BSA supports static system symbols. Static system symbols are used to represent fixed values such as system names and sysplex names.
In the following, this function will be referred to as SYSVAR support.
Static system symbols and their substitution text are defined in member IEASYMxx in the SYS1.PARMLIB. The substitution text is defined at system initialization and remains fixed for the life of an IPL. There are two types of static system symbols:
To enable SYSVAR support, code the following keyword in member B01LSTxx in the BETA.PARMLIB:
SYSVAR_SUPPORT = YES
The general rules on coding system variables apply when coding SYSVARs in LST members or in the JCL. For more information on these rules, please refer to the corresponding IBM publication.
When SYSVAR support is enabled, static system variables are replaced by the substitution values defined in the IEASYMxx member. The following indicates when variables are (or are not) substituted.
All static system variables that are used in the product LST members are substituted with the values defined for this system.
Note: No variable substitution takes place when keywords defined in member B01LSTxx are processed.
All static system variables that are used in the dataset names stored in the database definition file are substituted with the values defined for this system. (You cannot use static system variables in the dataset name of the database definition file itself.)
All static system variables that are used in the FORMAT statement for the program BST05FOR are substituted with the values defined for this system.
The REXX writes the names of the static system variables to the members. The variables will later be substituted by the Beta function or the JES interpreter when they need the corresponding value.
The program writes the names of the static system variables to the database definition file. The variables are substituted when the corresponding datasets are opened.
Please note the following when you are using static system symbols in dataset names of BQL databases:
Each static system symbol will be substituted with the value defined for this system. This may lead to problems when several systems share one database. You must ensure that the resulting dataset names are available on each system after variable substitution has taken place.
SYSVAR support does not apply to the following:
For more information on using and coding system symbols, see the IBM publication MVS Initialization and Tuning Reference.