The definition of a user catalog

Ok another short one: just a small JCL script with working example for the definition of a user catalog. This would accompany the example of the alias definition for a user catalog that can be found here.

//DEFCAT   EXEC PGM=IDCAMS                               
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*                                  
//SYSIN    DD *                                       
DEFINE UCAT (NAME(SYS1.USERCAT.PROD) VOLUME(DASD1B) - 
        CYL(6,1) ICFCAT  )         

Enjoy.

Pierre G.

How to copy the contents of a catalog: IDCAMS

A very short one, but regularly asked by my mentees: how to copy the contents of a catalog? Just use IDCAMS’ REPRO facility, like you would for a regular VSAM dataset 

//COPYCAT   EXEC PGM=IDCAMS                           
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*                         
//SYSIN    DD *                                      
REPRO  INDATASET(CATALOG.MVSICFM.VD9ECAT) -         
        OUTDATASET(SYS1.MSTRCTLG)   

//Pierre G

Allocate a page dataset / page space for new system, in a second master catalog

This job shows you how you can define a page dataset in another master catalog than the currently active master catalog. This technique is typically used when you are building a new system from a driver system. The master catalog referred to via the CATALOG statement below is the to-be master catalog of the new system you are building.

//DEFPAGE EXEC PGM=IDCAMS
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//PAGE2    DD UNIT=3390,VOL=SER=PSYS1B,DISP=OLD
//SYSIN    DD *
  DEFINE PAGESPACE( -
      FILE(PAGE2) -
      NAME(SYS1.MVST.PLPA2) -
      CYLINDERS(300) -
      VOLUME(PSYS1B) ) -
    CATALOG(SYS1.MSTRCAT0)
/*

//Pierre G.

Define an ALIAS for your User Catalog

This JCL defines an ALIAS in the current master catalog. The alias points to the user catalog named in the RELATE clause.

Use a STEPCAT pointing to another master catalog when needed.

//DEFCAT   EXEC PGM=IDCAMS 
//* STEPCAT DD DISP=SHR etc when needed     
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN    DD *        
  DEF ALIAS (NAME(PROD) RELATE(SYS1.USERCAT.PROD)) 
/*
//

//Pierre G

Compare Disk contents with Catalogs – a custom Rexx and JCL solution

This one is untested since 1997. A little warning, though I believe it will still work.

During a z/OS migration (probably still MVS/ESA or maybe OS/390) we needed to restructure the catalog layout. The client did not have a good catalog structure in place and almost everything had ended up in the master catalog. A small nightmare, especially for a smooth upgrade. BEtter worded: they made a mess of their catalogs. (The company does not exist anymore.)

I created some custom programs to compare catalog contents with contents on disks.

The job in CMPLCLVJ does the following:

CMPLCLVJ

  • Step INTRPOLD – Interpret an existing LISTCAT result for easier handling during the compare
  • Step LIST: Create LISTVTOC of desired volumes
  • Step INTRPLV – Interpret the LISTVTOC output for easier handling during the compare
  • Step COMPLCLV – Compare the Listcat and LISTVTOC

The following Rexx programs are used in this job:

INTLISTC – interprets the LISTCAT output.

INTLISTV – interprets the LISTVTOC results

CMPLCLV – compares the interpreted (transformed) listcat and listvtoc results and reports the results.

// Judd Froam