IBM did a one test library addition for PDSE for COBOL 5

On Sat, May 5, 2018 at 10:01 AM, Dan D <[email protected]> wrote:
> A very long time ago (over 30 years ago) I worked for a service bureau.\
> They had specific naming standards for their libraries when products were 
> installed (ie. SYSx.product.V01R03.LOADLIB).
>
> We couldn't have our customers continually changing JCL unless they wanted a 
> different version than what was installed so we created a system tool called 
> "Virtual Dataset Names".
>
> This worked very similar to how ALIAS names works although there was no "must 
> be in the same catalog" restriction.
>
> When the system was IPL'd (or later via a special operator command) a table 
> was loaded into CSA that contained the REAL dataset name, the VIRTUAL name 
> and the various versions that were available.  One of the versions was marked 
> as the default.
> We used the IGG026DU catalog front-end exit (which I believe is now used by 
> DFSMSHSM) to intercept catalog lookups and replace the REAL name that is 
> being located with the VIRTUAL name.  It would scan SWA and check if an ACCT= 
> was specified on the EXEC statement.  If so, the 1st operand was used to 
> overriding VERION for all datasets within that step.
> Example:
>      //step50 exec pgm=iefbr15,ACCT=V5R3
>      //DD1    dd  dsn=sys1.sortlib,disp=shr
> If SYS1.SORTLIB is in the table and it's virtual name is PROD.?.SORTLIB and 
> it had a list of versions, V1R0 being the alias, DD1 would be translated to 
> PROD.V5R3.SORTLIB as ACCT=V5R3 was specified.  If it wasn't DD1 would be 
> PROD.V1R0.SORTLIB.
>
> Our customers loved this as they could test NEW versions of products before 
> they became the default.
>
> If someone has the time, maybe they could take on this project and re-write 
> this cool tool ;-)
>
> Dan
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions,
> send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN



-- 
Mike A Schwab, Springfield IL USA
Where do Forest Rangers go to get away from it all?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions,
send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN

Reply via email to