JCL A JCL ACopies a parameter from the active input buffer to the active output buffer.
A{c|\}{p}
A{c|\}{p}({n},m)
c specifies a character to surround the string being copied. Can be any non-numeric character except left parenthesis "(" or backslash "\".
\ specifies that the value is to be concatenated with the current parameter in the active output buffer.
p specifies the number of the parameter to be copied. If p is not specified, the current parameter will be copied.
n specifies the starting column in the PIB. Copying continues until the end of the parameter is reached or the number of characters specified by m have been copied.
Used on its own, the A command will copy the parameter pointed to from the active input buffer to the active output buffer.
The A command can also be used with the IF command.
If the active input buffer pointer is at the end of the buffer, the A command will have no effect.
The c option is often used when you need to surround keys with single quotes, or values with double quotes.
If you include an n or m specification, the PIB will be selected. If the destination is the SOB (stack is "on"), c will be ignored.
If the stack is "off" (the POB is active), the A command will put the data in the output buffer as a separate parameter. The buffer pointers in the primary output buffer will be positioned at the field mark at the end of the copied parameter.
If the stack is "on" (the SOB is active), the A command will concatenate the value to the previous parameter in the output buffer. It will continue to copy until a field mark is encountered. When complete, the buffer pointers will be positioned at the end of the secondary output buffer.
| Command | PIB Before | PIB After |
| A | AAA^SALES^JAN | AAA^SALES^JAN |
| ^ | ^ | |
| POB Before | POB After | |
| LIST^ | LIST^SALES^ | |
| ^ | ^ |
Note the position of the buffer pointer after you issue the A command.
| Command | PIB Before | PIB After |
| A | AAA^SALES^JAN | AAA^SALES^JAN |
| ^ | ^ | |
| POB Before | POB After | |
| LIST^SALES^ | LIST^SALES^JAN | |
| ^ | ^ |
Issuing an A"3 command would have achieved the same result, except that the starting position of the PIB pointer would have been immaterial.
| Command | PIB Before | PIB After |
| A\ | ABC^DEF^GHI | ABC^DEF^GHI |
| ^ | ^ | |
| POB Before | POB After | |
| XXX^ | XXXABC^ | |
| ^ | ^ |
| Command | PIB Before | PIB After |
| A2 (2,-2) | ABC^MYLIST^JKL | ABC^MYLIST^JKL |
| ^ | ^ | |
| POB Before | POB After | |
| SAVE-LIST^ | SAVE-LIST MYLIST | |
| ^ | ^ |
The command attempts to copy the second parameter from the PIB, starting with the second character, up to and including, the penultimate character, to the current output buffer.
JCL