//***************USE A DUMMY INPUT FILE****************       
//EXCI     EXEC PGM=THE COBOL CODE                               
//STEPLIB  DD   DSN=ZX.PROD.COB2LOAD,DISP=SHR                         
//DCFILE   DD  DSN=DUMMY FILE,DISP=SHR,               
//        AMP=('ACCBIAS=SYSTEM')                           
//SYSPRINT DD  SYSOUT=*                                     
//SYSOUT   DD  SYSOUT=*   
.
.
.                                 
//        ENDIF
//        IF LSTSDENT.RC = 0 THEN
//***************USE THE ORIGINAL INPUT FILE************ 
//EXCI     EXEC PGM=THE COBOL CODE                               
//STEPLIB  DD   DSN=ZX.PROD.COB2LOAD,DISP=SHR                           
//DCFILE   DD  DSN=LIVE FILE,DISP=SHR,               
//        AMP=('ACCBIAS=SYSTEM')                           
//SYSPRINT DD  SYSOUT=*                                     
//SYSOUT   DD  SYSOUT=*   
.
.
.                                 
//        ENDIF



This may not fix the breaks, it sure can make the horn louder. icon_smile.gif

Good luck.!
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Garry Carroll

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:49 pm
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Quote:
you must think santa clause is just around the corner


It would seem that, in this case, there's a contract somewhere similar to the one discussed by Groucho & Chico -
Quote:
"You don'ta fool me - there'sa no sucha thing as a sanity clause! - Chico"

Garry.
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vasanthz

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:57 pm
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Quote:
if it is so critical, why does it reference a dataset, that apparently does not have to exist?
this FU!


I believe that the thread starter must be support personnel, and he is experiencing the perils of a bad developer,Apparently many prod. support guys get to be in this position, I don't think its fair to use the F word to this guy.

Regards,
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vasanthz

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:59 pm
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Quote:
I suppose that you could always have an IEFBR14 as the first step of the job with a DD statement for every file that needs to exist, and if it does it ignores it and if it doesn't it creates it.

Certainly a workaround, but definitely no substitution for correct implementation.


Sorry Expat, I did not read your reply completely before posting the LISTCAT approach.
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expat

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:09 pm
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vasanthz wrote:
I believe that the thread starter must be support personnel, and he is experiencing the perils of a bad developer,Apparently many prod. support guys get to be in this position,

That is the reason why I insist on a correct and thorough operational acceptance procedure whenever I have set up a support area. Things are tested and tested and tested and various scenarios are catered for before anything new or changed is ever put anywhere near a production environment.

It is usually the support jockeys that are responsible for operational acceptance and if they do not do their job properly they have no one else to blame.
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vasanthz

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:17 pm
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It is usually the support jockeys that are responsible for operational acceptance and if they do not do their job properly they have no one else to blame.


I agree.

But sometimes the operational acceptance testing is performed by a separate team(in our shop its the OPS testing team located onshore, since they require tonnes of equipment for testing). And we (Support jockeys at offshore) get to monitor the "virgin execution" of the job ;) blank

So we have no idea whats going in. OPS testing cant be offshored cos it incurrs cost.

Regards,
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jctgf
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:42 am
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Hi,

Thanks for the interest.

The situation is the following:

The system has a primary goal and also provides a secondary functionality: to detect and discard duplicate records sent to be processed.

Discarding duplicate records isn't the system main goal.

This functionality was implemented a few years ago and sort of "caught on". A few problems have been avoided because of this service.

The problem is that this functionality is very expensive and, sometimes, may cause serious delays in the processing.

Recently we had a major delay because the file that makes possible for the system to detect duplicate records wasn't available. The job that maintains this Vsam file abended and a lot of time was taken to have the problem solved.

Meanwhile, other jobs remained in the "waiting schedule" status. Everything came to a complete stop.

It’s a set of complex jobs that run at every 2 hours. Given that the Vsam file was out of service, a huge "traffic jam" was formed.

Every day we have a deadline - or a "dead-hour" - to process a lot of jobs. The entire thing almost failed to be processed in time because – again - the Vsam dataset was unavailable.

The night staff was forced to suppress its use by using asterisks (*) in the main program. The thing then proceeded without having the Vsam file operational.

If they had failed to make the train move forward, a few heads would have rolled for sure.

Taking into account that detecting and discarding duplicate records aren't the primary function of the system, but that it should be done whenever it's possible, we'd like to find a way to make job B, C, D, etc proceed even when job A (the job that maintain the Vsam file) hasn't ended OK.

Job B (C, D, etc) must run uninterruptedly even when the Vsam file doesn't exist. That’s why I'm looking for a way to deal with the "data set no found" ABEND.

What we're doing now is precisely what was suggested in one of the previous replies: we are creating the Vsam file if it doesn't exist at the moment of its use by job B.

It works fine, but it's not an elegant solution. Also, it makes possible for a lot of "experts" to say that we’re lousy workers with lousy solutions.

If I can’t dodge the “data set not found” abend, I would like to read the Vsam file dynamically but I don't know how. I know how to read Sam files dynamically, but don't know how to do the same with Vsam files.

Thanks.
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dick scherrer

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:41 am
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Hello,

What about putting back thd previous contents if the current attempt to create fails?

Might this be better than not having the data at all?

If it is ok to run without the file and the previous content would not be good, what about defining the file and adding one dummy record so that processing would continue?

So far, i do not see a reason for the file to be "missing".

Possibly i've not understood something. . .
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dick scherrer

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:14 am
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To add on. . .

Suggest that the primary focus be that this is a real production process and not focus on "Discarding duplicate records isn't the system main goal.". . .

IMHO, there is no good reason that this does not run correctly/completely every time.

fwiw,

d
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karisurya

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:11 pm
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Hi,

Some time back we have a similar situation where the Dataset may/maynot exist and program should read onlf if the dataset is present and process.
We used the following syntax
Code:

SELECT OPTIONAL IN-FILE 
    ASSIGN TO DT.           


This will ensure the job wont create any problem even if the file is not present.

Hope it helps.

Regards,
Surya
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enrico-sorichetti

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:42 pm
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Quote:
it works fine, but it's not an elegant solution. Also, it makes possible for a lot of "experts" to say that we’re lousy workers with lousy solutions.
horse manure

if Yo do not like it, just stop the payments!

You have a lousy/faulty design, You are deep in Mississippi mud(1) , we(2) spend time provide You a solution
and You complain that the solution is not elegant by your taste...

it has already beed ascertained that...
the current design is ... lousy
the current solution is ... lousy
because it has been designed/implemented by lousy workers
so what in Gehenna do You want from the people on the forum ??

(1) aka known as that ain't chocolate puddin'!
(2) not me personally but other people have
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Anuj Dhawan

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:55 pm
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expat wrote:
I suppose that you could always have an IEFBR14 as the first step of the job with a DD statement for every file that needs to exist, and if it does it ignores it and if it doesn't it creates it.
We've been doing this but if the dasd is sms-managed there will be a valid eof. If the dasd is not sms-managed, the results are unpredictable - someimes a dcb mis-match abend occurs, sometimes incorrect data is read depending on what was on the dasd prior to the new file being allocated, sometmes an eof is processed - and we ended up using an in-house utility.
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vasanthz

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:57 pm
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Quote:
We've been doing this but if the dasd is sms-managed there will be a valid eof

Hi,

why not use IDCAMS LISTCAT to test the existence. I guess it wont fail.
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Anuj Dhawan

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:13 pm
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Well, I just don't know what their process is doing - so won't be able to predict much and actually, would like to "quote" what Enrico has said.

in your (Vasanth) assumption you've assumed, entire process ends the moment program-in-question(P1) is executed or not. What if there are some "dowstream-programs" waiting for the output from P1...add one more IDCAMS step? and then one more...and few more...?
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