Dynamic file creation in PLI with variable length

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

HI,

I need to create a file dynamically in PL/I with variable length. If I'm not giving any recfm options, its creating VB file, but i need to create a variable file.

If i'm giving options like RECFM = V or LRECL then its throwing ONCODE=111.

Is there any way to create a file dynamically with the required record format, and record length.

Regards,
Anjum.

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:45 pm

Bill Woodger · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:57 pm

Like Robert, I'm unclear as to what you mean.

V is Variable, Unblocked
VB is Variable, Blocked

Unless you have some requirement specifically for unblocked, you already have what you want.

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

Hi,

I meant Variable unblocked file. By default its creating a variable blocked file. Any options to create the required one,

Thanks
Anjum

Bill Woodger · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:06 pm

OK, I'll bite. Why does it have to be unblocked?

Can you post the relevant code, using the Code button above the input box?

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

hi,

the output file from this program is going as input to some other JCL which is used to load some VSAM file. Dont know why exactly a variable file is used. Also the requirement is to give the max record length, which i'm not able to achieve it. I'm able to code SPACE, disposition etc, but not record format and rec size.

Any suggestions as how to include them,

Regards,
Anjum Raza

Bill Woodger · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:33 pm

The variable bit is easy. If there are records of different lengths on the file, then it has to be variable. If all the records are the same length, then it is more sensible for it to be a fixed format file.

What I don't get, is why unblocked? If a file is blocked, it is much more efficient to read/write (unless you make a mess of the selection of the blocksize).

Until you post your code, I doubt you'll get much further here.

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:03 pm

In my opinion, if the records are of different length, but either close or not too many records, then FB is still best. One reason: this allows sort parms to specify field positions as documented without having to add 4 for the VB length field.

I'm sure others may disagree, and I am open to your reasons.

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

it is unblocked because there are different layouts that are written to the file and it is unknown as to which layout is written. I mean the file is to have different record structures. Hope this answers to your question.

can you tell me any method to generate the variable file dynamically thru program or at-least how to include the logical record length. the sample code
is below:

MAST1 = 'DSN(USER.';
MAST2 = 'USERID';
MAST3 = '.';
MAST4 = 'SAMPL1';
MAST5 = '),NEW,CATALOG';
MAST6 = ',LRECL=80';
MAST0 = MAST1 || MAST2 || MAST3 || MAST4 || MAST5 || MAST6;
OPEN FILE(SUCCESS) RECORD OUTPUT TITLE(MAST0);

the file success is opened here dynamically,

Regards,
Anjum

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:44 pm

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:54 pm

Continuing my FB discussion, even FB records can have different layouts. You merely need (as with VB) some field to indicate which layout pertains to a given record so you know which section of code and which variable names to use for each record type.

dick scherrer · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:04 pm

Hello,

Bill Woodger · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:08 pm

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:53 pm

Bill Woodger · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:32 pm

Bill Woodger · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:06 am

Nic Clouston · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:21 am

Why the heck do you need to do dynamic allocation? Just specify it in your JCL.

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

Hi All,

Apologies for misleading different record layouts with blocked and unblocked due to my ignorance.

I need to do dynamic allocation because of different layouts in the file. i need to create the number of files based on the number of record layouts, which i cannot create thru jcl. there can be any number,

i require only variable unblocked, as it is used by another jcl for which it is using variable unblocked file. VB is also fine, but the record length i need to code is where i'm facing the problem.

from a link i found that we can use,

The following attributes can be specified in any order after
the DSN keyword:

NEW, OLD, SHR, or MOD
TRACKS or CYL
SPACE(n,m)
VOL(volser)
UNIT(type)
KEEP, DELETE, CATALOG, or UNCATALOG
STORCLAS(storageclass)
MGMTCLAS(managementclass)
DATACLAS(dataclass)

I got the info from following link: www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1PK74015

but i did not get info how to include the recfm and lrecl options. by default its creating VB file with max length of 255. minimum requirement for me is to code LRECL option with different maximum length.

Please share some info on this,

Thanks,
Anjum

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:39 pm

Not judging your design (others can have fun with that), if you are doing a dataset for each layout, then won't each be fixed length (F or FB)?

And why is the "other" JCL using unblocked?

Akatsukami · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:17 pm

Whilst dynamic allocation of files is pretty trivial, you may encounter difficulties with those files being undeclared in your source module, and therefore generating compile-time errors if you compile with RULES(NOLAXDCL) (and if your production code is compiled with RULES(LAXDCL), I don't think that I want to know your shop).

As I am willing to rush in where Mr. Phrzby declines to go, I really think that you have to re-think your design, especially since your downstream job sounds like it is severely analysis-challenged.

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:21 pm

I think that

anjumraza · New User Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: bangalore

hi,

whether is F or FB or V or VB, i need to include LRECL which is not allowed. is this a limitation? or is there any way?

thanks,
Anjum

Akatsukami · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:20 pm

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:54 pm

Akatsukami · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:59 pm