JCL for copying data sets directly

The JCL for a copy application is the same as for a sort, except that you do not need dynamic allocation of work data sets or SORTWKdd DD statements.

This sample JCL will copy the SORT.SAMPIN data set to a temporary output data set using the OPTION COPY statement:

//EXAMP    JOB  A492,PROGRAMMER
//COPY     EXEC PGM=SORT
//SYSOUT   DD   SYSOUT=A
//SORTIN   DD   DSN=A123456.SORT.SAMPIN,DISP=SHR
//SORTOUT DD DSN=&&TEMP,DISP=(,PASS),SPACE=(CYL,(5,5)),UNIT=SYSDA
//SYSIN    DD   *
  OPTION COPY
/*

You can use SORT FIELDS=COPY or MERGE FIELDS=COPY instead of OPTION COPY to produce the same results.

Summary

In this chapter, you covered the following concepts:

Writing the SORT, COPY, or MERGE program control statements
Using JCL statements to process your sort, copy, or merge

As you continue with the tutorials, you will cover two methods of obtaining subsets of your input data set for your output data set. Including or omitting records covers allowable comparison operators, various types of constants, substring search, and padding and truncation rules for INCLUDE and OMIT.