IBM Mainframe Forum

First I would like to say Hi to all of you. I am 23 years old mainframe op and I would like to start a small project but I need your advice not on the coding, but on what software should I use. Here is my plan. To design a software that will get input from the user regarding which sets of jobs streams CA-7 should run ( number code ), to display the current "run number" ( which is increased by every run ) then Y/N, yes continue, N increase it then continue with setting up a parameter card in a PDS on another LPAR(we have two) then demand a job there. Wait for the job to finish(successfully Y continue) then start demanding job streams, one after another not in the same time, then ask user for input if DATA for a specific stream is present or not and run/not run jobs. Also the job needs to identify certain return codes ( known ) and take corrective action ( force complete, cancel etc in CA7), with unexpected return codes program should halt execution and inform user then wait for input to continue or not.

It might seem confusing and I appologize for it but , please, can you advice me on what can I use to code such a interface driven processing tool ? REXX? COBOL ? JCL ? JAVA?

I appreciate your most prompt reply.

D

I would not call this a "small project"! First, you have to find out what kind of interface you can use with CA-7. That may dictate which language or tool(s) you use. You are talking about using cross-LPAR communications, accessing multiple address spaces, interactions with CA-7, and you're probably talking about a team of very advanced, highly technical programmers (not one -- a team) taking months -- if not a year or two -- to complete such a project. The user interface alone would be a nightmare on a mainframe (you cannot just "wait for the job to finish" by tying up a terminal -- what if the job runs for sixteen hours, as has been known to happen? You want a user waiting at a terminal, doing nothing, for 16 hours? So you need a way to handle event waits while putting together some way to monitor executing jobs.

With your experience level, I highly recommend you reconsider this "small project" and come up with something more feasible (or leave things the way they are).

It seems to me that the project is to design a user interface for CA7, and CA has already provided one.

Hi everyone and thank you for answering.

It is not acceptable for a job to run for 16 hours, ours usually take maximum 10 minutes, in extreme cases 2 hours but that is only once a month. I am not sure about accessing address space, but to mainly communicate with CA-7 on a different LPAR and "fetch" the return code. I understand if it is not possible for a beginner to start up such a project, however I will try and be active on the forum and maybe I will manage it.

Thank you all

D(night shift:D)

Your site is quite unusual then -- most sites have a few jobs that run many hours.

I don't think you have enough experience to realize the true scope of this project, but if you're determined to proceed, then go ahead. Start by finding the CA-7 documentation at your site and read up on the interfaces CA-7 supports.