IBM Mainframe Forum

Is it possible to code an instream data in a PROC? If not, why?

Question 1: No.

Question 2: Because the JCL Language Reference manual says so:

12.2.5 Location in the JCL

A DD * statement begins an in-stream data set.

In-stream Data for Cataloged or In-stream Procedures

A cataloged or in-stream procedure cannot contain a DD * statement. When you call a procedure, you can add input stream data to a procedure step by placing in the calling step one or more DD * or DD DATA statements, each followed by data.

Why would you want static data in your procedure? The correct place for this is in a dataset which is why JCL procedures support datasets but not instream data.

Think about what is trying to be accomplished. An in-stream PROC is a way to prepare an real PROC, either for JCLLIB or for a system PROCLIB. JES2 does not have access to these procedures. OK, in a sense that statement is not true, since the converter, running in the JES2 address space does access them, but JES2 does not really know very much about this (though it does save the save the internal text created from the JCL). Since JES2 does not see in-stream data from a PROCLIB or JCLLIB procedure, why should it allow in-stream data in an in-stream PROC?