Creating run cycles with offsets

About this task

You can specify run cycles also by specifying periods or run cycle groups, and offsets from the start of the period. This is convenient for some run cycles, where the period is cyclic (a daily or weekly job), but is less convenient for cycles based on calendar months and particular dates in the year, because the period is noncyclic and its origin must therefore be manually maintained from time to time. So you are recommended to use rule-based run cycles (the recommendation does not apply to run cycle groups).

Follow this process to create run cycles that use offsets:
  1. On the RUN CYCLES panel (EQQAMRPL - Run cycles ), complete the fields as described in Creating run cycles with rules. In the Name of rg/period/rule field, however, specify the name of a period or of a run cycle group that you have created, and:
    • If you specified a period, enter N or X in the Type field.
    • If you specified a run cycle group, enter N in the Type field, and 3 in the F day rule field (to avoid conflicts with the freeday rules specified for the run cycles in the group, which have overruling power).

    You can specify that an application be associated with more than one period or run cycle group by creating more than one run cycle for the application. For example, if your inventory application runs monthly and quarterly, you can associate it with both the monthly and quarterly periods by creating two run cycles for the application, each specifying one of the periods.

    If you want a job to run more than once a day, specify two run cycles using the same period or run cycle group and offset, but with a different input arrival time.

  2. Enter the S row command to specify the offsets to the start of the period or of the run cycle group.
    You see the RUN DAYS panel, shown below, if you specified a period.
    Figure 1. EQQAMRNL - Run days 
    EQQAMRNL ------------------------- RUN DAYS ----------------------  ROW 1 OF 2
Command ===>                                                  Scroll ===> PAGE

Enter the E command to specify EVERY options
Enter/Change data in the rows, and/or enter any of the following
row commands:
I(nn) - Insert, R(nn),RR(nn) - Repeat, D(nn),DD - Delete

Application            : CLASSLST         Class lists
Period name            : SEMESTER
Type                   : Normal
Free day rule          : Schedule on free days

    Offsets
''  _1
''  _-1
 ******************************* BOTTOM OF DATA ********************************
    or the RUN CYCLE GROUPS DAYS panel, shown below, if you specified a run cycle group.
    Figure 2. Run Cycle Groups Days panel
     ------------------------- RUN CYCLE GROUPS DAYS ----------------------  ROW 1 OF 2
Command ===>                                                  Scroll ===> PAGE

Enter the E command to specify EVERY options
Enter/Change data in the rows, and/or enter any of the following
row commands:
I(nn) - Insert, R(nn),RR(nn) - Repeat, D(nn),DD - Delete

Application            : 
Period name            : 
Type                   : Normal
Free day rule          : Run on the free day

    Offsets
''  _1
 ******************************* BOTTOM OF DATA ********************************
  3. Specify a positive or negative offset from the origin dates of the period or run cycle group.

    For example, using the SEMESTER period on page How run cycles use periods, you can specify that application CLASSLST will be scheduled on the first and last day of each semester by specifying offsets of 1 and -1.