Listing Spool Files

August 11, 2004 Bruce Guetzkow

The code for this article is available for download.

Changing spool file attributes can be a tedious chore. IBM provides the Change Spooled File Attributes (CHGSPLFA) command to simplify this task, allowing you to select a collection of spool files based on several characteristics, but, curiously, output queue is not one of the selection criteria. The solution is the List Spooled Files API (QUSLSPL), used as a front-end to CHGSPLFA. With this API you can select spool files by any combination of user name, output queue, form type, or user data.

CREATING THE LIST

The List Spooled Files API

Optional Parameters and CL Procedures

August 11, 2004 Hey, Ted

In “Adding New Parameters to RPG Programs,” you stated that CL programs require that the exact number of expected parameters be passed to them. That’s not entirely true.

If you use ILE CL (source type CLLE), you do not have to pass in the same number of parameters as expected. You can use the same technique you described in the RPG example. You would assign the parameter to the work field with CHGVAR, but monitor the assignment for message MCH3601 (“pointer not set for location referenced”). If that message is sent, you assign the default value to the work field.

Control Break Programs, Version 3

August 11, 2004 Dear Readers

Faithful reader Doug Eckersley sent me an example of how he would write a control break program like the one I presented in the May 12 issue. Doug mentions two things he likes about his method. First, it uses subroutines, which makes the program modular, and, second, he uses no hold fields. Here’s his code.

D K1              C                   1
D K2              C                   2
D K3              C                   3
D Key           E DS                  extname(SALES:*key)

     Begsr $Main;

       NewPage = *on;
       CompanyTotal = 0;
       Except REPORTHEADER;
       Setll *start SALES;
       Read SALES;  
                 
       Dow not %eof(SALES);    
          Exsr $Level1;    
          Read SALES;
       Enddo;
       
       Except REPORTFOOTER;

     Endsr;
     
     Begsr $Level1;