Difference between reference and user's guide



Difference between reference and user's guide

Postby RalphEagle » Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:57 pm

Hello,

I've been wondering what fundamental difference is to be accounted between reference books (e.g. MVS JCL reference) and user's guide ?

What differences should drive my choice in either this one or the other ?

Thank you :)
RalphEagle
 
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:51 pm
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 0 time

Re: Difference between reference and user's guide

Postby enrico-sorichetti » Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:07 pm

the z/OS MVS JCL User' s Guide
https://www-304.ibm.com/servers/resourc ... 0_v2r3.pdf
the z/OS MVS JCL Rference
https://www-304.ibm.com/servers/resourc ... 0_v2r3.pdf

the About this Document sections should give You enough hints
cheers
enrico
When I tell somebody to RTFM or STFW I usually have the page open in another tab/window of my browser,
so that I am sure that the information requested can be reached with a very small effort

These users thanked the author enrico-sorichetti for the post:
RalphEagle (Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:15 pm)
enrico-sorichetti
Global moderator
 
Posts: 2994
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:25 pm
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 164 times

Re: Difference between reference and user's guide

Postby willy jensen » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:02 pm

I would say that the reference manual tells you the syntax of commands etc, and the user guide shows you how to use it. So start looking in the user guide for a sample, then refer to the reference manual for details. The above mentioned manuals illustrates that very nicely.

These users thanked the author willy jensen for the post:
RalphEagle (Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:15 pm)
willy jensen
 
Posts: 455
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 5:03 pm
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 69 times

Re: Difference between reference and user's guide

Postby RalphEagle » Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:24 pm

Honestly, the two 'About this document' sections say almost the same.

Reference:
'This document describes the job control tasks needed to enter jobs into the z/OS®
operating system, control the system's processing of jobs, and request the resources
needed to run jobs. The document also contains a chapter that describes "started
tasks" and how to set them up
. To perform job control or started tasks,
programmers code "job control statements." This document describes how to code
these statements, which include: v Job control language (JCL) statements
v Job entry control language (JECL) statements, which encompass: – Job entry subsystem 2 (JES2) control statements – Job entry subsystem 3 (JES3) control statements
This document is designed as a reference document, to be used while coding the
statements. It contains some introductory material. Full explanations of the job
control tasks are presented in a companion document, z/OS MVS JCL User's Guide, SA23-1386
'

User's guide:
This book describes the job control tasks needed to enter jobs into the operating
system, control the system's processing of jobs, and request the resources needed to
run jobs. To perform the tasks, programmers code job control statements. This
book describes how to use these statements, which consist of: v Job control language (JCL) statements
v Job entry subsystem 2 (JES2) control statements
v Job entry subsystem 3 (JES3) control statements
This book is designed as a user's guide, to be used when deciding how to perform
job control tasks. It does not describe how to code the statements. For an
introduction to the statements and for coding information, see the companion
book, z/OS MVS JCL Reference.


It is very misleading that the both are very similar, except for some parts (highlighted in italic). In short, we should understand that if you are looking for information on elements you are actually coding, go for Reference, else go for User's guide if you need to rather perform a task. Theory and practice, grossly.

Thank you !
RalphEagle
 
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:51 pm
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 0 time

Re: Difference between reference and user's guide

Postby enrico-sorichetti » Tue Apr 24, 2018 6:58 pm

Frankly I cannot see where the two say almost the same things.
reread slowly and THINK, they are quite different... IMNSHO

topic locked
on the road to useless speculation and whining
cheers
enrico
When I tell somebody to RTFM or STFW I usually have the page open in another tab/window of my browser,
so that I am sure that the information requested can be reached with a very small effort
enrico-sorichetti
Global moderator
 
Posts: 2994
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:25 pm
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 164 times


Return to Stupid Questions

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post