Mainframe
Documentation

Version Latest

PL/I, HLASM and REXX

Enterprise PL/I, High Level Assembler and REXX as languages of the Mainframe module, with outlines, navigation, include and macro members from local folders and host libraries, compile and check on z/OS, and REXX execs run on z/OS.

Verification state: the PL/I, HLASM and REXX readers are verified on Linux on IBM's Z Open Editor sample (PL/I with SYSLIB and DD-name includes, HLASM including a 6,432-line RACF exit, REXX with /*%INCLUDE*/) and AWS CardDemo's assembler. Compile on z/OS for PL/I and HLASM is modelled: no compile has run against Enterprise PL/I or HLASM, and the listing layouts are taken from documentation. The verification kit has PL/I and HLASM compile and check steps.

In the editor

Each language has a grammar to its column rules, outline, Go to Definition, references, highlights, hover, links and folding.

LanguageColumn rules and includes
Enterprise PL/IMargins 2 to 72, %PROCESS, %INCLUDE member and %INCLUDE ddname(member)
HLASMName, operation, operand and remarks fields, continuation in column 72; COPY members and macros
REXXNested comments; /*%INCLUDE member*/

Include, COPY and macro members are found in local folders, then in host libraries, then (HLASM) in SYS1.MACLIB and SYS1.MODGEN. Missing members are marked in Problems. The libraries are set by pli, hlasm and rexx in mainframe.json or ZAPP property groups; extensions names the files' extensions.

PL/I preprocessor statements are skipped, not evaluated, and HLASM's ICTL is not read.

In the application map

PL/I and HLASM programs, their includes, calls and files appear in the application map, host-project members included.

Compile and check on z/OS

With host.compile.profiles.pli and host.compile.profiles.hlasm, Compile on z/OS and Check on z/OS work as for COBOL (see Compile and check on z/OS), with IBM's IBMZCB and ASMACL procedures unless you name the shop's. Enterprise PL/I (IBMnnnn) and ASMA messages land on the local line.

REXX execs on z/OS

  • Run REXX Exec on z/OS on a member enters EXEC 'DSN(MEMBER)' 'parameters' in the connection's TSO/E terminal.
  • From the REXX editor, an exec of the workspace runs as a batch TSO/E job after the usual submit confirmation; no data set of yours is written.

See TSO/E, the 3270 session and shop actions.

Last reviewed 18 October 2026View as Markdown

PL/I, HLASM and REXX · Docs · Neural Inverse