In this article, you will be able to master uploading batch transactions into ACR installed on a mainframe and on Windows. 

Mainframe

Migrating batch cards to the mainframe

If your batch cards are already on the mainframe, then skip this section and continue to "Importing batch cards into ACR on the mainframe."

Select the .tranlib of the respected version and product type you are uploading the batch transaction for. How to determine if you are in the right folder, the .tranlib will always have a file listed as ‘DIRDATA’ shown below.

Next you will need to select the file you would want to upload to the application with the extension removed. Please see below.

Once the batch transactions have been uploaded, continue to the next section to bring the jobs online from the panels within MVS. Select your FTP connection client and ensure that your datasets are listed as shown below. 

Importing batch cards into ACR on the mainframe

Once the file has been placed in the .tranlib of the product you want to upload your batch transactions. You should now be able to see them with the MVS system. See below.

Once the batch transactions have been brought over by the FTP transfer, we can now bring the job online using the ‘Database Utilities’ shown below.

Select ‘Database Update Utilities’ as shown below.

This is where you will select the option to ‘update from batch transactions’. Please see the below screenshot.

You will then specify the library information as shown in the screenshot below.

Here you will then retrieve the name of the batch transaction uploaded to the FTP site, and the delivery location as shown in the screenshot.

Here is the JCL that has been created for you to accept the changes and bring the job online using the panels in your respective ACR product. Please see below.

In the next screenshot you would then select ‘Run’ followed by ‘On-line Options’. This is so that we can bring the job full circle into the panels.

Next you should select ‘Restore definition library’ so that the job can be read into the ACR panels.

Here is where you would define what information from the imported job, you’d want to view within the panels.

We should be updating the definition database, you’re now able to decide how this information is stored in your current library.

Now would then select ‘File’ and the option ‘open’, to display the specified imported job from the FTP transfer.

This is where you determine how and what is displayed when the ACR job is brought on-line.

Here is where you will select the job and step name previously imported. Please note, you can upload more than a single job and execute the submission JCL. Those same jobs would then be displayed here and more than one title will be listed. Also any jobs originating in the panels and saved here would also display.

This is the open job and access to all rules and definitions in a visual layout within the panels.

Windows

Importing batch transactions into ACR/Workbench

After launching the ACR/Workbench application, navigate to File and then select Import. By default, ACR will look for batch transactions with an extension of .DEF; however, you can import valid batch cards with any extension.

Select Open, to import the batch transactions into ACR/Workbench. This will allow you to then open and select the highlighted job in a readable format within ACR/Workbench.

Once the job has been fully imported, you are now able to see the job contents:

By clicking under Control Tasks (Jobs), you should be able to edit the settings and set the imported jobs to your specifications.