Limiting Job Output
To prevent looping jobs from exhausting the VSE/POWER data file, such jobs can be cancelled automatically when their output reaches a specified limit. Limitation is applicable to LST and PUT spooling both to disk and to tape. Limitation is defined by the JECL parameter RBF which means 'Records Before Flush'.
- using the autostart statement SET RBF=norbf (affects both LST and PUN spooling of all subsequent jobs),
- using the RBF=norbf operand of the * $$ JOB statement (affects both LST and PUN spooling of the running job only),
- using the RBF=norbf operand of the * $$ LST and * $$ PUN statements (affects LST or PUN spooling of the running job only).
Last defined value overrides previous ones. RBF=0 means that no limitation is applicable to the given output (if defined by * $$ LST or * $$ PUN statement) or to all outputs (if defined by an autostart statement SET RBF or * $$ JOB statement).
If the RBF value is exceeded, message 1Q5QI is displayed on console and appended to the output, the job is cancelled by an internal PFLUSH partition,HOLD command. ON $CANCEL condition will be honored and any additional output records will be accepted, for example LISTLOG messages. When a job has been flushed, it is held in the RDR queue with the disposition H or L and every output, which is being created, is added to the LST/PUN/XMT queues with a temporary disposition X. This avoids incomplete output from being processed automatically. Output already created prior to the PFLUSH command does not receive a temporary disposition.
- An active subsystem like ACF/VTAM or CICS/TS will not be cancelled. Instead, RBF limit will be disabled and message 1Q5SI will be issued.
- When spooling to tape, RBF value set by an autostart statement SET RBF=norbf is ignored. This is implemented for compatibility with old z/VSE® versions.
- Macro IPWSEGM can override previously set RBF value by using an internal JECL statement for * $$ LST or * $$ PUN statement with RBF value defined.