The SYSOUT system file

In interactive mode, the following EDT output is written to SYSOUT:

1. Both in F mode and in L mode, the output from the statements @COMPARE (format 1), @LIMITS, @ON COLUMN, @SEQUENCE CHECK, @TABS VALUES is sent to SYSOUT.

2. In L mode only, the output from the statements @COMPARE (format 2), @FSTAT, @PROC (format 2), @SHOW, @STAJV, @STATUS is written to SYSOUT.

3. In L mode only, EDT error messages are written to SYSOUT.

4. Logging output resulting from the statements @CHECK (L mode only), @DO PRINT, @EDIT PRINT, @INPUT PRINT is written to SYSOUT. In this case, work file records or EDT statements (sometimes with additional information) are output.

5. Both in F mode and in L mode, the output from the statements @ON PRINT and @PRINT (without the V operand) is written to SYSOUT. In this case, the work file records are output together with line numbers.

In batch mode, only the messages concerning normal or abnormal termination (e.g. EDT8000) are sent to SYSOUT unless job switch 8 is set.

If an error that cannot be corrected occurs when writing to SYSOUT then EDT is terminated.

The first character in each record when output is written to SYSOUT is a line feed character. If SYSOUT is assigned to a terminal then it is not displayed. If SYSOUT is assigned to a file then it becomes a component of the file. If a non-existent file is assigned, then the system indicates in the catalog that the file contains EBCDIC control characters. However, EDT does not evaluate the catalog entry but always generates EBCDIC line feed characters or the control characters which correspond to these EBCDIC characters in the character set which is assigned to SYSOUT.
If the user wants to print the file then it is possible to evaluate these line feed characters. If output is sent to SYSOUT then the same line feed characters are used as in the case of SYSLST (see section “The SYSLST system file”).

The length of output to SYSOUT is restricted (2032 bytes including the record length field and line feed characters on output to files and 32767 bytes on output to the terminal).
If the output is longer than this then the record to be output is subdivided into sections of maximum 2027 bytes in the case of output to a file and 32762 bytes in the case of output to a terminal and the record is then output in several sections.
If SYSOUT is using a Unicode character set, this ensures that the line feed always takes place at a character boundary.

EDT sends output to SYSOUT in the assigned character set which is determined using the BS2000 macro GCCSN except in the case of the terminal. Output to the terminal is always sent in the specified communications character set. If the assignment to SYSOUT changes then the character set is determined again and writing is subsequently performed with the new character set. If this character set is *NONE then EDF03IRV is used. If the output contains characters which cannot be displayed in the target character set then the substitute character defined with @PAR SUBSTITUTION-CHARACTER is used. If no such character is defined, a blank is inserted.

When assigning a character set to SYSOUT it is always important to consider what components send their output there since not all system components take account of the SYSOUT character set correctly.
For example, in interactive mode, EDT output generated with WRTRD is sent to the terminal in the communications character set.
In this case, if SYSOUT is assigned to a file, then the system also writes the data present in the communications character set (e.g. UTFE) and any consequent user input (also in this character set) to this file without taking account of the file's character set (with which SYSOUT has been harmonized). This may cause problems if the file uses a different character set.
It is therefore currently advisable only to use EBCDIC character sets as the SYSOUT character set and to avoid redirecting SYSOUT to a file in interactive mode if at all possible.

If screen monitoring is active and SYSOUT is assigned to a terminal then output can be interrupted by pressing [K2]. If the EDT session is continued with /RESUME-PROGRAM or /INFORM-PROGRAM then the output is aborted and one or more messages are issued.