Job Attribute Spooled File Action

The Spooled file action (SPLFACN) job attribute specifies whether or not spooled files are accessed through job interfaces after the job ends. Keeping spooled files with jobs allows job commands such as Work with Submitted Jobs (WRKSBMJOB) to work with the spooled files even after the job has ended. Detaching spooled files from jobs reduces the use of system resources by allowing job structures to be recycled when the jobs end.

The possible values are as follows:

*CURRENT: The value from the current job is used for the submitted job.
*JOBD: The value in the job description is used.
*SYSVAL: The value specified in the system value QSPLFACN is used.
*KEEP: When the job ends, the spooled files are kept with the job and the status of the job is updated to indicate that the job has completed.
*DETACH: When the job ends, the spooled files are detached from the job and the job is removed from the system.

The default for SPLFACN is *CURRENT unless changed to one of the other values using the Change Command Default (CHGCMDDFT) command.

The system value QSPLFACN has the following help text:

QSPLFACN

Spooled file action. Specifies whether spooled files are kept with a job or detached from the job. Keeping spooled files with jobs allows job commands such as Work with Submitted Jobs (WRKSBMJOB) to work with the spooled files even after the job has ended. Detaching spooled files from jobs reduces the use of system resources by allowing job structures to be recycled when the job ends.

Note: You must have *ALLOBJ and *SECADM special authorities to change this system value.

This system value is used for system and subsystem monitor jobs and is the system-wide default for all other jobs. A change to this system value takes effect for all jobs that become active after the change. The shipped value is *KEEP.

Spooled file action

*KEEP: When the job ends, the spooled files are kept with the job and the status of the job is updated to indicate that the job has completed.

*DETACH: When the job ends, the spooled files are detached from the job and the job is removed from the system.

Until a job ends, the job's spooled files are necessarily associated with the job (thus its job structure) and thus will be viewable by another job doing a WRKUSRJOB or WRKSBMJOB to locate the still active job. When a job ends that has its Spooled file action (SPLFACN) parameter set to *DETACH, all of its spooled files will be detached from the job, even spooled files that might have been created for the job prior to its SPLFACN being changed/set to *DETACH. These spooled files can be found by displaying the output queues holding the spooled files or by using the Work with All Spooled Files (WRKSPLF) command specifying the appropriate User. After initial display of a WRKSPLF display, pressing the F11 key two times will show the full job names for the spooled files even though those jobs, or job structures, are no longer available on the system.

The primary purpose for implementing this enhancement was to not indefinitely tie up job structures for old spooled files that need to be kept indefinitely on a system.