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IBM Common Utilities – Quick Guide​

IBM Common Utilities are a suite of powerful system programs provided with the z/OS operating system that allow developers, system programmers, and operations teams to perform essential tasks such as dataset management, file manipulation, system configuration, and automation through simple JCL or TSO commands.

These utilities are designed to be fast, reliable, and deeply integrated into the mainframe environment, making them foundational tools for managing daily operations, supporting application development, and ensuring smooth batch processing across critical business systems.

IBM Docs - Utilities Introduction

IBM Docs - IEB Utilities

IEFBR14 – Do-Nothing Utility​

IEFBR14 is a utility program that does nothing except return a completion code of 0 (success). But that’s the point—it’s not meant to do work itself. Instead, it allows z/OS to process DD (Data Definition) statements in your JCL.

IBM Docs - IEFBR14

IBM Docs - IEFBR14 Considerations and Examples

Common Uses:

  • Create datasets with DISP=(NEW,CATLG)
  • Delete datasets with DISP=(OLD,DELETE)
  • Used in multi-step jobs to trigger dataset actions
note

All logic is in the DD statements.

IEBGENER – General Copy Utility​

IEBGENER is a classic and widely used IBM utility designed for copying sequential datasets, printing data, and creating members in an existing PDS. It has been available since the early days of OS/360.

IBM Docs - IEBGENER

Common Uses:

  • Backup sequential files
  • Copy to or from PDS members
  • Print datasets to SYSOUT
tip
  • Needs: SYSUT1 (input), SYSUT2 (output), SYSPRINT, SYSIN
  • Cannot create PDS, only members inside it
  • Use DISP=SHR for writing to PDS members

IEBCOPY – Library Utility (PDS Copy + Compress)​

IEBCOPY is a utility used to manage partitioned datasets (PDS/PDSE) by copying members, renaming them, or compressing the dataset to reclaim space.

It is faster and more efficient than general-purpose tools like IEBGENER when working specifically with libraries (PDS/PDSE).

IBM Docs - IEBCOPY

Common Uses:

  • Copy selected/all members from one PDS to another
  • Rename members while copying
  • Compress PDS to reclaim space
tip
  • We can use meaningful DD names like INLIB, OUTLIB instead of SYSUT1, SYSUT2.
  • Not for sequential files
  • IEBCOPY can copy only selected members using control statements.

IEBCOMPR – Dataset Compare​

IEBCOMPR is a utility that compares two datasets—either sequential or partitioned (PDS/PDSE)—record by record to verify if they are identical. It is commonly used to validate backup copies and is functionally similar to ISPF Option 3.13.

IBM Docs - IEBCOMP

Common Uses:

  • Verify backup accuracy
  • Check for unintentional changes in program or configuration files

Return Codes:

  • RC=00 → Identical
  • RC=08 → Differences
  • RC=16 → Severe error

IKJEFT01 – TSO in Batch​

IKJEFT01 is a special IBM z/OS utility that allows you to run TSO commands and REXX programs in batch mode. It simulates a TSO session inside a JCL job, making it possible to automate interactive operations like file management, reporting, and scripting.

It acts as the TSO Terminal Monitor Program (TMP), bridging the gap between interactive TSO sessions and batch processing.

IBM Docs - IKJEFT01

Common Uses:

  • Dataset management (ALLOCATE, DELETE, etc.)
  • Catalog updates
  • System monitoring via REXX
  • Execute CLIST or REXX
  • Db2 access via DSN command: Binding and executing Db2 programs

Here are the list of common IBM Command List