Controlling automatic command processing

You can specify, from the console or through a local reader, that certain commands or strings of commands take effect automatically at specific times or at regular intervals. Automatic command processing can be used to provide status displays and to lessen your work for common, preset routines or schedules.

You use the $T A command to display, specify, and modify automatic commands. $S A starts automatic command processing; $Z A halts automatic command processing until you wish to restart it; $C A cancels further automatic command processing.

Because automatic commands are executed at system speed, commands may congest the system or messages may flood the console. If this occurs, you can try submitting the commands in a different sequence.

Automatic command processing can also terminate itself prematurely under the following conditions:

If you enter the $Z A command and then let 24 hours or more elapse without restarting it.
If the system becomes so congested that the automatic commands are delayed approximately five minutes.
If your specified start time does not include an hour specification, the command is issued and then cancelled.

For examples and more information about automatic command processing, see z/OS JES2 Initialization and Tuning Reference, SA32-0992.