Important Symitar concepts

What is it?

This page explains the key Symitar concepts that RSJ depends on for correct operation. Understanding these concepts helps you configure RSJ correctly and diagnose issues when jobs do not run as expected.

Review the SMA_DATES concept before configuring RSJ to ensure date-based job file directives work correctly.
Review the directory structure to understand where RSJ stores and reads files.
Review prompt configuration to understand how RSJ passes responses to interactive Symitar programs.

RSJ dates processing

RSJ reads processing dates from the SMA_DATES letter file rather than directly from the Episys system. The SMA_DATES file stores the current and previous processing dates. You must keep this file up to date with the actual processing date. If it is out of date, RSJ incorrectly interprets the job files.

SMA_DATES

The SMA_DATES file is generated by the SMA_DATES.JOB Symitar batch job.

SMA_DATES retrieves the previous processing date, current processing date, and current system date from the Symitar database.
RSJ reads this file to determine what processing dates to use in all RUNDATE date calculations.

warning

This file must be updated immediately after any date change or use of the install_dates program. Failure to properly install or run SMA_DATES causes RSJ to run incorrectly.

To ensure SMA_DATES is updated immediately after moving to the next system date, place the following line immediately after the CLOSEDAY program. The CLOSEDAY program is typically found in the GOODNIGHT job.

Example

%JOBFILE SMA_DATES.JOB

Note

The default SMA_DATES file is installed by the install_dates program and must be updated by SMA_DATES.JOB before any correct processing can occur.

The files involved are:

/SYM/SYMnnn/LETTERSPECS/SMA_DATES
/SYM/SYMnnn/BATCH/SMA_DATES.JOB
/SYM/SYMnnn/REPWRITERSPECS/SMA_DATES.RG

If install_dates runs on a SYM, run SMA_DATES.JOB immediately to reset the processing dates. If manually resetting Episys processing dates, run SMA_DATES.JOB after the date reset (whether from install_dates or a manual date reset).

How SMA Technologies sets prompts

SMA Technologies uses the update_scf program to modify each Symitar job file prompt. Once all interactive prompts have been modified, RSJ can run the job file. All interactive prompts in a nested job can be found by running the RSJ utility program find_prompts. The find_prompts program provides all the information needed to set up the update_scf program.

Directory structures and files

/SYM
    /SYM000
            /BATCH
                    SMA_DATES.JOB
                    Some_job_name_1
                    ...
                    Some_job_name_n
            /REPORT
                    00013 000177 000179 000180 000181
            /opcon_reports
                    Some_job_name_1
                        000566
                        000567
                        BATCH_OUTPUT.xxxxxx
                        ...
                    Some_job_name_n
                        000881
                        000882
                        BATCH_OUTPUT.xxxxxx
            /LETTERSPECS
                    SMA_DATES
    /SYM###
            /BATCH
                    SMA_DATES.JOB
                    Some_job_name_1
                    ...
                    Some_job_name_n
            /REPORT
                    000566 000567 000881 000882 000884 000885
            /opcon_reports
                    Some_job_name_1
                        000566
                        000567
                        BATCH_OUTPUT.xxxxxx
                        ...
                    Some_job_name_n
                        000881
                        000882
                        BATCH_OUTPUT.xxxxxx
            /LETTERSPECS
                    SMA_DATES

FAQs

Why does RSJ use SMA_DATES instead of reading dates directly from Episys? RSJ reads the SMA_DATES letter file rather than querying the Episys database directly. This design ensures date information is available without requiring a live database connection during job processing. The SMA_DATES.JOB repgen updates this file from the Symitar database each processing day.

What happens if SMA_DATES is not updated after a date change? RSJ will use stale processing dates when evaluating %RUNDATE directives and other date-based commands. This causes jobs to run on incorrect dates or fail to run when they should. Always run SMA_DATES.JOB immediately after any date change.

Where does RSJ look for job files? RSJ first searches the current SYM's batch directory (/SYM/SYMnnn/BATCH). If the program is not found there, it searches /SYM/SYMPR. Finally, it searches the current directory.

Glossary

SMA_DATES — A letter file stored in /SYM/SYMnnn/LETTERSPECS/ that contains the previous processing date, current processing date, and current system date for a given SYM. RSJ reads this file for all date calculations.

SMA_DATES.JOB — A Symitar batch job that generates the SMA_DATES letter file by reading current date information from the Symitar database.

update_scf — An RSJ utility program that modifies interactive prompt responses in a Symitar control file (job file) so RSJ can run the job in batch mode.

find_prompts — An RSJ utility program that identifies all interactive prompts in a nested Symitar job, used to set up update_scf correctly.

opcon_reports — A directory created by RSJ under each SYM that stores batch output files and report links from each job run.

What is it?​

RSJ dates processing​

SMA_DATES​

How SMA Technologies sets prompts​

Directory structures and files​

FAQs​

Glossary​