From the course: COBOL Essential Training
What is JCL?
- [Instructor] In COBOL, it's important to understand how programs are run. Programs are run using JCL, a job control language. The JCL is a name for the scripting language that's used on IBM mainframes' operating systems to instruct the systems on how to run a batch job or how to start an online subsystem. More specifically, the purpose of JCL is to say which programs to run using which files or devices for input and output, and at times, also indicate whether or not there are additional conditions that might require you to skip a step. In a mainframe environment, programs can be executed in batch and online mode. An example of a batch system can be processing the bank transactions through a VSAM file and applying it to the corresponding accounts. An example of an online system can be a back office screen used by staff members in a bank to open a new account. In batch mode, programs are submitted to the operating system as a job through a JCL, a job control language. This course is not going to delve into the use of JCL since I'm using the GnuCOBOL installed on a personal computer, but for more information on JCL, check out this link to the IBM Knowledge Center. This site has lots of information about JCL and its uses.
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