IBM Mainframe Forum

In a word: RTFM.

My description of the sequential file in the FILE SECTION was deficient in several ways.

I really think they could build these tools to be more user-friendly.

Thanks Dick for your help, adding the information for SORT was a key insight that helped with everything else.

You're welcome

Has this been resolved:

I really think they could build these tools to be more user-friendly.

Do keep in mind that these tools pre-dated the current "anybody can do anything" philosophy (as is seen in the Windows world). It was anticipated/expected that someone would have considerable training and ojt and lots of more senior peers to work with and not be "on their own" so much as it is happening today. The documentation was for reference not training. In fact the "user friendly" concepts were implemented by the developers for the "real" users. It was a fact back then that to be responsible for a project or some portion of one, you were already a seasoned professional.

As there become more and more people who are less and less technically qualified (as is seen in the Windows world), it better be friendly to the developer )

My wonder is what will happen over the next 10-20 years. The strength of many IT organizations was the people between 35 and 55 with 15 to 30 years experience. There are still some "seniors" but the "core" group no longer seems to exist. It may not be long until we have mainframes that are as unstable as Windows servers. . .

Let me know if all is well - from your note it sounds like things are much better today

d