How is a linkage editor used?

Linkage editor processing follows the source program assembly or compilation of any problem program. The linkage editor is both a processing program and a service program used in association with the language translators.

Linkage editor and loader processing programs prepare the output of language translators for execution. The linkage editor prepares a load module that is to be brought into storage for execution by the program manager.

The linkage editor accepts two major types of input:

Primary input, consisting of object decks and linkage editor control statements.
Additional user-specified input, which can contain either object decks and control statements, or load modules. This input is either specified by you as input, or is incorporated automatically by the linkage editor from a call library.

Output of the linkage editor is of two types:

A load module placed in a library (a partitioned data set) as a named member
Diagnostic output produced as a sequential data set.

The loader prepares the executable program in storage and passes control to it directly.