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The Reports › Running Reports Manually › Specifying Report Parameters

Specifying Report Parameters

For information on the valid parameters for each report, see the appropriate chapter.

You can use one or both of the following methods to specify report parameters when running report generators manually:

  1. As a command parameter. Enter report parameters on the command following the report name, such as: 
    ACFRPTCL STIME(0800) ETIME(1700)

    If the command parameter string ends with a dash ( ), CA ACF2 for z/VM considers the parameters as continued and uses the SYSIN file for additional parameters. If a command parameter string begins with an asterisk (*), CA ACF2 for z/VM treats it as a comment. You cannot continue a comment.

    The first 35 characters of the parameter string are moved to the user title area in the heading of the report. The user title area does not use a comment. If you specify the TITLE parameter, CA ACF2 for z/VM replaces the parameter string in the user title area.

  2. From the SYSIN file, as described in the Common Files section. If you entered a FILEDEF command for the SYSIN file, that file is always processed. If you did not issue a CMS FILEDEF command for SYSIN and there are no command parameters (or if the command parameters are continued), ACFRPTS uses the default of TERMINAL. The SYSIN file is not processed if you enter command parameters (including a comment) and if you did not issue a FILEDEF command for SYSIN.

    A dash ( ) at the end of a record is a continuation character and adds the following record to the end of this continued record, replacing the continuation character. This lets you enter long parameters. If ACFRPTS does not find the continuing record, it issues an error message.

    A record that begins with an asterisk (*) is a comment record that is completely ignored. ACFRPTS also ignores blank records unless they immediately follow a continued record. In this case, it issues an error message.

You can separate command parameters with a blank or comma. Enter the parameters in the same manner, whether you enter them as command parameters, in a SYSIN file, from disk, or in reply to a SYSIN file prompt. Some examples are shown below:

STIME(0800) ETIME(1700)

STIME(0800,ETIME(1700)

STIME(0800,ETIME(-1700)

The ACFRPTS utility only allows the report generators to use the SYSIN file to obtain report parameters (it does not use the command parameter). The default uses TERMINAL as the input device for SYSIN. The report generator prompts you for the report parameters. If you previously entered a CMS FILEDEF command for SYSIN, the report generator uses that device.