SYSOUT parameter

Parameter type

Keyword, optional

Purpose

Use the SYSOUT parameter to identify this data set as a system output data set, usually called a sysout data set.

Do not use the SYSOUT parameter for an SMS-managed data set (one with an assigned storage class).

The SYSOUT parameter also:
  • Assigns this sysout data set to an output class. The attributes of each output class are defined during JES initialization.
  • Optionally requests an external writer to process the sysout data set rather than JES. An external writer is an IBM- or installation-written program.
  • Optionally identifies the forms on which the data set is to be printed or punched.
  • Optionally refers to a JES2 /*OUTPUT statement for processing parameters.
The sysout data set is processed according to the following processing options, in override order:
  1. The options specified on this sysout DD statement.
  2. The options specified on a referenced OUTPUT JCL statement.
  3. The options specified on a referenced JES2 /*OUTPUT statement or on a JES3 //*FORMAT statement.
  4. The installation default options for the requested output class.
Note:
  1. If a sysout data set has the same class as the JOB statement MSGCLASS parameter, the job log appears on the same output listing as this sysout data set.
  2. An installation should maintain a list of available output classes and their attributes. Some classes should be used for most printing and punching, but others should be reserved for special processing. Each class is processed by an output writer. The system operator starts the output writers for the commonly used output classes. If you plan to specify a special output class, ask the operator to start the output writer for that class. If the writer is not started before the job produces the sysout data set, the data set is retained until the writer is started.
  3. If the automatic restart manager (ARM) restarts a job, JES discards all non-spin sysout data sets created during the previous execution. (You can avoid losing that output by adding SPIN=UNALLOC to the DD statement for the SYSOUT data set.)

References

For information on output writers and external writers, see z/OS MVS Using the Subsystem Interface.

Parent topic: DD statement