Journal entries written to an intersystem communications function file

The topic discusses the differences in programming when you use an intersystem communications function (ICF) file instead of a tape file as output for the Receive Journal Entry (RCVJRNE) command.

Refer to the program in the Figure 1 topic.

If you use an ICF file to transmit journal entries to another system, the end-of-data operation (FEOD) operation does not apply. Instead, data description specifications (DDS) words (for example, FRCDTA) are used to force records from the buffers.

Typically the number of blocks that are transmitted to tape that uses records less than 175 bytes is a minimal performance consideration. However, on communications lines this number can be significant. To avoid sending unnecessary trailing blanks, consider decreasing the length of the record that is transmitted that uses the variable length function (VARLEN DDS keyword).