A JCL with 255 steps and then what?

[Pratima P]

Hi,

I think it can be considered as a hypothetical question though, as a job can had maximum of 255 steps. So if we want to execute more than 255 steps, what is the method to do it? Should we trigger another jcl then?

[Robert Sample]

If you have a need to run more than 255 steps, you create two or more jobs -- each with 255 or less steps -- to do so. How the jobs get executed (SUBMIT or job scheduler or whatever) is site-dependent.

[Pratima P]

Thanks. So that's the only way round, just want to confirm once again?

[Robert Sample]

Let me make it perfectly clear. A job can have no more than 255 steps -- PERIOD. If you have a need to create a job with more than 255 steps, you can:
1) create multiple jobs, each having 255 steps or less
2) reduce the number of required steps (by eliminating unnecessary steps, for example)

You can easily confirm this in the JCL Reference manual -- if you feel the need to confirm what you have already been told, again.