z/OS MVS VSAM CONCEPTS AND IDCAMS

THE COURSE: This three-day class begins with an extensive discussion of z/OS MVS VSAM concepts, highlighting the differences between the VSAM and non-VSAM environments.  Then it covers the most useful and common IDCAMS commands: DEFINE CLUSTER, DEFINE ALTERNATE INDEX, BLDINDEX, DEFINE PATH, DEFINE ALIAS, DELETE, ALTER, REPRO, EXPORT, IMPORT, VERIFY, PRINT, LISTCAT, IF/THEN/ELSE, SET and others.  The contents of several catalog entries are analyzed in detail.  The effect of SMS on many IDCAMS commands and the use of JCL (without using IDCAMS) to define VSAM clusters is briefly discussed.  Several exercises are analyzed in class.
THE AUDIENCE: Programmers, analysts, technical support specialists, operators and supervisory personnel who wish to acquire a good understanding of how VSAM works and how to define and handle VSAM "objects" using IDCAMS.  Must have some JCL knowledge.
THE FEE: $1,050 per student; $2,220 if combined with the "z/OS MVS JCL" and "z/OS MVS Utilities" classes.


z/OS MVS VSAM PERFORMANCE AND TUNING

THE COURSE: This two-day class is dedicated to z/OS MVS VSAM performance considerations.  First, the structure of various VSAM objects is described and the contents of catalog entries are explained in detail.  The performance implications of DEFINE command parameters, such as IMBED, REPLICATE, SPEED, ERASE, CISZ, FREESPACE, etc. are analyzed.  How to achieve optimum performance when executing is discussed extensively.  Sample topics: the effect of CI and CA splits; the proper use of alternate indexes for online and batch processing; buffer number optimization; BLSR.  Programming and SMS considerations are included.
THE AUDIENCE: Programmers, analysts, technical support specialists, operations and supervisory personnel or anyone who wishes to be able to achieve optimum performance with VSAM.  Sufficient knowledge of MVS VSAM and JCL is prerequisite.
THE FEE: $875 per student.


z/OS MVS EXPERT JCL

THE COURSE: This remarkable and unique two-day class contains the type of information that only 41 years of intensive JCL background can gather.  It is the only one of its kind anywhere and goes well beyond a normal JCL class, even our own.  It analyzes the many fine and subtle points of this ambiguous language, discussing (and frequently dismissing) some of the most popular JCL myths. Emphasis is given to topics that are poorly (or not at all) documented, but can be critical in exploiting JCL to its maximum.  The effect of SMS on JCL is given great attention ('Extended Format' data sets, 'Space Constraint Relief', PDSEs, multi-volume allocation via DATACLAS, virtual tape, etc. are included).
THE AUDIENCE:  Definitely not for beginners, this class is intended for those who are already fluent in JCL and believe to know it well.  In practically all cases, there is much more to be learned.
THE FEE: $925 per student.