Gil, No, I made no mistake. I do understand that JCL is (in effect) a compiled language. Even a compiled language can call a dynamic subroutine to get a value when it needs it. But yes, I do expect IBM could implement deferred evaluation of environmental values (i.e., symbolics in the context we are discussing) at execution time on the image on which the Batch JCL runs. It's only programming, after all. :)
I had thought many years ago that IBM was on a path to make interpreted REXX the replacement language for controlling all jobs, but I was sadly mistaken and VM-centric in that thought -- I didn't count on the recalcitrance of the MVS-centric hierarchy at IBM. Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 4:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Using symbolic in JCL <Snipped> Your astonishment is out of place; it was an easy mistake for Peter to make. In most systems the command language is a scripting language, interpreted line-by-line, or at least with deferred evaluation of environmental variables. z/OS is in the minority in using a compiled language as a command language; I dearly wish it were otherwise. _ This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
