JCL expansion: see every job the way it really runs

The JCL eXpander in SMART TS XL shows every included proc, parm, DSN and symbolic variable as it appears at run time, without z/OS runtime comments, duplication or overlays. Search, view, analyze and map your JCL in a fraction of the time it takes on the mainframe.

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36 h → 9 minreported by Thomson Reuters

Everyproc, parm and DSN resolved

0mainframe cycles used

SMART TS XLJCL EXPANDER · PAYR0100

AS WRITTEN

//PAYR0100 JOB (ACCT),’PAY’ //STEP01 EXEC BUIR005 //STEP02 EXEC PGM=FOJOT405 //SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=* //STEP03 EXEC NIGHTPRC

→

AT RUN TIME

//PAYR0100 JOB (ACCT),’PAY’ //STEP01 EXEC BUIR005

//BUIR005 PROC HLQ=PROD //SYSIN DD DSN=PARMLIB(HGZ00501) //IN DD DSN=PROD.PAY.DAILY.TRANS //RUN EXEC PGM=ZAQXAPEM

//STEP02 EXEC PGM=FOJOT405 //SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=* //STEP03 EXEC NIGHTPRC

//NIGHTPRC PROC //OUT DD DSN=PROD.PAY.LEDGER(+1)

PROD.PAY.DAILY.TRANSREAD · STEP01 · RESOLVED

PROD.PAY.LEDGER(+1)NEW GDG · STEP03 · RESOLVED

PROCS · PARMS · DSNs · SYMBOLICSExample job

BUSINESS-CRITICAL INFORMATION

JCL contains business-critical information

To keep the business running, IT departments juggle targets and projects that have to work together reliably and continuously. JCL still runs high-volume mainframes. Coding standards help, but they do not stop errors or non-adherence from creeping into some JCL, and a single error can set back a fine-tuned mainframe workload when a job fails.

Because of the complexity of JCL and its included procedures, parameters and symbolic variables, working through errors or major changes can be a nightmare. That is why Software Intelligence® that shows developers the entire logic flow in one place is invaluable.

Without SMART TS XL

Opening proc after proc to see what one step runs
Symbolics resolved in your head
Data sets traced by hand across jobs
Research that eats mainframe time

With SMART TS XL

The full run-time view of any job, on one screen
Symbolics and overrides resolved for you
Every DSN analyzed, resolved and hyperlinked
Done on your SMART TS XL server, not the mainframe

WHAT YOU GET

Expand your JCL and lower risk

The run-time view

All included procs, parms, DSNs and symbolic variables shown as they appear in the JCL at run time.

Color-coded expansion

Expanded components are color coded, so you see exactly what was pulled in and from where.

Navigate by link

Links to and from expanded JCL, DSNs and referenced programs let you move through the job flow.

Every DSN analyzed

All data set names are analyzed and saved with their creation and usage parameters.

Search, print and map

Search, view, analyze, print and map your JCL in a fraction of the time it takes on the mainframe.

Impact across the mainframe

Combined with impact analysis, see how your JCL interacts with programs, files and other mainframe elements.

HOW IT WORKS

Find, follow, formulate

Find

Search for the job, proc, program or data set you care about.

PAYR0100

Expand

Open the run-time view with every proc and parm resolved.

BUIR005 → HGZ00501

Follow

Click through to the programs and data sets each step uses.

FOJOT405 · DAILY.TRANS

Formulate

Build the cross-reference report for the whole job flow.

Tree or table view

ASK IT THROUGH AI

JCL Expansion, in plain English

Everything on this page also works as a question. Ask ASK AI inside SMART TS XL, or the assistant your team already uses through the MCP Connector. It calls SMART TS XL, reads the indexed code and answers with the source behind every fact. Read-only, under the same permissions your people have.

ChatGPTClaudeCopilotGeminiGrok

Explore ASK AI →Explore the MCP Connector →

YOUR AI ASSISTANT + SMART TS XLEXAMPLE

Expand job PAYR0100 and list every data set it writes.

SMART TS XL · smartts_get_preprocessed_code

SMART TS XL · smartts_generate_cross_reference_report

ANSWER · FROM YOUR INDEXED CODE

PAYR0100 expands to 6 procs and 41 data sets. It writes 9 of them, including PROD.PAY.LEDGER(+1) in step 3.

6 procs
41 DSNs
9 written

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTIONS AND RESULTS

CLIENT EXPERIENCES

What JCL expansion teams say

“I love the JCL expansion feature of SMART TS XL. It is accurate and very helpful. It produces quality results at a high speed in a useful, readable format.”
CITI

“What took us 36 hours on the mainframe was finished in 9 minutes using JCL Expander. We’ve never seen a tool that’s more informative.”
THOMSON REUTERS

“The tool presents the expanded JCL in a run-time display without z/OS runtime comments, duplication and overlays. The JCL expansion tool from SMART TS XL is quicker, cleaner and easier to understand.”
EXPRESS SCRIPTS

Take a closer look

Download the JCL eXpander brochure to see how SMART TS XL expands your JCL, step by step.

Download the brochure

FAQ

Questions about jcl expansion

Does JCL expansion run on the mainframe?

No. JCL, procs and parms are loaded into SMART TS XL on your own server, and expansion happens there, so it uses no mainframe resources.

Does it work with Control-M and other schedulers?

SMART TS XL indexes scheduler definitions such as Control-M alongside JCL, so you can see what runs when and what each job expands to.

Can my AI assistant read the expanded JCL?

Yes. Through ASK AI or the MCP Connector, an assistant can expand a job and list its procs, programs and data sets, read-only.

See jcl expansion on your own code.

In a live session we load a sample of your portfolio and run jcl expansion in the web interface and through the AI assistant you already use.

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