%%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM

%%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM values are stored in text files. In these text files:

Each record specifies the parameter name and the associated value.
Blank lines are ignored.
Comment lines start with a semicolon.
Values that contain explicit spaces are enclosed in double quotes.

This shows an example of symbol file contents:

; some comment
ABC=ABC

def="ABC DEF"
 Group    =     XYZ
 Parm2    =     "'123 567'"

The environment variable DAGLOBAL or the catalog specifies the folder for the text file(s) used by %%GLOBAL. In a similar way, for %%LIBSYM members, the folder name is extracted from an environment variable or from the catalog.

When the catalog is used, define a PDS (type Dynamic, LRECL 80, LSEQ) that refers to the folder/directory containing the members.

For %%GLOBAL, the dataset name 'DAGLOBAL' is required; for %%LIBSYM, use the specified dataset name.

This example shows resolution of %%GLOBAL and %%LIBSYM control statements:

Statement/Expression	Resolves As…
[//*] %%GLOBAL MBRNAME	The environment variable `DAGLOBAL` specifies the location of the MBRNAME text file. The DSN DAGLOBAL is used to locate the member name.
[//*] %%LIBSYM DATA.SET.NAME %%MEMSYM MBRNAME	The environment variable `DATA.SET.NAME` or `DATA.SET.NAME` as defined in the catalog specifies the MBRNAME text file location.

When an environment variable is used to locate the directory containing the member, the extension 'JCL' is used to find the member file name.