What is an object library?

You can use an object library to store object decks. The object decks to be link-edited are retrieved from the object library and transformed into an executable or loadable program.

When using the OBJECT compiler option, you can store the object deck on disk as a traditional data set, as an UNIX® file, or on tape. The DISP parameter of the SYSLIN DD statement indicates whether the object deck is to be:

Passed to the binder (or linkage editor) after compile (DISP=PASS)
Cataloged in an existent object library (DISP=OLD)
Kept (DISP=KEEP)
Added to a new object library, which is cataloged at the end of the step (DISP=CATLG).

An object deck can be the primary input to the binder by specifying its data set name and member name on the SYSLIN DD statement. In the following example, the member named TAXCOMP in the object library USER.LIBROUT is the primary input. USER.LIBROUT is a cataloged partitioned data set:

//SYSLIN DD DSNAME=USER.LIBROUT(TAXCOMP),DISP=SHR

The library member is processed as if it were a sequential data set.