The IEBGENER utility

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the default length of a dataset created using IEBGENER ?
2000 characters

2. How IEBGENER can be used for creating new datasets with specific formats
from already existing datasets ?
Use the following JCL to edit a dataset and create a new format JCL:
//ABCDEFGH JOB (xxxxxxx,020),'TEST JCL',CLASS=X,MSGCLASS=X,
// REGION=0M,NOTIFY=xxxxxxxxx
//JSTEP010 EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
//SYSUT1 DD DSN=Input data set name, DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2 DD DSN=Output Data set name,DISP=SHR
//SYSIN DD *
GENERATE MAXFLDS=3,MAXLITS=8
RECORD FIELD=(9,1,,1),
FIELD=(8,' ',,10),FIELD=(483,17,,18)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSUDUMP DD SYSOUT=*
Here the first field statement will take first 9 characters from input dataset and will be the
first 9 characters in the output dataset. Next field statement will put 8 blank positions in the
output dataset from 10 th position. Third field will copy 483 characters from input dataset
position 17 to output dataset position 18.

3. How can we convert Data mode of a dataset ?

Use the following JCL for conversion of data modes :
//ABCDEFGH JOB (xxxxxxxx,020),'TEST JCL',CLASS=X,MSGCLASS=X,
// REGION=0M,NOTIFY=xxxxx
//JSTEP010 EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
//SYSUT1 DD DSN=Input dataset, DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2 DD DSN=Output dataset,DISP=SHR
//SYSIN DD *
GENERATE MAXFLDS=1
RECORD FIELD=(9,1,PZ,1)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSUDUMP DD SYSOUT=*
//*
Here output dataset is created with first 9 characters of Input dataset with Packed Decimal
Data. Other options that can be used are:
PZ : Packed Decimal to Unpacked Decimal
HE : Convert H-set BCD data to EBCDIC
Blank : Data is moved without conversion

4. How to create a PDS from a PS ?.

Use the following JCL :
//ABCDEFG JOB (SYST­VFSSYSP,020),'TEST JCL',CLASS=X,MSGCLASS=X,
// REGION=0M,NOTIFY=xxxxx
//JSTEP010 EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
//SYSUT1 DD DSN=Input Dataset name,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2 DD DSN=PDS name,DISP=(NEW,CATLG,CATLG),
// SPACE=(CYL,(1,1,10)),
// DCB=(RECFM=FB,LRECL=500,BLKSIZE=27500)
//SYSIN DD *
GENERATE MAXNAME=2,MAXGPS=2
MEMBER NAME=TEST1
RECORD IDENT=(8,'C4700033',1)
MEMBER NAME=TEST2
RECORD IDENT=(4,'1515',38)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//*
The PDS created will contain two members TEST1 and TEST2.The last record in the
TEST1 will be decided using the RECORD IDENT statement which checks for literal
‘C4700033’ from first character in the input dataset and TEST2 contains all records after
TEST1 records and the last record has literal ‘1515’ from its 38 th position. While using this
JCL make sure that all the DCB parameters matches with the Input dataset name.

5. How to Expand an existing PDS from input sequential dataset?

Use the following JCL to expand the PDS :
//ABCDEFGH JOB (SYST­VFSSYSP,020),'TEST JCL',CLASS=X,MSGCLASS=X,
// REGION=0M,NOTIFY=xxxxx
//JSTEP010 EXEC PGM=IEBGENER
//SYSUT1 DD DSN=Input Dataset name,DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2 DD DSN=PDS Name,DISP=(OLD,CATLG,CATLG)
//SYSIN DD *
GENERATE MAXNAME=1,MAXGPS=1
MEMBER NAME=TEST3
RECORD IDENT=(8,'C4700033',1)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//*
The third member TEST3 is created using records that are having literal ‘C4700033’ in their
first 8 bit positions.

6. What is a Double Byte Character Data Set (DBCS) ? How it can be edited using
IEBGENER?
A character set in which each character is represented by a 2-byte code. Languages such
as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, which contain more symbols that can be represented
by 256 code points, require double-byte character sets. Because each character requires 2
bytes, entering, displaying, and printing DBCS characters requires hardware and supporting
software that are DBCS capable. Contrast with single-byte character set (SBCS). A
sequence of double-byte characters must be delimited by the shift-out character (X'0E') at
the left end and by the shift-in character (X'0F') at the right end.

These DBCS character sets can be edited using IEBGENER in the similar way as that of
SBCS character sets. Only difference is that add a DBCS=YES indicator with the Generate
statement.

7. How IEBGENER is used to send mails?

IEBGENER creates a dataset of mail text, which will be delivered by the SMTP task to the
TCP/IP destination. Specifying the spool and SMTP in the SYSUT2 control statement
creates this dataset.

8. I can’t get the IEBGENER SMTP Job to send mail. Can you help me?
You should ensure that the SMTP task is correctly configured and operational at your site. If
IBM’s SMTPNOTE command doesn’t send mail, the IEBGENER examples won’t work
either.