Symbol Replacement

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# Symbol Replacement

Symbols are replaced during network or job activation or during job submission:

- Symbols starting with the activation escape character are resolved during JCL loading, as part of the job activation.

- Symbols starting with the submission escape character are resolved during job submission.

  Note
  If a symbol replacement error occurs at submission time, the event JNR `Job not run - JCL error` will be set to `occurred`. If the event JNR is not defined, it will be added to the active job.

Note for BS2000:

BS2000 SYSJV references (for example, `&($SYSJV.TSN`) are no longer treated as Entire Operations symbols, regardless of whether they are prefixed with an ampersand (`&`) denoting an activation escape or submission escape character.

This document covers the following topics:

- Symbol Escape Characters

- Symbol Prompting during Network or Job Activation

- Displaying Descriptions of Prompted Symbols

- Repeating Symbol Prompting

- Specifying User Exits for Symbol Modification

- Rules and Restrictions for Symbol Replacement

## Symbol Escape Characters

In JCL and Natural macro sources, the symbols to be substituted must be preceded by an escape character.

You can use different escape characters to determine whether symbol replacement is performed during JCL generation or job submission.

The following escape characters can be used in parallel in your Entire Operations environment:

- Activation Escape Character

  Symbols preceded by the activation escape character are replaced at activation of a network or job.

  If a JCL file contains the activation escape character, a symbol replacement is performed:

  - During JCL editing (temporary, using the symbol table master).

  - During JCL loading (permanently, using the active symbol table).

- Submission Escape Character

  Symbols preceded by the submission escape character (also called submit escape character) are replaced during submission of a job. They can be used to pass symbol values that cannot be specified earlier when the job is activated.

Both activation escape and submission escape characters can be defined as system-wide defaults in the Entire Operations default settings (see Defaults for Network Options in the Administration documentation). However, different escape characters can be used for each job, if necessary.

You can also specify escape characters in your JCL or macro source. See also Defining Escape Characters.

Caution
If you change escape character definitions for existing JCL, symbols to be replaced can no longer be detected. In this case, consider defining escape characters in your JCL or macro source.

This section covers the following topics:

- Recommended Escape Characters

- Defining Escape Characters

### Recommended Escape Characters

We recommend that you use the following escape characters:

Operating System | Escape Characters
--- | ---
z/OS | `§` (section sign) and `$` (dollar sign).
z/VSE | `§` (section sign) and `#` (number sign).
BS2000 | `^` (circumflex accent) and ``` (grave accent). Do not use `$` (dollar sign), `§` (section sign) and `@` (commerical at sign) because they have a special meaning in BS2000.
UNIX, Windows | No recommendation, except for UNIX: Do not use `$` (dollar sign) because it has a special meaning in UNIX.

Caution
We strongly recommend that you do not define escape characters already used by other (operating system specific) JCL features, for example, parameters for DO procedures and SUBDTA characters in BS2000.

### Defining Escape Characters

This section describes the options provided to define your default activation and submission escape characters.

- Default Settings

  The Network Options page of the Entire Operations Defaults function (see the Administration documentation) is used to define the default for all networks in your Entire Operations environment.

  On the Operating System Specials page, you can also define the default escape characters for each operating system.

- Network Definition

  Defines the default escape characters to be used by all jobs of a network.

- Job Definition

  Defines the default escape characters to be used by an individual job.

- Definitions in JCL and Macro Sources

  In JCL and Natural macro sources, the symbols to be substituted must be preceded by an escape character.

  You can define default escape characters in Entire Operations JCL or macro sources by coding one or both of the following meta statements as the first source line(s):

      #EOR-ESC-ACT = activation-character
      #EOR-ESC-SUB = submit-character

  For example:

      #EOR-ESC-ACT = §
      #EOR-ESC-SUB = ^

  The `#EOR-ESC-ACT = activation-character` meta statement is evaluated when the JCL containing this statement is loaded. `activation-character` replaces the current activation escape character in the current file. This replacement influences symbol replacement only, not a meta statement defined in a macro (Natural statement). The `#EOR-ESC-ACT` meta statement is removed from the active JCL after loading.

  The `#EOR-ESC-SUB = submission-character` meta statement is evaluated during job submission. `submission-character` replaces the current submission escape character in the current file. This replacement influences symbol replacement only, not a meta statement defined in a macro (Natural statement). The `#EOR-ESC-SUB` meta statement is kept in the active JCL after loading.

  Both meta statements are logged when they are evaluated during JCL loading or job submission.

  If you add a meta statement to a Natural macro source, you must recatalog the source with the `MACRO` command.

  Note about Trigraphs:

  Trigraph encoding uses question marks (`?`) as escape characters in the JCL definition. You can avoid decoding conflicts by switching trigraph encoding off and on in the JCL as described in Trigraph Encoding for JCL Submission on UNIX and Windows.

## Symbol Prompting during Network or Job Activation

Entire Operations provides a standard method for symbol prompting to replace symbols during network activation. Standard symbol prompting is not used in jobs of the type `NET` (subnetworks).

If any of the activated jobs are jobs with JCL location `MAC` or jobs of the type `JOB` whose JCL contains symbols for variable values, these symbols are replaced by their current values during the manual activation, except those that are defined to be replaced at submission time.

In a job network definition and in the subsidiary jobs, several symbol tables can be defined. During a network or job activation, all symbol tables are prompted sequentially, which contain at least one symbol to be prompted.

Notes:

1. Up to 100 different symbol tables can be prompted during a network activation.
2. The message `EOR1830 - More than :1: Symbol Tables in Network` will be shown as a warning if the network uses more symbol tables. In this case, some symbol table might not be prompted. If symbol table versions are used, the determination of the current symbol table version might not work properly.
3. If the activation is manual and if the JCL of a job contains symbols that are defined to be prompted, you are prompted for the values to be used in this activation. You can add new symbols and modify existing symbols of the active symbol table used during the network activation.

To modify and confirm symbols and save the active symbol table as a file

1. Activate a network with at least one symbol defined for prompting.

   A Symbol Prompting window like the example below opens:

   The window lists all symbols defined for prompting during network activation and the symbol table master that contains the symbols.

   In the example above, different symbol tables are used for prompting: `EXAM-TABLE` is defined for the `SAG-PROMPT` network and `EXAM-TABLE <T-V1>` is defined for a job contained in the network. The `CLASS` symbol from `EXAM-TABLE` is listed twice because two multiple values (`20` and `7`) are defined for this symbol. The description defined for the `EMAIL` symbol is shown in the Description of selected symbol section. In this example, the `SAG-PROMPT` network is activated for `Run 112`.

2. You can add new symbols, modify existing symbol values or leave them unchanged.

   If you want to change symbol parameters not listed in the Symbol Prompting window (for example, the format of a symbol), select the required symbol from the table and choose Modify to open a Maintenance Symbol Active window for this symbol. The fields in this window are explained in Fields: Symbol.

   The columns contained in the window are explained in Columns: Symbol Prompting, all options and functions provided in the window are explained in Options and Functions: Symbol Prompting.

   Note
   If a validation check is defined for the symbol, you can only enter a valid symbol value. Incorrect values are rejected, and a user-defined error message is issued.

3. Choose Continue when you are finished.

   If Save active symbol table as file and Symbol printing after prompting is selected in your user profile (see in the Administration documentation), a window opens for entering file specification parameters: see To save an active symbol table in the section Saving Symbol Table Information as a File.

   If a workplan is defined for the network and Show workplan after activation is selected in your user profile (see GUI General in the Administration documentation), a Workplan window opens.

   Network activation starts after the last window closes.

The new symbol values remain in the symbol table until the symbol table is modified specifically or until the next prompting after manual activation of a job network that uses the symbol table.

This section covers the following topics:

- Columns: Symbol Prompting

- Options and Functions: Symbol Prompting

### Columns: Symbol Prompting

The columns of the Symbol Prompting window are explained in the following table:

Column | Description
--- | ---
Symbol Table | Name and version (if defined) of the symbol table master that contains the symbol.
Symbol | Name of the symbol defined for prompting.
Value | Value of the symbol defined for prompting.

### Options and Functions: Symbol Prompting

The options and functions provided in the Symbol Prompting window are explained in the following table:

Option/Function | Description
--- | ---
Add | Add a new symbol for the symbol table selected in the window. A Create new Symbol Active window opens for the selected symbol table. The fields and tabbed pages in this window are explained in Fields: Symbol.
Modify | Change symbol parameters not listed in the Symbol Prompting window (for example, the format). A Maintenance Symbol Active window opens for the selected symbol. The fields and tabbed pages in this window are explained in Fields: Symbol.
Description of selected symbol | Shows the descriptive text of the symbol currently selected in the Symbol Prompting window. See also Displaying Descriptions of Prompted Symbols.
Save active symbol table as file | Select this option if you want to save the active symbol table as a file after network activation.

## Displaying Descriptions of Prompted Symbols

To display the description defined for a prompted symbol

- In the Symbol Prompting window select the table row that contains the symbol whose description you want to display.

  The descriptive text is then displayed in the Description of selected symbol section of the Symbol Prompting window. In the example of the window, the description that belongs to the `EMAIL` symbol is shown.

  Text is only available if it has been entered in the Prompt Text field of a symbol definition (see Fields: Symbol).

## Repeating Symbol Prompting

To repeat symbol prompting from the beginning

1. Choose Cancel or Cancel Activation to cancel the current network or job activation.

2. Start the activation again.

## Specifying User Exits for Symbol Modification

You can specify a customized user exit routine that defines your own validation checks and help information for symbol prompting. This can be used to modify active symbols depending on the values of other symbols, or of anything else.

You can then adapt a symbol table during each job run with or without using a window that prompts you for input. If you do not use a prompt window, the symbol table is adapted automatically in the background.

For details on defining user exit routines, see User Exits for Validation Checks of Symbol Values in the section User Exits.

To specify a user exit for symbol modification

1. In a Network Master window, open the tabbed page Symbol Prompting:

2. Specify the type of symbol prompting by defining the Natural library and the respective user exit routine. The fields are explained in Fields: Symbol Prompting User Exit.

3. Choose OK when you are finished.

This section covers the following topics:

- Fields: Symbol Prompting User Exit

- Example of an Active Symbol Table List

### Fields: Symbol Prompting User Exit

The input fields of the Symbol Prompting page are described in the following table:

Field | Description
--- | ---
Natural Library | Name of the Natural library where the symbol prompting user exit resides.
User Exit | Name of the symbol prompting user exit.
Symbol Modification | Symbol modification option(s). Possible check box settings:
during prompting (checked) | A prompt window opens (default). You are asked to modify or confirm symbols defined for prompting for the active symbol table. See also Example of an Active Symbol Table List.
in Background (checked) | No prompt window opens. The symbol modification is managed by the user exit routine which runs in the background.
(both boxes checked) | Performs both modification options: A prompt window opens first and then symbol modification is managed by the specified user exit. This allows you to set other symbols which are dependent on prompting.

### Example of an Active Symbol Table List

The following is an example of an output file generated for an active symbol table using Entire Operations GUI Client:

The file lists the current status of the symbols defined for the symbol table `EXAM-TABLET-V3` which is prompted when the network `SAG-PROMPT` is activated.

## Rules and Restrictions for Symbol Replacement

Notes:

1. Symbol replacement is always attempted if at least one of the activation or submission escape characters currently in effect is found in a source line (see the section Symbol Escape Characters). It is not necessary for a symbol table to be defined on the job or network level. Symbols can also be replaced via global symbol tables. Predefined symbols can be replaced without having to define a symbol table.
2. If an escape character is detected and no symbol table is defined, the error message `no symbol table defined` is issued.

This section covers the following topics:

- Symbol Table Types and Symbol Search Order

- Actions Triggered for Missing Symbols

- Nested Replacement

- Symbol Replacement in JCL

- Import/Export Restrictions

- Escape Character

- Indicator for End of a Symbol Name

- Symbol Replacement Algorithm

- Fixed Positions within a JCL Line

- Symbol Replacement with Multiple Symbol Values

- Symbol Replacement in Subnetworks

#### Related Topic:

- Predefined Symbols

### Symbol Table Types and Symbol Search Order

The types of symbol tables available and the search order used to find and replace symbols in symbol tables are described in the following section.

Entire Operations first searches for a symbol in the active user-specific symbol table. After this, it searches in the user-defined symbol table master, in the network default symbol table, and finally in the system-wide symbol table. If it searches for the symbol in a subnetwork, the symbol tables of the calling job of the type `NET` as well as the symbol tables of the superior job networks are searched (in ascending order) if necessary.

Symbol Table Type | Description | Search Order
--- | --- | ---
`JA` (Job active) | Active symbol table referenced by the active job. | 1
`NA` (Network, active) | Active symbol table referenced by the network. | 2
`CA` (Calling job) | Active symbol table referenced by the calling job. This only applies if the active job is within a subnetwork. Depending on the subnetwork nesting level, several symbol tables of calling jobs can be searched. The search operation can repeat in ascending order. | 3
`CN` (Calling network) | Active symbol table referenced by the calling network. Depending on the subnetwork nesting level, several symbol tables of calling networks can be searched. The search operation can repeat in ascending order. | 4
`JM` (Job master) | Symbol table referenced by the job master. | 5
`NV` (Network version) | Symbol table referenced in the network version. | 6
`OD` (Owner default) | Symbol table master `owner/A`. `owner` is the current owner of the active job. The symbol table `owner/A` is searched even if there is no symbol table definition on the job level and/or network level. | 7
`SD` (System default) | Symbol table master `SYSDBA/A`. The symbol table `SYSDBA/A` is searched even if there is no symbol table definition on the job level and/or network level. | 8

Note
If you invoke the link to the symbol table(s) in the object network, job master or active job, you will get a list of all usable symbol tables for this object in the hierarchical order described above.

### Actions Triggered for Missing Symbols

The following actions are triggered as soon as a symbol cannot be found in any symbol table:

> A message is written to the log

>   A message is written to the system log file (see Log Information), for example:

>       Symbol XYZ not found
>       ... Symbol Table EXAMPLE/SYMTAB1

>   The logged symbol table (here: `SYMTAB1`) is the first symbol table searched upward in the symbol table hierarchy. Example: If no symbol table has been defined at the job level, the symbol table defined for the network is logged.

> A global message is sent

>   A `symbol not found` message containing the name of the searched symbol table is sent if the Global Message Sending Exit (see the Administration documentation) is enabled in your environment.

> A global message is saved in the event store

>   An appropriate message including the name of the searched symbol table is saved in the event store if the Symbol not found and Event Store options of the Global Messages and Exits function (see the Administration documentation) are enabled in your environment.

> The problem is handled by a global user exit

>   A user exit takes action for the missing symbol to resolve the problem and continue processing if the Global Symbol Not Found Exit (see the Administration documentation) is defined and enabled in your environment.

> Current processes are aborted

>   Current operations (for example, JCL loading) are terminated if a problem with missing symbols cannot be resolved.

### Nested Replacement

Symbols can be used within other symbols (nested).

For nested replacement of symbols, the following rules apply:

- On the top level, only the escape character defined for the job or network is checked and replaced.

- If the activation escape character is used on a nested level, only activation escape characters are replaced on deeper levels. This is necessary to prevent too early replacements of submission escape characters.

- If the submission escape character is used on a nested level, submission and activation escape characters are replaced on deeper levels.

> Example of Nested Replacement

>   Symbol | Value
>   --- | ---
>   `PREFIX` | `EOR`
>   `STEPLIB` | `§PREFIX..EXAMPLE.LOAD`

>   `§STEPLIB` is replaced by `EOR.EXAMPLE.LOAD`.

>   Note
>   If a point marks the end of a symbol, it is deleted on replacement. With nested replacement, the deletion takes place replacement by replacement. Thus, a sufficient number of points must be coded. If a point is to remain at the end of the symbol, two points must be coded.

> Example of Nested Symbol Replacement in JCL

>       /* IN §JJ. SOFTWARE AG

>   changes to the following when `J` = `20` and `JJ` = `§J.01`:

>       /* IN 2001 SOFTWARE AG

>   The advantage of this method is that symbol replacement is performed within the fixed positions.

### Symbol Replacement in JCL

For symbol replacement in JCL submitted on mainframes (z/OS, z/VSE and BS2000), the following particularities apply:

Column 72 contains one blank and the columns 73 to 80 contain digits. | Columns 71 to 80 of the line are saved before the first replacement, and they are written back after the last replacement.
Column 72 contains a hyphen (`-`) and the columns 73 to 80 contain blanks. | Columns 71 to 80 of the line are saved before the first replacement, and they are written back after the last replacement.
Column 71 contains a comma (`,`) and the columns 72 to 80 contain blanks. | Columns 71 to 80 of the line are saved before the first replacement, and they are written back after the last replacement.
Intermediate results | Intermediate results can even be longer than 71 characters. They are only overwritten by possibly saved strings at the end of the replacement as a whole.

### Import/Export Restrictions

Avoid the equal sign (`=`) within a symbol value. This causes problems during import or export operations of symbol tables.

### Escape Character

Symbols to be replaced are detected by a preceding escape character anywhere in the JCL. See Symbol Escape Characters for details and Example of Nested Symbol Replacement in JCL.

### Indicator for End of a Symbol Name

Symbol names end with one of the following delimiter characters:

blank ( ), comma (`,`), semicolon (`;`),
period (`.`), apostrophe (`'`), commercial at (`@`),
percent sign (`%`), logical not (`¬`), ampersand (`&`),
parenthesis (`(` or `)`), or equal sign (`=`).

Example: `§SYMBOL-1;`.

A single period (`.`) after a symbol is removed during replacement. But two consecutive periods (`..`) are converted to one period (`.`). This is important for the dynamic creation of file names.

### Symbol Replacement Algorithm

The following algorithm is used for symbol replacement:

1. Search for the symbol farthest to the left.

   If none (or no more) available -> end.

2. Replacement

   In case of error -> end.

3. Write updated line.

   Continue at (1).

   This makes nested symbol replacement (symbols within symbols) possible.

### Fixed Positions within a JCL Line

This section applies to JCL submitted on mainframes only.

Multiple symbol replacement can cause a shift within a line. However, in the following cases, parts of the line are kept in a fixed position:

1. Symbols do not follow one another directly.

2. The columns 72 to 80 always remain fixed. If the column 70 contains a blank and column 71 a comma, then these will also remain fixed.

3. If a symbol is followed by at least two blank spaces, the rest of the line is kept in its original position, unless the symbol value would overlap with it. For example:

       /FILE ABC.§VAR             COMMENT

   changes to the following when `VAR` = `REPLACE`:

       /FILE ABC.REPLACE          COMMENT

4. If a symbol is followed directly by continuous text, then by at least two blank spaces, then by an exclamation mark (`!`) and continuous text: the symbol is replaced and the exclamation mark (`!`) is replaced by blank spaces. For example:

       /FILE ABC.§VAR..XYZ       !COMMENT

   changes to the following when `VAR` = `REPLACE`:

       /FILE ABC.REPLACE..XYZ     COMMENT

### Symbol Replacement with Multiple Symbol Values

If you want to replace a symbol with multiple values when a job is activated numerous times concurrently, you must use `P-SUFFIX` to identify the variable to be replaced. This is the variable you entered in the Suffix Symbol field in the Job Master Definition window (see the field description in the section Job Maintenance).

For information on defining multiple symbol values, see the symbol functions `!MV` or `?MV` and `!MM` or `?MM` described in the section Functions for Symbol Replacement.

Note
If Suffix Symbol contains no values, then the multiple job is activated as a temporary dummy job.

You can obtain a specific occurrence of a multiple-value symbol by using the symbol function `!MV` or `?MV`.

### Symbol Replacement in Subnetworks

If you want to enter symbols in subnetworks as well, you can attach a symbol table to the main network; this table contains all symbols to be queried in the jobs of the subnetwork(s). At the same time, the symbol table can be linked to the corresponding jobs of the subnetwork(s) by means of symbols whose values are not to be retrieved. After symbol entry, this creates active symbol tables attached to the main network.

On the job level, Entire Operations tries to load the symbols from the level(s) above if a symbol with the corresponding symbol table is not found, for example from the active symbol table of the main network. Entire Operations does not create active symbol tables on subnetwork job levels as the run numbers are not yet known at the time of the main network's activation and as symbol prompting is activated first.

### On this page

- Symbol Escape Characters
- Symbol Prompting during Network or Job Activation
- Displaying Descriptions of Prompted Symbols
- Repeating Symbol Prompting
- Specifying User Exits for Symbol Modification
- Rules and Restrictions for Symbol Replacement