SORT-MERGE/XL General User's Guide > Chapter 5 Using SORT-MERGE/XL in Batch Mode

Building a Job File

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A job file is created using an editor text processor such as EDIT/V. The first line of the job file must begin with the :JOB command. This is followed by the logon to the appropriate user.account,group. The logon must include all necessary passwords. A batch job is terminated with the :EOJ command. For additional information on the :JOB and :EOJ commands refer to the MPE XL Commands Reference Manual.

When creating a batch job, use a substitute character for the MPE XL colon prompt. MPE XL expects the exclamation point (!) as the substitute prompt, but you may choose another special character for this purpose. This substitute prompt must appear in column one of each record, followed by the remainder of the command.

It is not necessary to indicate subsystem prompts or use a substitute character for them. Notice in the example below that the SORT/XL subsystem chevron (>) prompt does not appear before the SORT/XL INPUT, OUTPUT, KEY, or END commands.

The following job file logs into a group of a user.account, enters the SORT/XL subsystem, initiates a multiple key sort on the input file EMPLOYEE, creates the output file COMPANY, and accesses EDIT/V to list the contents of the file. The job is then printed on the system printer. This job file was created using EDIT/V, but other editors may be used. Check with your System Manager to determine which editors are available on your system.


  :RUN EDITOR.PUB.SYS

  HP 32201A.07.17 EDIT/3000 WED, JUN  3, 1987  1:00 PM
  (C) HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1985
  /A
    1  !JOB JOBNAME,USER/PASSWORD.ACCOUNT/PASSWORD,GROUP
    2  !SORT
    3  INPUT EMPLOYEE
    4  OUTPUT COMPANY
    5  KEY 1, 11; 12, 11
    6  END
    7  !EDITOR
    8  TEXT COMPANY
    9  LIST ALL
   10  EXIT
   11  !EOJ
   12  //
  /KEEP RUNSORT

You have created a job file named RUNSORT. It may be used to generate reports on the data in the input file EMPLOYEE. It can also be used to generate a sort on any other input file by modifying the lines in the job file containing the INPUT and TEXT commands (see lines 3 and 8 in the example above).

Every time you run this job, you need to modify the line containing the name of the output file. If a unique name is not supplied, the system issues the message:


    OUTPUT FILE CLOSED WITH FILENAME OUTPUT1

This is followed by the SORT/XL statistics, and then another message:


  PROGRAM TERMINATED IN AN ERROR STATE.   (CIERR 976)
  REMAINDER OF JOB FLUSHED.
  CPU SEC. = 3. ELAPSED MIN. = 1. WED, JUN  3, 1987,  1:05 PM

If the system finds an existing file name for the output file, it supplies the file name OUTPUT1, OUTPUT2, ...OUTPUTn by successive ascending numbers and then aborts the job in an error state.

If this occurs, either purge the existing file COMPANY, or provide a unique name for the file designated by OUTPUT. Be sure the file designated by >OUTPUT and the file accessed by the editor are the same.

Chapter 5 Using SORT-MERGE/XL in Batch Mode

Initiating a Batch Job

Building a Job File

MPE documents