If you specify stepname.keyword, where keyword is any of the relational expression keywords, stepname must identify a step containing the EXEC PGM keyword rather than one that invokes a procedure. If you specify stepname.procstepname.keyword, procstepname must identify a step containing the PGM keyword. In this case, stepname identifies the EXEC statement that invokes the procedure in which procstepname appears. Note that if stepnames are not unique within the job, such as when the same procedure is executed multiple times, results might be unpredictable; but in most cases, references to non-unique stepnames will resolve to the first occurrence of that stepname.

When you specify a step name as part of a relational expression keyword, the system tests whether the specified step started executing. If the step started executing, the system performs the test indicated by the relational expression. If the step did not start executing, the system evaluates that part of the expression as false.

You must always specify a step name when using the RUN relational-expression keywords to determine if a step or procedure step executed. For more information about step names in relational expression keywords, see z/OS MVS JCL User's Guide.