Porting MVS JCL SORT to UNIX/Linux/Windows with XSM

Challenges:

  • You need to re-host, and eventually expand from, your legacy sort product operations when migrating to open systems.
  • You wonder how can MVS JCL sort steps work in a Unix shell or Windows command line environment.
  • You are looking for functional equivalence, equal or better sorting performance, lower operational costs.

Solution:

XSM uses IBM-like syntax and keywords. It is the perfect sort utility to ease MVS to Open Systems batch migration.

When original JCLs are converted with our MVS to UNIX batch converter, sort steps work straight out-of-the-box with no necessary syntax conversion.

Following example shows the SORT FIELDS statement, using exactly the legacy DFSORT SYSIN.

Typical MVS JCL Sort/Merge step:


//**********************************************************************
//* STEP      : SORT MERGE INF712 INF713                               *
//**********************************************************************
//INP1234  EXEC PGM=SORT
//SYSOUT   DD SYSOUT=*
//* Two input files, MVS Catalog will find out RECFM and LRECL:
//SORTIN   DD DSN=PRD123.CLIENT.INF712,DISP=SHR
//         DD DSN=PRD123.CLIENT.INF713,DISP=SHR
//* One output file, we specify RECFM,LRECL:
//SORTOUT  DD DSN=PRD123.CLIENT.INF714,DISP=(,CATLG,DELETE),
//         UNIT=SYSDV,SPACE=(CYL,(3,3),RLSE),VOL=SER=B80WKC,
//         DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=205,BLKSIZE=0)
//* Sort keys:
//SYSIN    DD *
SORT FIELDS=(15,1,CH,A,
              5,5,CH,A,
             10,5,CH,A,
            201,4,PD,A)
EXCLUDE COND=(30,2,CH,EQ,C'L1',AND,
              32,1,CH,EQ,C'1',
              OR,
              30,2,CH,EQ,C'L2',AND,
              32,1,CH,EQ,C'2')
/*

XSM equivalent parameter file for UNIX/Windows:


* Two input files:
INPFIL    PRD123.CLIENT.INF712
INPFIL    PRD123.CLIENT.INF713
* One output file:
OUTFIL    PRD123.CLIENT.INF714
* There is no Catalog on UNIX/Win, so we must specify input and output RECFM,LRECL:
RECORD    RECFM=F,LRECL=205
* Sort keys, on utilise la carte SYSIN telle qu'elle :
SORT FIELDS=(15,1,CH,A,
              5,5,CH,A,
             10,5,CH,A,
            201,4,PD,A)
EXCLUDE COND=(30,2,CH,EQ,C'L1',AND,
              32,1,CH,EQ,C'1',
              OR,
              30,2,CH,EQ,C'L2',AND,
              32,1,CH,EQ,C'2')

That's it!

XSM handles Binary as well as Packed Decimal in fixed or variable length records.

See XSM full syntax.

Then download and go for a free trial!