Writing CLISTs

The CLIST language is a high-level interpretive language that enables you to work more efficiently with TSO/E. You can write programs, called CLISTs (or command procedures), that perform given tasks or groups of tasks. CLISTs can handle any number of tasks, from issuing multiple TSO/E commands to invoking programs written in other languages.

Because the CLIST language is an interpretive language, CLISTs are easy to test and do not require you to compile or link-edit them. To test a CLIST, you simply execute it, correct any errors, and re-execute it.

The CLIST language supports a range of programming functions including:

CLIST statements that allow you to write structured programs, perform I/O, define and modify variables, and handle errors and attention interruptions.
Arithmetic and logical operators for processing numeric data.
String-handling functions for processing character data.

CLISTs can perform a range of tasks. For example,

CLISTs can perform routine tasks, such as allocating data sets that are required for particular programs.
The CLIST language enables you to write structured applications by using subprocedures within a CLIST, invoking other CLISTs, defining common data for subprocedures and CLISTs, and passing parameters between CLISTs or subprocedures.
CLISTs allow you to easily write interactive applications by issuing commands of the Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF) to display full-screen panels.
CLISTs can provide interfaces, which are easy to use, to applications written in other languages. CLISTs can prompt terminal users for information on the tasks they request, set up the environment needed for the application, and then issue the commands needed to invoke the application program.

For information on creating, executing, and testing CLISTs, see z/OS TSO/E CLISTs.