RE: Using a Data Area in CMD Statements

["Sims, Ken" <KSIMS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ted -

>>> Is PARM a data area name . . . . DTAARA         *YES
>>
>>The DTAARA keyword, along with PGM and FILE, is only for 
>>cross-referencing information.  Anything you want to do 
>>with the data area specified on the command you must do 
>>in your command processing program.
>
>Exactly!  I'm familiar with how this works, but have never 
>seen it done.  I've never done it myself and was wondering 
>if anyone out there had a good example they could share with 
>us as to how it's done.

Okay, here is an example using FILE.  I have a command called CRTDUPFSET
(Create Duplicate File Set).  Its function is to create a duplicate of a
physical file and its associated logical files into another library.

In the command source, the parameter for the original file looks like this:

            PARM       KWD(FILE) TYPE(FILE) MIN(1) FILE(*UNSPFD) +
                         PROMPT('File')
FILE:       QUAL       TYPE(*NAME) LEN(10) MIN(1)
            QUAL       TYPE(*NAME) LEN(10) DFT(*LIBL) +
                         SPCVAL((*LIBL) (*CURLIB)) PROMPT('Library')

Note the FILE(*UNSPFD) on the PARM statement.  That means that this
parameter is a file name of "Unspecified" usage.

In a particular CL program I have the command  CRTDUPFSET OR5200TF

When I do DSPPGMREF against that CL program, among other things I see:

Object  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :     OR5200TF
  Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :       *LIBL
  Object type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :       *FILE
  File name in program  . . . . . . . . . . :       OR5200TF
  File usage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :       Unspecified

Without FILE(*IN/*OUT/*UPD/*INOUT/*UNSPFD) on the PARM statement, I would
not see the reference to the file.

It is up to the person creating the command source to make sure that any
PGM/DTAARA/FILE cross-referencing information is correct.  If I had put
DTAARA(*YES) instead of FILE(*UNSPFD) in my CRTDUPFSET command, then
DSPPGMREF for the CL program using CRTDUPFSET OR5200TF command would show
that the program uses data area OR5200TF.

Ken
Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, Inc.
Opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of
my employer or anyone in their right mind.