|
View previous topic :: View next topic
|
| Author |
Message |
jctgf
Currently Banned
Active User
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 109
|
|
|
|
Hi,
I wonder what's the best way to create a VSAM file.
I tried 2 ways:
1) sorted the input file and created an output sequential file;
used the output file (from above) to load the vsam file with a repro;
2) sorted the input file and wrote a vsam file on sortout with the "recorg" jcl parameter
the 2nd option was at least 30% faster but this way I can't define a number of parameters (cisize, freespace, shareoption) that may be important in some situations.
in your opinion, which option should I use?
thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Robert Sample
Global Moderator
Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 8696
Location: Dubuque, Iowa, USA
|
|
|
|
| It depends. If the VSAM file you are building must have free space (some of them do, you know), then you'll have to define it with free space -- which means IDCAMS. There are times when the other parameters are important, and there are times when you don't really care what they are -- so sometimes you will need to use IDCAMS and sometimes you don't have to. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
enrico-sorichetti
Superior Member
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 10873
Location: italy
|
|
|
|
what about ...
3) define the vsam using idcams, sort using the vsam as sortout ?
( the program processing the vsam does not care / is not aware of how the vsam was defined ) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pete Wilson
Active Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2009
Posts: 580
Location: London
|
|
|
|
| You could just have the VSAM file permanently defined with all the desired parameters, then just overwrite it as required, assuming you have REUSE specified for the Cluster. Using SORT for the load is usually alot quicker than REPRO. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jctgf
Currently Banned
Active User
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 109
|
|
|
|
Hi,
writing the sortout directly on a vsam file was the way the routine was until a few months ago.
it's really a very good way but one night they got and abend during the sort.
they thought it was a syncsort abend code and spent a lot of time looking for the syncsort message manual (syncsort's manuals are impossible to find).
it took a while to understand it was a vsam abend code.
then, to make things clear, they separated the vsam file from the syncsort.
now the vsam file is being loaded with a repro step after the sort.
it seems that writing the vsam file on sortout is faster than loading it with a repro after the sort. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dick scherrer
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19244
Location: Inside the Matrix
|
|
|
|
Hello,
| Quote: |
| syncsort's manuals are impossible to find |
They shouldn't be. . . If the organization is licensed to use the product ALL of the material is available for free from Syncsort. When downloaded, they can be put on a lan drive as well as on your own pc.
| Quote: |
| it seems that writing the vsam file on sortout is faster than loading it with a repro after the sort. |
Yes, it is. Not only is it faster as a process, but using vsam as the sortout saves 2 complete passes of the file. . . The sort now has to allocate and write the entire file and idcams has to read it back in to then load it using more resources. . .
| Quote: |
| then, to make things clear, they separated the vsam file from the syncsort. |
Sorry, but that just is simply horrible. . . 
I believe a more appropriate "solution" would be to include something with the job explaining that the problem had occurred and that even though the sort was running, it was a vsam problem. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Akatsukami
Global Moderator
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 1788
Location: Bloomington, IL
|
|
|
|
| dick scherrer wrote: |
Hello,
| Quote: |
| syncsort's manuals are impossible to find |
They shouldn't be. . . If the organization is licensed to use the product ALL of the material is available for free from Syncsort. When downloaded, they can be put on a lan drive as well as on your own pc. |
I must defend jctgf here. In my shop, it is not uncommon for the hierarchy to hold formal classes for some third-party tool in which the system analysts are taught what it is felt that they "need" to know; the manuals are then made difficult to impossible to find (softcopy is not loaded to the LAN, etc.)
This is certainly not a policy that I would attempt to justify, but it is done. I would advise jctgf to take every opportunity to get manuals and not only download them to his workstation's hard drive, but onto whatever removable media (thumb driver, CD, etc.) his shop's standards allow. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jctgf
Currently Banned
Active User
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 109
|
|
|
|
Hi Akatsukami,
that's precisely the case in the company I work for.
they hide some manuals because they don't want the developers using all the features the software provides. they say they may quit syncsort's license at any time and if it happens, every syncsort statement that is not supported by dfsort will stop working in a blink of an eye.
also, unlike IBM products, Syncsort keeps their manuals locked, away from developers.
it's impossible to find Syncsort manuals - whatever they are - on the web.
their algorithm is a little better than ibm's and they want to make sure it will ever be. For example, they provide the "join" command that performs a typical balance-line. it's easy to use, unlike dfsort's "splice".
I had a copy of the syncsort's manual on my pendriver but unfortunately I lost it.
thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dick scherrer
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19244
Location: Inside the Matrix
|
|
|
|
Hello,
| Quote: |
| it's impossible to find Syncsort manuals - whatever they are - on the web. |
And this is as it should be. . . At least for now. Posting them on the web today is simply stealing. . . Maybe some day, this material will be made available to "everyone".
| Quote: |
| For example, they provide the "join" command that performs a typical balance-line. it's easy to use, unlike dfsort's "splice". |
DFSORT now provides JOIN as well.
| Quote: |
| they hide some manuals because they don't want the developers using all the features the software provides. they say they may quit syncsort's license at any time and if it happens, every syncsort statement that is not supported by dfsort will stop working in a blink of an eye. |
There are many "reasons" companies defend a pathetic practice. If the full range of some utility's features are not to be used, this is simply documented and anything using restricted features is not allowed to be promoted to production (at least in a well run organization). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CICS Guy
Senior Member
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 2146
Location: At my coffee table
|
|
|
|
| jctgf wrote: |
| it's impossible to find Syncsort manuals - whatever they are - on the web. |
Maybe not that hard....
| Alissa Margulies wrote: |
| Please feel free to send me a PM or contact me offline at alissa.margulies@syncsort.com and I would be happy to assist you with acquiring the SyncSort manuals. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dick scherrer
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19244
Location: Inside the Matrix
|
|
|
|
Hi Guy,
Their "problem" with the material is self-inflicted. . .
Someone in the organization has decided it is proper to restrict the documentation. . .
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jctgf
Currently Banned
Active User
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 109
|
|
|
|
Cics guy,
do you mean I can get in touch with this lady?
thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dick scherrer
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19244
Location: Inside the Matrix
|
|
|
|
Hello,
| Quote: |
| do you mean I can get in touch with this lady? |
Yes, that is why she has provided us her direct e-mail address at Syncsort (posted above). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CICS Guy
Senior Member
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 2146
Location: At my coffee table
|
|
|
|
| jctgf wrote: |
| do you mean I can get in touch with this lady? |
Email her from your company email and if they have a license, you will probably get the emailed PDFs you need..... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pete Wilson
Active Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2009
Posts: 580
Location: London
|
|
|
|
| FYI - You can use the JCL allocation for VSAM and still access some of the extra parameters by specifying an appropriate Dataclas (if you have one) that provides the desired CISIZE, SHROPTS, FSPC etc. Maybe ask your Storage Admin people, or if you have access to ISMF check out Option 4 which lists the Dataclases showing the attributes they provide. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
