Using Easytrieve Plus course outline

Using Easytrieve Plus

Duration: 3 days (experienced programmers) or 4 days (novice programmers)

Audience: Programmers who need to read and/or modify Easytrieve programs

Prequisites: Good working knowledge of a programming language

The IMS interface can also be included in this course.

Objectives: Top Contents

On successful completion of this course each student will be able to:

* describe the structure and flow of operation of an Easytrieve job
* code FILE statements for QSAM and VSAM files
* use macros in data definitions
* given a record description, code the FILE definitions needed by Easytrieve
* code a REPORT definition for sequenced data
* code TITLE, HEADING, and LINE definitions
* use processing statements to control the flow of execution
* code processing statements which assign values to data fields
* code statements which process records from VSAM and QSAM files
* define and process in-stream tables
* define and process indexed tables
* code SEARCH statements to process tables
* define and use report procedures
* create extract files
* merge/match two files (synchronised input)
* merge/match three or more files
* process sorted files
* use the DB2 interface to access DB2 data

Contents: Top Objectives

Getting started
Introduction, structure of an Easytrieve program: FILE, JOB, REPORT; simple examples; JCL requirements; compilation process and options; LIST; PARM statement; syntax rules, continuation rules, comments; processing cycle.

Defining data
The FILE statement, system-defined fields; creating files; use of asterisk in fieldnames; categories A, N, P, U, B; edit masks; working storage fields; categories W and S, system-defined fields.

Producing reports
REPORT statement; standard, label, sequenced reports; CONTROL reports; TITLE, HEADING, LINE; SUM; SORT statement and its use; alternate column headings; printer files and corresponding JCL.

Basic processing statements
JOB and SORT activities; assigning values, arithmetic, MOVE, testing conditions: IF, DO WHILE, GOTO, PERFORM, CASE, STOP, DISPLAY, PRINT; defining and invoking PROCs.

Handling files
QSAM and VSAM files; READ, WRITE, GET, PUT, DISPLAY, POINT, PRINT, testing for end-of-file, file status, reformatting records, extract files, sort, match/merge, virtual files.

Table handling
In-stream tables; external tables; indexed tables: OCCURS, INDEX, SEARCHing tables; working with variable length records and segmented data.

Advanced processing
PERFORM, START, FINISH, controlled input, bit manipulation, creating and using macros, calls, interface with PARM on EXEC, return code to JCL, producing percentages, report procedures.

DB2 interface
SQL calls and facilities; how the interface works.