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mainframejclrexx

File tailoring without ISPF

I'm currently attempting to write a simpler external interface to a mainframe ISPF panel, however it makes use of ISPF file tailoring to modify JCL scripts before execution, and ISPF services (including file tailoring) aren't available without a running ISPF session. I've used a Rexx script called 'batchpdf' (http://www.sillysot.com/mvs/batchpdf.htm) to set up the appropriate DD statements and then run ISPSTART and FTINCL, and at the moment this is working well, however it seems to be a fragile solution - if the company changes their ISPF dataset concatenations the JCL could break. Is there any solution for simply running file tailoring outside ISPF (ie. in batch/JES2)?

Solution

  • The short answer is no. File tailoring inherently requires ISPF.

    I guess the questions to ask yourself are...

    1. How likely is it that the company would change its ISPF dataset concatenations?
    2. How fragile is any RYO solution you create that emulates file tailoring?

    I wouldn't call what you've done "fragile." Document the dependency according to your shop's standards.