Implementing Schedule Control Files › Schedule Control Files

Schedule Control Files

A control file (CTL file) is a data set that contains file filter definitions used in a schedule to monitor file transfers. The CTL file can be created in any text editor and can be stored as an MVS PDS member or a sequential data set. When specified in a schedule, the CTL file is read when the schedule is activated and is used to externally build the file filters.

By using a CTL file you can do the following:

• Externally update file filters before a schedule is activated
• Share common filters by specifying the CTL file to more than one schedule
• Easily maintain common filters by updating the filters in one CTL file

The CTL file has the following format:

FILTER	NAME=Filename/Transfer ID(Required.  Case Sensitive)
	TYPE=SRC | TGT | ID(Required)
	NUMBER=1 | n	(Optional n=999 (max) )
	TGTNODE=target node(Optional)
	SRCNODE=source node(Optional)
	MINSIZE=n	(Optional  n=9999999999 (max) )
	MAXSIZE=n	(Optional n=9999999999 (max) )

A CTL file must comply with these rules:

• The file should have a record length of 80 bytes.
• The file is not case sensitive except for the value of the NAME attribute.
• To start a new filter entry, FILTER should be the first word on a new line. Any occurrence of the word FILTER that is not the first word of a line will be treated as a comment until the next valid FILTER is encountered.
• Any attribute that is repeated in a filter takes on the value of the last attribute specified. For example:

  FILTER NAME=X TYPE=SRC  MINSIZE=10 MAXSIZE=20 MINSIZE=15
  

  The value of MINSIZE is 15.

Define a CTL File to a Schedule

When you create a CTL file you have to define it to a schedule.

To define a CTL file to a schedule

1. Enter /RADMIN.R.FTSCHD at the command prompt.

   The File Transfer Schedule List appears.

2. Enter U beside the appropriate schedule name.

   The Panel Display List appears.

3. Enter S beside File Filters.

   The File Filters panel for the schedule appears.

4. Complete the following fields:
   • Source Data or Target Data or Transfer ID

     Specifies the name of the CTL file.

   • Type

     Specifies the type of file. Enter CTL.

     Press F3 (File).

     The changes to the schedule are saved.

View a CTL File

To view the contents of a CTL file

1. Enter /RADMIN.R.FTSCHD at the command prompt.

   The File Transfer Schedule List appears.

2. Select the required FTSCHD name.

   The Panel Display List appears.

3. Select the FTSCHD File Filters panel description.

   The File Filters panel appears.

4. Enter V beside the CTL file you want to view.

   The CTL file appears.

Check a CTL File

After you have created the CTL file and specified it in a schedule, you can check the syntax and view the contents of the file.

To check the syntax of a CTL file

1. Enter /RADMIN.R.FTSCHD at the command prompt.

   The File Transfer Schedule List panel appears.

2. Select the required FTSCHD name.

   The Panel Display List appears.

3. Select the FTSCHD File Filters panel description.

   The File Filters panel appears.

4. Enter CHK beside any file of type CTL.

   The syntax of the file is checked.

Note: You should check the syntax of the file before a schedule is activated, because an invalid CTL file prevents a schedule from being activated.It is recommended that you limit access to CTL files to authorized personnel only.

CTL File Considerations

Filters are uniquely defined by all attributes. Duplicate filters are ignored. You can specify multiple instances of a filter in a CTL file with different attributes. If the multiple instances of the filter have the same attributes, the instances are considered duplicates and only the first instance of the filter is used.