%%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM

%%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM values are stored in text files. In these text files:

• Each record specifies the parameter name and the associated value.
• Blank lines are ignored.
• Comment lines start with a semicolon.
• Values that contain explicit spaces are enclosed in double quotes.

This shows an example of symbol file contents:

; some comment
ABC=ABC

def="ABC DEF"
 Group    =     XYZ
 Parm2    =     "'123 567'"

The environment variable DAGLOBAL or the catalog specifies the folder for the text file(s) used by %%GLOBAL. In a similar way, for %%LIBSYM members, the folder name is extracted from an environment variable or from the catalog.

When the catalog is used, define a PDS (type Dynamic, LRECL 80, LSEQ) that refers to the folder/directory containing the members.

For %%GLOBAL, the dataset name 'DAGLOBAL' is required; for %%LIBSYM, use the specified dataset name.

This example shows resolution of %%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM control statements:

[//*] %%GLOBAL MBRNAME

[//*] %%LIBSYM DATA.SET.NAME %%MEMSYM MBRNAME

When an environment variable is used to locate the directory containing the member, the extension 'JCL' is used to find the member file name.