IBM Mainframe Forum Index
 
Log In
 
IBM Mainframe Forum Index Mainframe: Search IBM Mainframe Forum: FAQ Register
 

Information About SAMUTIL


IBM Mainframe Forums -> JCL & VSAM
Post new topic   Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
yuva_chowdary

New User


Joined: 07 Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Location: India

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:32 pm
Reply with quote

Hi,

I wish i could have some information on the utility: SAMUTIL, which i referred in one of the JCL used to extract a file from TAPE into Flat file. I would like to know how this works.

One more question: Do any one have a JCL in place, which extracts a file on TAPE into some flat file? It would be really helpful if some one can share that.

Thanks in advance !!!!!!!!

Yuva.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
enrico-sorichetti

Superior Member


Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 10886
Location: italy

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:44 pm
Reply with quote

SAMUTIL is not part of any zOS vanilla distribution/installation
the best thing to do is to ask Your peers
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Robert Sample

Global Moderator


Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 8700
Location: Dubuque, Iowa, USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:45 pm
Reply with quote

Depending upon how the tape file was built, IEBGENER, IEBUPDTE, or DF/DSS (ADRDSSU) may be required to dump the tape into a flat file. Assuming the data on tape was copied from a flat file, a standard IEBGENER (see the Utilities manual -- link at the top of the page -- for the JCL statements needed) will do the trick.

Since tape device names are site specific, you don't really want to attempt to run JCL from another site to unload the tape. Use the manual example, find out the tape device name from your coworkers or team leader, and proceed from there.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Craq Giegerich

Senior Member


Joined: 19 May 2007
Posts: 1512
Location: Virginia, USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:45 pm
Reply with quote

SAMUTIL sounds like a site specific program.

How are these tapes created?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dick scherrer

Moderator Emeritus


Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19243
Location: Inside the Matrix

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:16 am
Reply with quote

Hello and welcome to the forum,

Quote:
How are these tapes created?
If you do not know how the tapes were created, find the job(s) that created them to learn how they were created.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
yuva_chowdary

New User


Joined: 07 Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Location: India

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:37 am
Reply with quote

thank you seniors !!!!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Anuj Dhawan

Superior Member


Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 6248
Location: Mumbai, India

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:00 pm
Reply with quote

Hey Dick -- that was a question from Criag.. (just being litle picky today).

Robert -- I always thought (and found, in the realm of application engineer) that tape files are, essentially, sequential files because they can be accessed in sequential manner only. Now when i read this,
Quote:
that Assuming the data on tape was copied from a flat file
(my concern is about bold text)1. What other source you are talking about to copy from? 2. And does that really make a difference? I mean, tapes, anyways, will be accessed sequentially(Actuators have no other option than reading in sequential manner, right?)? Or did I percept the bold text in an incorrect manner (probably)...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Robert Sample

Global Moderator


Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 8700
Location: Dubuque, Iowa, USA

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:50 pm
Reply with quote

Anuj: yes, tapes are sequential files. However, if a PDS was unloaded to tape using IEBCOPY, the file layout, while sequential, really rquires IEBCOPY to put it back together. For example, the tape RECFM will be VB (no matter what the PDS is) and the LRECL will be 20 (or 16? don't have manual available right now to check) bytes more than the PDS block size. Another example is DF/DSS output -- it's on a tape, so it is sequential. However, the file on tape cannot be copied without data corruption (except by DF/DSS).

People say tape, they think data file -- but the data on tape may be a straight copy of a file, an unloaded PDS, or a DF/DSS backup (just to name a few) and it is imperative to know what built the tape to be able to retrieve the data on it successfully.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Anuj Dhawan

Superior Member


Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 6248
Location: Mumbai, India

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm
Reply with quote

Thanks Robert, that helps. icon_smile.gif
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dick scherrer

Moderator Emeritus


Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19243
Location: Inside the Matrix

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm
Reply with quote

Hi Anuj,

Yup, Craig asked the question, but it appeared that TS did not know the origin of the tape(s).

Also, there are many "sequential" files that are are not "flat files" as almost every proprietary dasd format can be backed up to tape - using some standard utility or some product specific process.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Anuj Dhawan

Superior Member


Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 6248
Location: Mumbai, India

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm
Reply with quote

Hi Dick,

I got yor point now about that "quote"... icon_redface.gif

Quote:
Also, there are many "sequential" files that are are not "flat files"
Did you mean, there are files which can be accessed sequentially but they are not QSAM? 'am little unsure about above statement, please assist.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dick scherrer

Moderator Emeritus


Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 19243
Location: Inside the Matrix

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:53 pm
Reply with quote

Hi Anuj,

Quote:
Did you mean, there are files which can be accessed sequentially but they are not QSAM?
No - when they are on tape they are read as qsam (to restore, primarily), but should not be confused with standard sequential data.

Only code that knows the "backup format" rules can be used to work with this type of data.

This type of data is basically never written/read by business application code.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Anuj Dhawan

Superior Member


Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 6248
Location: Mumbai, India

PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:41 pm
Reply with quote

Thanks Dick . . . icon_smile.gif
Quote:
This type of data is basically never written/read by business application code.
We, The Poor Appilcation Engineers... icon_biggrin.gif

PS. Please don't go by my words and corresponding expressions -- they just don't complement each other... icon_biggrin.gif
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
View previous topic :: :: View next topic  
Post new topic   Reply to topic View Bookmarks
All times are GMT + 6 Hours
Forum Index -> JCL & VSAM

 


Similar Topics
Topic Forum Replies
No new posts VSAM LISTCAT INFORMATION JCL & VSAM 2
No new posts Capturing Job Execution Information All Other Mainframe Topics 3
No new posts Extract all the TWS scheduler informa... IBM Tools 1
No new posts Table Information - DB2 DB2 1
No new posts Remove additional information in SUPE... TSO/ISPF 10
Search our Forums:

Back to Top