How to compare spooled files

• phillip smith
• Published: 22 Jan 2006

This method allows a user to compare two spooled files for differences. I found this very handy when needing to...

compare test runs from before an after I had made program changes to a particular program.

1. Create two physicals file in your library, as such:

 
CRTPF FILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL1)                             
       RCDLEN(132)                                        
       TEXT('physical file for compared spooled file #1') 
       SIZE(*NOMAX) 

                                                          
CRTPF FILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL2)                             
       RCDLEN(132)                                        
       TEXT('physical file for compared spooled file #2') 
       SIZE(*NOMAX)   

2. Copy the two spooled files you want to compare to the files created above.

 
CPYSPLF FILE(TBLD_SRCG)               
        TOFILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL1)      
        JOB(046095/PHILLIP/TBLDRV_SUR)
        SPLNBR(1)   

 CPYSPLF FILE(TBLD_SRCG)               
        TOFILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL2)      
        JOB(046250/PHILLIP/TBLDRV_SUR)
        SPLNBR(1)    

3. Now compare the two physical files as such. You can send the output to the screen immediately , or to a spooled file to look at. In this example, I am outputting to a spooled file. The results will give you the differences between the two.

 CMPPFM NEWFILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL2)  
       OLDFILE(PHSLIB/PHSSPOOL1)  
       OLDMBR(*FIRST)             
       RPTTYPE(*CHANGE)           
       OUTPUT(*PRINT)