SYSIN DD Statement Syntax Rules

Parameters are specified in data record referenced by the SYSIN DD statement.

When defining parameters in the SYSIN DD statement, you must comply with the following syntax rules:

• The process, process name, activity type, and activity must be specified on the first line delimited by a comma (,).
• Additional parameters must be specified one per line.
• Parameters that have imbedded spaces must use double quotation marks (") as delimiters at the start and end of the parameters.
• When a line starts with an asterisk (*), the line is considered a comment.
• Parameters can be continued in one of the following two ways:
  • Place a "space plus space" combination (" + ") at the end of a parameter. The parameter is continued on the next line at the first non-blank character. This is the best practice of continuing data because it is the simplest to implement.
  • Append a space plus plus combination ( ++) to the end of a line. A space is added between the first non-blank character of the next line and the last non-blank character of the first line.
  • Place a continuation mark in column 72 (non-blank character) and start the next line in column 1. This can be repeated to go on to a third or fourth line, if necessary.