The Project | About Us | Contribute | Donations | License
HOME My courses Completed
◄ Previous
◄

Automating System Tasks

Next ►
►

In this module, we will explore how to use Control Language (CL) to automate various system tasks. Automation can significantly improve efficiency, reduce human error, and ensure consistency in repetitive tasks. By the end of this module, you will be able to create CL programs that automate common system tasks.

Key Concepts

  1. Automation Basics: Understanding the principles of automation and its benefits.
  2. Common Automated Tasks: Identifying tasks that are commonly automated using CL.
  3. Writing Automation Scripts: Learning how to write CL scripts to automate tasks.
  4. Scheduling Automated Tasks: Using job schedulers to run automated tasks at specified times.

Automation Basics

Automation involves using scripts or programs to perform tasks without human intervention. In the context of CL, automation can help manage files, jobs, and system configurations efficiently.

Benefits of Automation

  • Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more complex activities.
  • Consistency: Ensures tasks are performed the same way every time.
  • Error Reduction: Minimizes the risk of human error.
  • Scalability: Easily scales to handle larger volumes of tasks.

Common Automated Tasks

Here are some tasks that are commonly automated using CL:

  • File Management: Copying, moving, and deleting files.
  • Job Scheduling: Running jobs at specific times or intervals.
  • System Monitoring: Checking system status and generating reports.
  • Data Backup: Automating the backup of important data.

Writing Automation Scripts

Let's start with a simple example of a CL script that automates the process of copying files from one directory to another.

Example: Copying Files

/* Copy files from source directory to target directory */
PGM

DCL VAR(&SRC) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50) VALUE('/source_directory/')
DCL VAR(&TGT) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50) VALUE('/target_directory/')
DCL VAR(&FILE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50)

/* Loop through files in the source directory */
LOOP:
    RCVF
    MONMSG MSGID(CPF0864) EXEC(GOTO CMDLBL(END))

    /* Copy file to target directory */
    CPY OBJ(&SRC *TCAT &FILE) TODIR(&TGT)
    MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) EXEC(DO)
        /* Handle errors */
        SNDPGMMSG MSG('Error copying file: ' *CAT &FILE)
    ENDDO

    GOTO CMDLBL(LOOP)

END:
    ENDPGM

Explanation

  • DCL: Declares variables for source and target directories.
  • RCVF: Receives a file from the source directory.
  • CPY: Copies the file to the target directory.
  • MONMSG: Monitors for errors and handles them appropriately.
  • LOOP: Repeats the process for all files in the source directory.

Scheduling Automated Tasks

To run automated tasks at specific times, you can use job schedulers. In CL, the ADDJOBSCDE command is used to schedule jobs.

Example: Scheduling a Job

/* Schedule a job to run the file copy script every day at midnight */
ADDJOBSCDE JOB(COPYFILES) CMD(CALL PGM(COPYFILESPGM)) 
           FRQ(*DAILY) SCDTIME('00:00') 
           JOBD(QDFTJOBD) USER(USERNAME)

Explanation

  • ADDJOBSCDE: Adds a job schedule entry.
  • JOB: Specifies the job name.
  • CMD: Specifies the command to run (calling the CL program).
  • FRQ: Sets the frequency to daily.
  • SCDTIME: Sets the scheduled time to midnight.
  • JOBD: Specifies the job description.
  • USER: Specifies the user profile under which the job will run.

Practical Exercise

Task

Write a CL script to automate the backup of a directory to a backup location and schedule it to run every Sunday at 2 AM.

Solution

/* Backup directory to backup location */
PGM

DCL VAR(&SRC) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50) VALUE('/data_directory/')
DCL VAR(&BKP) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50) VALUE('/backup_directory/')
DCL VAR(&FILE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(50)

/* Loop through files in the source directory */
LOOP:
    RCVF
    MONMSG MSGID(CPF0864) EXEC(GOTO CMDLBL(END))

    /* Copy file to backup directory */
    CPY OBJ(&SRC *TCAT &FILE) TODIR(&BKP)
    MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) EXEC(DO)
        /* Handle errors */
        SNDPGMMSG MSG('Error backing up file: ' *CAT &FILE)
    ENDDO

    GOTO CMDLBL(LOOP)

END:
    ENDPGM

Scheduling the Backup Job

/* Schedule a job to run the backup script every Sunday at 2 AM */
ADDJOBSCDE JOB(BACKUPJOB) CMD(CALL PGM(BACKUPPGM)) 
           FRQ(*WEEKLY) SCDDAY(*SUN) SCDTIME('02:00') 
           JOBD(QDFTJOBD) USER(USERNAME)

Summary

In this module, we covered the basics of automating system tasks using CL. We learned about the benefits of automation, common tasks that can be automated, and how to write and schedule automation scripts. By mastering these skills, you can significantly improve the efficiency and reliability of your system operations.

Next, we will delve into batch processing, where we will explore how to handle large volumes of data and tasks efficiently.

◄ Previous
◄
Next ►
►
The Project | About Us | Contribute | Donations | License
© Copyright 2024. All rights reserved