The SYSLIN DD statement is required. This statement describes the primary input data set, which can be a sequential data set, a partitioned data set member, a PDSE member, an in-stream data set, or a z/OS UNIX file. If it is a z/OS UNIX file, you must specify the PATH parameter.

Each data set in the primary input must contain object modules and control statements, load modules, or program objects. They cannot be mixed within a data set except that control statements can appear before or after an object module in the same data set. Data sets can be concatenated under the SYSLIN DD statement to define the primary input. The binder does not support concatenation of z/OS UNIX files.

Defining the primary input contains information about input requirements.

The data characteristics vary by data type and are shown in Table 1.