SORT-MERGE/XL General User's Guide (32650-90883)
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5 Using SORT-MERGE/XL in Batch Mode
This chapter discusses using SORT-MERGE/XL in batch mode. It shows how to build a job
file, initiate it, schedule it, and terminate it if necessary.
You can create a job file containing SORT-MERGE/XL commands and run it in batch mode.
A batch job, which can contain one or more commands, is executed independently of your
interactive session. This frees your terminal for other processing. This technique is known
as streaming a job and is initiated with the MPE XL :STREAM command. The section below,
"Initiating a Batch Job" discusses streaming a job file.
Building a Job File
A job file is created using an editor text processor such as EDIT/V. The first line of the job
file must begin with the :JOB command. This is followed by the logon to the appropriate
user.account,group
. The logon must include all necessary passwords. A batch job is
terminated with the :EOJ command. For additional information on the :JOB and :EOJ
commands refer to the MPE XL Commands Reference Manual.
When creating a batch job, use a substitute character for the MPE XL colon prompt. MPE
XL expects the exclamation point (!) as the substitute prompt, but you may choose another
special character for this purpose. This substitute prompt must appear in column one of
each record, followed by the remainder of the command.
It is not necessary to indicate subsystem prompts or use a substitute character for them.
Notice in the example below that the SORT/XL subsystem chevron (>) prompt does not
appear before the SORT/XL INPUT, OUTPUT, KEY, or END commands.
The following job file logs into a
group
of a
user.account
, enters the SORT/XL subsystem,
initiates a multiple key sort on the input file EMPLOYEE, creates the output file COMPANY,
and accesses EDIT/V to list the contents of the file. The job is then printed on the system
printer. This job file was created using EDIT/V, but other editors may be used. Check with
your System Manager to determine which editors are available on your system.
:RUN EDITOR.PUB.SYS
HP 32201A.07.17 EDIT/3000 WED, JUN 3, 1987 1:00 PM
© HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1985
/A
1 !JOB JOBNAME,USER/PASSWORD.ACCOUNT/PASSWORD,GROUP
2 !SORT
3 INPUT EMPLOYEE