A large quantity of Dispatch database records need to be modified. You do not want to have to update all of the records manually through the online CA Dispatch screens.

Does CA Dispatch provide a BATCH utility that we can use to update all of the database records? Is it a documented utility and are there any basic execution instructions or "how to" samples available? 

Release: DISPAX00200-11.7-Dispatch, z/OS, DSEXLOD, DSEXLODL, batch, utility, database, load, unload, modify, delete, database, definition, records

Need batch utility to perform large scale database definition changes.

CA Dispatch does indeed provide a BATCH utility that can be used to assist clients with updating massive amounts of database records. The utility is known as the Database load/unload utility and we provide two different flavors of the utility:

1. The DSEXLOD version of the job runs with the CA Dispatch STC active - but requires that all of the CA Dispatch subtasks be shut down in order to avoid any database contention problems.

2. The DSEXLODL version of the job runs with the CA Dispatch STC completely shut down.  

* The use case scenario for this knowledge document is a situation where a customer has to update all of their database defined archive retention records. The database archive retention records are known to the database load/unload utility as TYPE J records.  

To assist you with executing the Database load/Unload utility to update the TYPE J archive retention records, you will find a basic "how to" outline below. However, you may want to read the documentation and review the associated jobs JCL first, so that the following information makes more sense...                                                 

Basics instructions are as follows:                                                     

To UNLOAD the TYPE J records...

1. Create a dataset in TSO as FB,255,255                                   

2. Go into this dataset and code the unload control card based on the      

   format for unloading the type J record in the "UNLOAD RECORD FORMAT"    

   section of the documentation. Specifically, the System 

   Programmers guide documents the format of the UNLOAD control card

   for a TYPE J record in the section entitled "Type J - Archive Report

   Definition Unload".                  

   Example: UJM *       *       *                                          

   In the above example, all type J records would be unloaded. To filter   

   what records will be unloaded, code the actual REPORT or JOBNAME in     

   place of the asterisks at the appropriate offset.                       

3. Save the unload file.                                                   

4. Update the DSEXLOD/DSEXLODL JCL "CONVERT" symbolic (which is always your

   input) to point to the file you created that has the control card. If   

   this is the FIRST time you are running the job, also set ALLOC='LT' so  

   that the UNLOAD file is created. Submit the job.                        

5. The UNLOAD file will have the actual TYPE J records in it. Edit this    

   file and make your changes. Save the file.                              

   * The Offset/Columns containing archive RETENTIONS are: 21 (GENS) and 24 (DAYS)    

    (See the documentation section entitled "Type J - Archive Report   Definition - Add, Modify, Delete").                                                       

To RELOAD the updated TYPE J records...                                                   

6. To RELOAD the records, simply change the "CONVERT" symbolic to point to 

   this UNLOAD file. It is your input file for the reload. Also, set        

   ALLOC='LE' because at this point, the files have already been created.  

* KEY POINTS *                                                             

-The CONVERT symbolic in your submit JCL always points to the "input" file for the utility.

-When "UNLOADING" the CONVERT symbolic points to the file that has the unload CONTROL CARD. This run will create an UNLOAD dataset that has all of the records in it.

-When "LOADING" the CONVERT symbolic points to the UNLOAD file that has all of the updated records in it.

For detailed information and instructions for executing batch database load/unload utility please refer to the following areas of documentation: 

 - In the CA Dispatch System Programmers Guide - Chapter 12: Using the Database Update Utility 

 - In the CA Dispatch User Guide for the Report Administrator manual - Chapter 18: Using the Database Load/Unload Utility DSEXLODL