I still say dump the request for a change to PARM length max for JCL and/or the PARMX=. For __NEW__ functionality, implement POSIX environment variables into the JCL. Perhaps using the current SET syntax! Then __NEW__ programs can do an getenv() type call to grab the environment variable(s) they are interested in. The plus of this is that others, in other threads, have wanted to be able to get the contents of SET variables in their programs. Again, this would allow that. But it would take a change to the converter/intepreter as well as the initiator. Another plus is that you could use this instead of parsing the PARM field.
For example, instead of: // EXEC PGM=MYPROG, // PARM='VAR1=VAL1,VAR2=VAL2,VAR7=VAL7,VAR3=VAL3' You could have: // SET VAR1=VAL1 // SET VAR2=VAL2 // SET VAR7=VAL7 // SET VAR3=VAL3 // EXEC PGM=MYPROG and MYPROG would simply do a getenv("VAR1") to get the value of VAR1 and so on. No parsing of the PARM= needed. It would also simplify using UNIX programs because the environment variables could be set in JCL (and as symbolic parameters passed into a PROC) instead of somehow getting them in via the //STDENV statement (which doesn't do symbolic substitution). Just my from-left-field idea, yet again. -- John McKown Systems Engineer IV IT Administrative Services Group HealthMarkets(r) 9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010 (817) 255-3225 phone * (817)-961-6183 cell john.mck...@healthmarkets.com * www.HealthMarkets.com Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. HealthMarkets(r) is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc. -The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company(r), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of TennesseeSM and The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.SM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html