JCL Interview Questions

1) What is the function of DD DISP parameter? - JCL

(1) Tells the system what to do with the dataset following normal termination of the
step

(2) Describes the status of the dataset

(3) Tells the system what to do with the dataset following abnormal termination of the
step

(4) All of the above

2) How is the record format of an output dataset specified?

(1) RECORG parameter

(2) STORCLAS parameter

(3) RECFM parameter

(4) None of the above

3) What is the purpose of DD * statement in JCL?

(1) Begins an input data prompt at the system console

(2) Begins an in-stream dataset

(3) Marks the end of a command stream

(4) Includes all datasets within a naming pattern

4) A DD statement has 2 types of parameters. Name them ?

(1) Positional, Keyword

(2) Keyword, Control

(3) Dynamic, Static

(4) Named, Dynamic

5) What is the function of JOB statement in JCL ?

(1) Marks the end of a job

(2) Marks the beginning of an instream procedure

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(3) Marks the beginning of a job & assigns a name to the job

(4) Assigns an execution priority to a job

6) How can a job send a status message to a TSO user at the completion of
a job ?

(1) STATUS

(2) NOTIFY

(3) ENDMSG

(4) USER

7) What is the function of a DD statement ?

(1) Identifies & describes a dataset

(2) Delimits a DO loop

(3) Marks the start of a declarative section

(4) Delimits the start of an inline include section

8) When output dataset space is required, what quantity categories are

(1) Primary, Secondary, Directory

(2) Address, Units, CONTIG or ALS

(3) Displacement and length

(4) Megabytes, Kilobytes and Bytes

9) What statement marks the beginning of a job step; assigns a name to

(1) START

(2) RUN

(3) EXEC

4. GO

10) How can unused space allocation be returned to the system when a
dataset is closed ?

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(1) RETURN

(2) RLSE

(3) CONTIG

(4) CLOSE

11) Can an individual step be restricted from using all the job’s allowed CPU
time ?

(1) Yes

(2) No

(3) Only in Catalogued Procedure

(4) Through the STEPTIME parameter

12) Where can program checkpoints be stored for use in a restart ?

(1) CHCKPOINT DD statement

(2) SYSCHK DD statement

(3) CHKOUT DD statement

(4) CHECK or DD statement

13) How can the disposition of sysout datasets be set for an entire
jobstream ?

(1) SYSOUT parameter

(2) OUTPUT parameter

(3) DEFAULT parameter

(4) DEST keyword

14) What statement marks the end of an in-stream or Catalogued

(1) STREAM

(2) SET

(3) PROC

(4) PEND

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15) What is the function of DD name parameter with a 2 part structure;
Audit.Report ?

(1) Override the Audit DD statement in the report

(2) Override the Report DD statement in the Audit procedure

(3) Concatenate a dataset onto a DD statement in a called module

(4) Delete the Audit DD statement in the Report

16) Which DD parameters are required ?

(1) All parameters & Keywords are optional

(2) Dsname, SPACE, RECFM

(3) Dsname, SPACE, UNIT

(4) Dsname, DISP, SPACE

17) How can an in-stream dataset be terminated?

(1) //

(2) //*

(3) /*

(4) None of the above

18) What is the function of the DD DCB keyword?

(1) Begins the subparameters of the DCB

(2) Begins the DASD control block

(3) Marks the close of the DCB

(4) Modifies the record type parameters

19) What is the maximum length of a single line of JCL ?

(1) 71 bytes

(2) 60 bytes

(3) 55 bytes

(4 ) 80 bytes

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20) What is the purpose of DD DUMMY statement ?

(1) Marks a deleted DD statement

(2) Begins an interpreted command stream

(3) Specifies no space allocation & no disposition processing

(4) Suppress command processing

21) Many JCL statements contain specific values designed to direct &
control the execution of the statement. What are these fields called ?

(1) Linkage Variables

(2) Parameters

(3) Control Libraries

(4) Includes

22) When space is allocated for an output dataset, what units can be used?

(1) Disks

(2) Megabytes

(3) Cylinders, Tracks, Blocks

(4) Bytes

23) What is the format of comment statement ?

(1) //

(2) //*

(3) /*

(4 ) None of the above

24) A DD statement consists of 4 fields. Name them :-

(1) Name, DD, Space, Device

(2) Format, Name, DD, Space

(3) DD, parameter, device, format

(4) Name, DD, parameter, comments

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25) What DD statement is used to supply the name of a dataset ?

(1) Name

(2) Dsname

(3) Label

(4) File

26.What is the purpose of the ‘DD KEYLEN’ parameter?

(1) Specify the length of a data set key in bytes

(2) Override the key length of an SMS defined VSAM dataset

(3) Override the key length specified in the dataset label

All of the above

27.What is the function of the STEPLIB DD statement?

(1) Identify a library to be searched for programs named in the EXEC

(2) Identify a library containing executable job steps

(3) Override the system step library within a job stream

(4) All of the above

28.How can return codes be tested before execution of a job step?

(1) Through the RC keyword

(2) Through the CODE keyword

(3) Through the COND keyword

(4) Through the RETURNCD keyword

29.What is concatenating?

(1) Overriding or adding procedures

(2) Logically connecting input datasets

(3) Overriding a called PROC dsname

(4) All of the above

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 30.How can values be passed from the job stream to an executable
program?

(1) Through the PARM keyword

(2) Through the VALUE parameter

(3) Through the PGM parameter

(4) All of the above

31.Must tape dataset definitions include VOL=SER specifications?

(1) Yes

(2) No

(3) Only for uncataloged datasets

(4) Only for cataloged datasets

32.What is the function of //JCLLIB statement?

(1) Identifies the source of the JCL commands

(2) Points to the system software library

(3) Marks the beginning of the in-stream JCL

(4) Identifies the libraries that the system will search for include groups or
procedures named in EXEC statements

33. What parameter of the job statement is used to limit the CPU time
consumed by the job?

(1) RUNTIME

(2) TIME

(3) LIMIT

(4 ) EXECMAX

34. What statement marks the beginning of an in-stream or cataloged

values to parameters defined in the procedure

(1) STREAM

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(2) SET

(3) PROC

(4) PEND

35.How can a stopped job be started again? - JCL

(1) Through the RETURN parameter

(2) Through the STARTUP parameter

(3) Through the RESTART parameter

(4) Through the CHECKPNT keyword

36.In order to continue a job after a return code of 12 in step1, what the
step2 EXEC statement include?

(1) CONTINUE

(2) COND = (12,NE)

(3) COND = (12,GE)

(4) COND = (12,EQ)

37.In SMS datasets, what is the function of the ‘DD MGMTCLAS’

(1) Specify a management class for a new dataset

(2) Lookup a storage profile from the class library

(3) Begin a storage class definition block

(4) Alters the default storage profile for the dataset

38.How can the submitting user’s RACF authority be overridden in a job

(1) Through the USER parameter

(2) Through the USER and PASSWORD parameter

(3) By notifying the console operation to override the authority

(4) Through the RACF parameter

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39.What parameters can be used to limit the number of records written
to a SYSOUT dataset ?

(1) LIMIT

(2) OUTLIM

(3) SIZE

(4) MAX

40.What statement can be used to send data to another MVS JES3

(1) LINK

(2) CONNECT

(3) XMIT

(4) SEND

41.What parameter directs the output of the job log dataset ?

(1) JOBLOG

(2) MSGCLASS

(3) MSGLEVEL

(4) SYSLOG

42.How can a job’s execution priority be modified ?

(1) PRIQTY parameter

(2) PRTY parameter

(3) JOBCLASS parameter

(4) RUNTIME parameter

43.How can the attributes of one SMS dataset be copied to another

(1) Using DD like parameter

(2) Using DD Copy parameter

(3) Using DD Refer parameter

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 (4) Attributes cannot be copied within SMS datasets

44.What is the function of //CNTL statement ?

(1) Marks the beginning of one or more program control statements

(2) Identifies the control card library

(3) Delimits the PROC control statements

(4) None of the above

45.If a (+1) generation dataset is created in the first step of a job, how
can it be referenced in later steps of the same job for input?

(1) As the (0) generation

(2) As the (+1) generation

(3) As the (-1) generation

(4) Without the generation number

46.In SMS datasets, what is the function of the DD AVGREC keyword ?

(1) Specifies average length of records in a file

(2) Specifies the multiplier to be used for primary & secondary space
allocation

(3) Directs the system to allocate space based on average record length

(4) Specifies word blocking factor

47.How can a JES3 operator command be entered through the

(1) Through the OPERATOR statement

(2) Through the COMMAND statement

(3) Through the //** statement

(4) Through the console statement

48.To connect EBCDIC records to ASCII during write process, what DCB
sub-parameter is used ?

(1) EBCDIC = NONE (2) ASCII = ALL (3) TRANSLATE = ALL (4) OPTCODE = Q

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 49.If a generation data set is specified as input without the generation
number, what will the input to the DD ?

(1) the most recent generation created

(2) the earliest generation created

(3) a concatenation of all the cataloged generations

4. a jcl error will be returned to the job

35.How can buffers be assigned to a DCB ?

(1) Through the BUFMAX subparameter

(2) Through the BUFOUT subparameter

(3) Through the BUF subparameter

4. Through the BUFNO subparameter

35.What is the function of the ‘DD MODIFY’ parameter ?

(1) overrides the LRECL of a cataloged dataset

(2) specify a copy-modification module to format a printed dataset

(3) overrides the blocksize of a cataloged dataset

(4) add records to an existing dataset

36.What is the prefix character for symbolic parameter ?

(1) % (2) & (3) @ (4) {}

37.What is the purpose of REGION key word ?

(1) specifies the amount of space required by a step

(2) specifies the amount of space required by a job

(3) both of the above

(4) none of the above

38.What is a system data set catalog ?

(1) a reference to the naming standards for datasets

(2) a list of MVS reference libraries

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 (3) a list of datasets available to MVS along with the location data

(4) the original installation datasets for JCL

39.If both the JOBCAT & STEPCAT statements are coded in a step, which
will be executed?

(1) JOBCAT

(2) STEPCAT

3. the one coded first in the JCL stream

(4) both the statements will be executed in sequence

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 JCL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is primary allocation for a dataset?

The space allocated when the dataset is first created.

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary allocations for a

Secondary allocation is done when more space is required than what has already
been allocated.

3.How many extents are possible for a sequential file ? For a VSAM file ?

16 extents on a volume for a sequential file and 123 for a VSAM file.

4. What does a disposition of (NEW,CATLG,DELETE) mean?

That this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated, to CATLG the dataset if the
step is successful and to delete the dataset if the step abends.

5. What does a disposition of (NEW,CATLG,KEEP) mean?

That this is a new dataset and needs to be allocated, to CATLG the dataset if the
step is successful and to KEEP but not CATLG the dataset if the step abends. Thus if
the step abends, the dataset would not be catalogued and we would need to
supply the vol. ser the next time we refer to it.

6. How do you access a file that had a disposition of KEEP?

Need to supply volume serial no. VOL=SER=xxxx.

7. What does a disposition of (MOD,DELETE,DELETE) mean ?

The MOD will cause the dataset to be created (if it does not exist), and then the
two DELETEs will cause the dataset to be deleted whether the step abends or not.
This disposition is used to clear out a dataset at the beginning of a job.

8. What is the DD statement for a output file?

Unless allocated earlier, will have the foll parameters: DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),

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9. What do you do if you do not want to keep all the space allocated to a
dataset?

Specify the parameter RLSE ( release ) in the SPACE e.g. SPACE=(CYL,(50,50),RLSE)

10. What is DISP=(NEW,PASS,DELETE)?

This is a new file and create it, if the step terminates normally, pass it to the
subsequent steps and if step abends, delete it. This dataset will not exist beyond
the JCL.

11. How do you create a temporary dataset? Where will you use them?

Temporary datasets can be created either by not specifying any DSNAME or by

We use them to carry the output of one step to another step in the same job. The
dataset will not be retained once the job completes.

12. How do you restart a proc from a particular step?

In job card, specify RESTART=procstep.stepname

where procstep = name of the jcl step that invoked the proc

and stepname = name of the proc step where you want execution to start

13. How do you skip a particular step in a proc/JOB?

Can use either condition codes or use the jcl control statement IF (only in ESA JCL)

13a. A PROC has five steps. Step 3 has a condition code. How can you
override/nullify this condition code?

Provide the override on the EXEC stmt in the JCL as follows:

//STEP001 EXEC procname,COND.stepname=value

All parameters on an EXEC stmt in the proc such as COND, PARM have to be
overridden like this.

14. How do you override a specific DDNAME/SYSIN in PROC from a JCL?

//<stepname.dd> DSN=...

15. What is NOTCAT 2 ?

This is an MVS message indicating that a duplicate catalog entry exists. E.g., if you
already have a dataset with dsn = ‘xxxx.yyyy’ and u try to create one with disp
new,catlg, you would get this error. the program open and write would go through

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and at the end of the step the system would try to put it in the system catalog. at
this point since an entry already exists the catlg would fail and give this message.
you can fix the problem by deleting/uncataloging the first data set and going to the
volume where the new dataset exists(this info is in the msglog of the job) and
cataloging it.

16. What is 'S0C7' abend?

Caused by invalid data in a numeric field.

17. What is a S0C4 error ?

Storage violation error - can be due to various reasons. e.g.: READING a file that is
not open, invalid address referenced due to subscript error.

18. What are SD37, SB37, SE37 abends?

All indicate dataset out of space. SD37 - no secondary allocation was specified.
SB37 - end of vol. and no further volumes specified. SE37 - Max. of 16 extents
already allocated.

19. What is S322 abend ?

Indicates a time out abend. Your program has taken more CPU time than the
default limit for the job class. Could indicate an infinite loop.

20. Why do you want to specify the REGION parameter in a JCL step?

To override the REGION defined at the JOB card level.

REGION specifies the max region size. REGION=0K or 0M or omitting REGION

21. What does the TIME parameter signify ? What does TIME=1440
mean ?

TIME parameter can be used to overcome S322 abends for programs that
genuinely need more CPU time. TIME=1440 means no CPU time limit is to be
applied to this step.

22. What is COND=EVEN ?

Means execute this step even if any of the previous steps, terminated abnormally.

23. What is COND=ONLY ?

Means execute this step only if any of the previous steps, terminated abnormally.

24. How do you check the syntax of a JCL without running it?

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TYPERUN=SCAN on the JOB card or use JSCAN.

25. What does IEBGENER do?

Used to copy one QSAM file to another. Source dataset should be described using
SYSUT1 ddname. Destination dataset should be decribed using SYSUT2. IEBGENR
can also do some reformatting of data by supplying control cards via SYSIN.

26. How do you send the output of a COBOL program to a member of a

Code the DSN as pds(member) with a DISP of SHR. The disp applies to the pds and
not to a specific member.

27. I have multiple jobs ( JCLs with several JOB cards ) in a member. What
happens if I submit it?

Multiple jobs are submitted (as many jobs as the number of JOB cards).

28. I have a COBOL program that ACCEPTs some input data. How do you
code the JCL statment for this? ( How do you code instream data in a
JCL? )

//SYSIN DD*

input data

input data

/*

29. Can you code instream data in a PROC ?

No.

30. How do you overcome this limitation ?

One way is to code SYSIN DD DUMMY in the PROC, and then override this from the
JCL with instream data.

31. How do you run a COBOL batch program from a JCL? How do you run a
COBOL/DB2 program?

To run a non DB2 program,

//STEP001 EXEC PGM=MYPROG

To run a DB2 program,

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//STEP001 EXEC PGM=IKJEFT01

//SYSTSIN DD *

DSN SYSTEM(....)

RUN PROGRAM(MYPROG)

PLAN(.....) LIB(....) PARMS(...)

/*

32. What is STEPLIB, JOBLIB? What is it used for?

Specifies that the private library (or libraries) specified should be searched before
the default system libraries in order to locate a program to be executed.

STEPLIB applies only to the particular step, JOBLIB to all steps in the job.

33. What is order of searching of the libraries in a JCL?

First any private libraries as specified in the STEPLIB or JOBLIB, then the system
libraries such as SYS1.LINKLIB. The system libraries are specified in the linklist.

34. What happens if both JOBLIB & STEPLIB is specified ?

JOBLIB is ignored.

35. When you specify mutiple datasets in a JOBLIB or STEPLIB, what

The library with the largest block size should be the first one.

36. How to change default proclib ?

//ABCD JCLLIB ORDER=(ME.MYPROCLIB,SYS1.PROCLIB)

37. The disp in the JCL is MOD and the program opens the file in OUTPUT
mode. What happens ?

The disp in the JCL is SHR and the pgm opens the file in EXTEND mode. What
happens ?

Records will be written to end of file (append) when a WRITE is done in both cases.

38. What are the valid DSORG values ?

PS - QSAM, PO - Partitioned, IS - ISAM

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39. What are the differences between JES2 & JES3 ?

JES3 allocates datasets for all the steps before the job is scheduled. In JES2,
allocation of datasets required by a step are done only just before the step
executes.

????? Can anyone add more

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