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EXEC STATEMENT

Definition of the program to run.

The name section is user-defined, for giving more verbal name to the program.

Parameters:

• PGM (name of the load module)

• PARM (value directly sent to the program; the program receives it by using the ACCEPT clause; maximum 100 characters; optional)

• COND (classic conditional run, nowaday it is rare; optional)

• PROC (procedure call, DD override, parameter override)

The compiler places the compiled program called load module into a LOADLIB library (sometimes it is called MODLIB by developers). Such library is practically a PDS or PDS(E) file, and the members are the executable modules. The LOADLIB member names are maximum 8 character long, so is the value of the PGM parameter. The LOADLIB containing the program defined in PGM value must be pointed in a DD statement (see it there).

The PARM key is standard, the COBOL program will use is as well when receiving its value. Properties:

• the value is always text-like with single apostrophes

• receive it in COBOL via the USING clause of the PROCEDURE DIVISION along with LINKAGE SECTION definition (modern COBOL)

• receive it in COBOL via using the ACCEPT <text variable> FROM PARM sentence (old COBOL)

• in case of more data should be given, use composite value (e.g. "value1|value2", "value1 value2", "A=12, B=9")

• in case of composite value, divide the content in COBOL with UNSTRING, INSPECT, MOVE ...(n:m), FUNCTION TRIM, FUNCTION NUMVAL

See the COBOL PROCEDURE DIVISION, COBOL OPERATORS, COBOL FUNCTIONS, COBOL VARIABLES pages.

Although the PARM value can be 100-character long, the whole line can not be longer than 72 characters. In case longer value or originally multiple-line version is necessary, use:

• in-stream DD (SYSIN DD *)

• read the data from a dataset (DD DSN=,DISP=SHR)

See the JCL DD STATEMENTS for more.

COND value:

• 4,LT (if the previous RC < 4, this EXEC will be skipped)

EXAMPLE FOR EXEC STATEMENT:

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