Writing a syntax checker

A syntax checker checks for syntax errors in each statement, according to the data set type. The syntax checker scans each line a user enters, in input mode, when the user edits a data set. Before the syntax checker scans a record, the record is put into the data set. If a syntax error is found, EDIT displays an error message and switches from input mode to edit mode. The user can then use EDIT subcommands to correct the error. For information about EDIT and the SCAN operand, see .

Syntax checkers are associated with specific data set types. TSO/E provides the following syntax checkers for theassociated data set types:

Data set type	Syntax checker
FORTH	IPDSNEXC
PLI	IPDSNEXC
GOFORT	IPDSNEXC
PLIF	PLIFSCAN

You can write a syntax checker for data set types that you define. You perform the following steps to provide a syntax checker:

Write the syntax checking routine
Install the routine on your system before system generation
Use the IKJEDIT macro instruction to associate the syntax checker with the data set type.

Record format and interface for syntax checking provides information for writing the syntax checking routine. This includes:

The format of the records that are passed to syntax checkers
The standard interface that TSO/E provides that allows the EDIT modules to invoke a syntax checker
The contents of the control blocks to which the parameter list for the syntax checker points

Associating the syntax checker with a data set type describes how to use IKJEDIT to associate the syntax checker with a specific data set type.