STEPLIB
A DD statement that tells z/OS which libraries to search first for the program a job step runs.
Also written JOBLIB, load library, link list, LNKLST
When a job step says EXEC PGM=ACCTUPD, z/OS has to find a program called ACCTUPD. STEPLIB is a DD statement that tells it where to look first. It points at one or more load libraries, the libraries that hold ready-to-run programs.
JOBLIB does the same for every step in the job. It goes right after the JOB statement. If a step has its own STEPLIB, that step uses it instead of the JOBLIB.
If the program is not in those libraries, z/OS searches the system's own libraries, including a list of common libraries called the link list. If it still cannot find the program, the step ends with abend S806, "module not found".
Sites use STEPLIB to choose which version of a program runs: a job in test might point at the test load library, and the same job in production at the production library. When a job runs an old version of your program, or cannot find it at all, check STEPLIB and JOBLIB first.
Where can I learn this hands-on?
Right here, at ZedBank. You take a junior job at a simulated bank and learn each part of the work by doing it, with Zed beside you. There's nothing to install.
Start at ZedBankRelated
- Load moduleThe runnable form of a program, stored in a library, which JCL executes by name.
- EXEC statementThe JCL statement that starts a step by naming the program or procedure to run.
- DD statementThe JCL statement that connects a name inside a program to a real dataset outside it.
- PDSEThe modern version of a partitioned dataset, which reclaims space automatically and removes the old size limits.
- Link-editCombining compiled object code with the other modules it needs into a single runnable program.
- Job stepOne program execution within a job. A job is simply a sequence of steps that run in order.