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Phantom · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 6:40 am Post subject: VPUT & VGET commands

I am submitting a batch job from a rexx routine. After the job ends I need my processing further. So, inorder to find whether the job ends, I tried to use VPUT & VGET functions. What I did is that, before I invoke the batch job I populate some value say 'N' to some variable say (ENDIND) using VPUT. Then in the JCL, as a last step I call another small rexx routine which will change the ENDIND variable's value to 'Y'. In the meantime my main rexx routine will be constantly polling the variable (ENDIND) using VGET command and check whether its value is changed to 'Y'. But, it didn't work as I expected. ie the variable is not shared between the rexx & jcl jobs.

Can't we share a variable from different programs ? What is the scope of a variable which is populated by VPUT command (I tried ASIS & SHARED mode).

Please explain.

warp5 · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 7:14 am Post subject:

You have to use the same profile dataset for both jobs. Try using VPUT/VGET with the PROFILE option.

Phantom · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 7:40 am Post subject:

Sorry, It does not work either.

taltyman · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 9:13 am Post subject:

I wouldn't think that you could share the same profile dataset between the batch job and your main rexx routine. Is your main routine a TSO session?

Phantom · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 9:42 am Post subject:

yes it is a TSO routine using PANELS...

dorkhead · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 10:35 am Post subject:

you can't do that.
basically ur job and ur user does not have the same profile.
_________________
Dorkhead

miboy · Beginner Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 13 Topics: 0

Batch job cannot use the same Profile dataset allocated to the ISPF session... so I guess ur idea will not work. Why not try writting ur flag in a file or something and take it from there

Miboy

semigeezer · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2003 9:46 pm Post subject:

If all you are trying to do is to see if the job is still running, this will work from a TSO id:

warp5 · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 1:50 am Post subject:

I think the best way would be to submit your job, end your rexx, and after the job is finished add a step that restarts your rexx with an indicator that you are in the second pass. That should solve your problems.

Phantom · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 2:52 am Post subject:

Sorry Warp. That's not possible as I'm using PANELS. Please see my previous posts on "Invoking Rexx routine from JCL".

Thanks

taltyman · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 9:07 am Post subject:

You could...
put a notify in the job card
set your tso profile nointercom
submit job
loop
trap the results of a listbc command
job finished?
verify its the correct job? yes exit loop, no sleep
end loop
reset profile to intercom
check trapped output for success/failure
process accordingly

semigeezer · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 10:48 am Post subject:

That thread ended abruptly, but there is no reason you can't 'display' panels in batch. The only reason to do so is to take advantage of the panel logic in the panels and you have to be sure the program driving the panels will not sit on any one pane indefinitely because ISPF in batch just simulates an ENTER key when displaying panels but it is possible and even common to run panels in batch. They just never display anywhere.

I don't think this is a case where you want to do that... I just thought I"d point out that there is no prohibition against running an ISPF application in batch, as long as it is written to work that way.

taltyman · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 11:16 am Post subject:

I shudder every time I see someone wanting to submit a batch job and then use a program to monitor that job for completion. A lot of cycles can be burned up. What if the program has to wait to start or has other problems?
The batch job, what does it do? Is it something that could be executed from the same TSO address space? For example ibm utilities, user written programs can be executed if you allocate the necessary dds/dsnames.

semigeezer · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject:

I was going to say the same thing. This is a solution in search of a problem. Whatever problem is trying to be solved should be re-evaluated to see if this is the best way to do it. I've never heard of a situation where this is the best way. Almost anything that can run in batch can run online too, at least in the world of utilities. Convert the JCL to a rexx program and do it online if possible. Especially if you will be waiting for it to complete anyway.

I only answered the original question literally because it is an interesting thing to make work... not because I agree that it is a good solution. If you spend most of the time sleeping and not looping, cycles aren't too much of an issue, though swapping and task switching do have a negative affect on the overall system.

Phantom · Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2003 6:01 am Post subject:

Hi Semigeezer & Taltyman,

Ofcourse I can do the batch operation in REXX, but the operation that I am trying is to do is a call to SUPERC search which searches a huge list of PDS and it is definitely a time consuming task. Unfortunately, I am a bit fascinated about GUI kind of stuff. So, I thought why not I call the SUPERC from a batch which will start executing in a separate THREAD type of thing and in the meanwhile I can display some Animation on screen. I know its silly, but I want animation.

Semigeezer, If I am not wrong, you say that we can display PANELS from batch. Will the panel be displayed on the Screen. When I tried once, I wasn't shown any panels and the batch job just went on without ending. Then I had to abruptly purge it. Can you please, elaborate on this.

Taltyman, you were saying something about some profile turning on & off. But, I could not make any head & tail out of it. I'm new to REXX. Could you please take some time explaining me what is it. Perhaps, actual code would be very useful to me.

Thank you very much.
Navin. J