System Overview

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Jol is an English-like high level command language which uses a free form command structure to communicate with OS and effectively control programs and events.

MAJOR SYSTEM BENEFITS OF JOL

- Provides programming with a dynamic and procedural high level command language.
- Provides extensive logic to allow programs to be event driven.
- Aids and maximizes use of existing software products.
- Reduces time and effort required to create an OS jobstream or equivalent.
- Handles OS syntax requirements automatically.
- Enforces User defined standards with no hooks to the operating system.
- Supports all OS JCL and TSO facilities.
- Allows the creation of clean correct jobstreams by persons with little OS expertise.
- Provides programmers with a scheduling tool.
- Improves machine efficiency in processing jobs.
- Provides a means to centralize program and data set definitions, thus removing repetitiveness and reducing code.
- Provides thorough error detection and job validation.
- Reduces operating system and hardware dependence.

OS JOBSTREAMS

The execution of jobs in background or foreground is an ongoing function. To create Jol command language procedures that execute either in background or foreground, the User need only gather the variable information pertinent to that job, such as, job name, program name, and file names. The variable input information can be simplified through the use of formatted screens provided with Jol or built by the User with the Jol PANEL instruction. The formatted screen allows data values and variable input to be specified without concern for OS syntax or keyword requirements.

DATA BASE OF DATA SET ATTRIBUTES

Version 5 of Jol adds a data base of data sets to Jol. With this facility, Mainframe jobs become as easy as running programs on MS/DOS or UNIX.

For example, to execute a program called UPDATE you can code:

Exec Update Payroll.Master(0),

Trans.Action(0),

Payroll.Master(+1);

If Update = 0

then do;

Catalog Payroll.Master(+1);

Submit Job2;

end;

else Stop 'Error in Job';

The addition of the Jol data set data base facility:

- Greatly reduces the training required for new JCL Programmers and increases their productivity even further.
- Further reduces the amount of coding required to run a job - most JCL jobs are reduced by an average of 75% or more. Executing a program now only requires writing a line or two of code for each program.
- Provides a set of commands that will function in a similar way on Mainframes, Personal Computers and Unix systems.
- Assists in creating an environment whereby the Data Manager can have more (and separate) control over data set placement and other attributes.
- Adds full VSAM support.