RCL(ID:626/rcl001)

Reduced Control Language 

Reduced Control Language.
A simplified job control language for OS360, translated to IBM JCL.
References:
  • Appel, Klaus "Reduced Control Language for Non- Professional Users" view details Abstract: Abstract: Reduced Control Language (RCL) is a simplified job control language for non-professional users of IBM OS/36O. In comparison with Job Control Language/360 it is characterized by a simpler syntax, shorter notation, default missing parameters according to installation and job spectrum, and implying certain parameters from others. Extract: Introduction
    Introduction
    Uppsala University Data Center installed in 1971 an IBM System/370 in replacement of an earlier system from a different manufacturer. During evaluation of the operating system of the IBM computer, it was considered desirable to provide as an alternative to the extensive control facilities provided for in the Job Control Language of OS/360 (ref. 1) (JCL), a simplified control language for other categories of users than professional programmers or computer science specialists.
    The Reduced Control Language (ref. 5) (RCL) was specified and implemented by translation to JCL during input of the job stream, with the following objectives
    in mind:
    - to express about 95% of the need for job control from university users;
    - to allow augmentation of RCL with JCL statements where RCL facilities are
    insufficient;
    - to facilitate learning the language by providing a simplified syntax and a terminology oriented towards the control language of the earlier system;
    - to ease the writing and punching of control statements by allowing for an abbreviated notation, by supplying default attributes adapted to the installation parameters and the average job spectrum of the users;
    - to avoid redundancy by inferring certain attributes from others.
    It later turned out that RCL has many features in common with the command language of TSO (ref. 2).
          in Unger, Claus (Ed.) Command languages: Proceedings of the IFIP Working Conference on Command Languages (Lund, Sweden, August 1974) North-Holland, 1975 Amsterdam, The Netherlands view details