JCL conversion

Unless a job is held, the job is eligible for JCL conversion as soon as JES2 places the job in the queue. The job converter, which is invoked for every job, receives converter parameters and a pointer to a cataloged procedure library from JES2.

There are two options for JES2 conversion processing: one calls the interpreter as part of the conversion process; the other calls the interpreter when the job is selected for execution. Calling the interpreter as part of the conversion process detects any errors earlier, and also processes OUTPUT JCL statements even if the job does not execute. However, this option requires using some additional spool space and has implications for a number of JES2 installation exits, particularly Exit 6.

The INTERPRET= parameter on the JOBDEF statement controls when the interpreter is called for a job. Specifying INTERPRET=INIT is the traditional method of calling the interpreter—when a job is selected for execution. Specifying INTERPRET=JES calls the interpreter during the conversion phase, which occurs before the job is selected for execution. When INTERPRET=JES is specified, the converter and the interpreter are both called in a persistent address space. The number of address spaces that are created depends on the CISUB_PER_AS setting on the JOBDEF statement. The number of conversion processes (PCEDEF CNVTNUM=), divided by the number of subtasks per address space (CISUB_PER_AS), can be used to calculate the number of address spaces that are created. The default number of created address spaces is 2, and the maximum number is 25.

Note: The INTERPRET parameter is only valid when JES2 is in z11 mode. The INTERPRET parameter is not supported in z2 mode.

The name of the address spaces are jesxCInn, where jesx is the JES2 subsystem name and nn is a number (01-25) to create unique values. This address space accesses the PROCLIB data sets that are defined in the JES2 start PROC, which use the JES2 dynamic PROCLIB service.

You must ensure that a valid user ID is assigned to the address space (presumably the same user ID that is assigned to the JES2 address space), by using entries in the started procedures table (ICHRIN03) or by defining STARTED class profiles that match each new address space name. Optionally, you can make both the started procedures table and STARTED class profile available. Ensure that the user ID has read access to the data sets that are defined in the JES2 PROCLIB concatenations, either in the JES2 PROC or using the JES2 dynamic PROCLIB service.

You can enable Exit 6 (if the conversion phase occurs in the JES2 address space) or Exit 60 (if the conversion phase occurs in the JES2CI address space) to scan and change the Converter/Interpreter text: refer to z/OS JES2 Installation Exits.