All about JCL Files

The JCL file type is primarily associated with JES.

JCL	File extension: JCL
	File type:	script file

What is a JCL file?

JCL files mostly belong to JES. JCL files can serve two roles.
One common use is as a Job Control Language script for mainframe batch processing. These files are plain text and contain system commands that instruct a mainframe on how to run a job. They define job steps, allocate system resources, and specify execution instructions.
Another use is as an XML-based Hot Potatoes cloze file used in the Hot Potatoes educational tool, which helps create interactive language exercises. For more details on that, visit Hot Potatoes.

Mainframe Batch Script: Plain text command file used by systems (often processed by JES, the Job Entry Subsystem) to run batch jobs.

Hot Potatoes Cloze File: An XML formatted file that structures language exercises.

FilExt.com note: You can open these files with any text editor, though proper software or mainframe tools may be needed to process them correctly.

How do you open JCL files?

You need a suitable software like JES to open a JCL file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your JCL file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a JCL file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online JCL Text Viewer

Choose your .jcl file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to extract texts from JCL files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

If you want to extract texts from JCL file or capture a screenshot, you can use our free Online JCL File Viewer:

Just click the "Choose your .jcl file to view" button on this page.
Your JCL file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert JCL files:

JES
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. JCL files are often referred to as JES simple text files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Job Control Language IBM

JCL file format details:

Each file has a definite file format, that is, how the stored data is arranged in the file. The first characters in a file identify the file format, for example, HTML files start with the bytes <html>. However, different programs can use the same file extension, and file extensions can be assigned incorrectly. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Below is our analysis of the JCL files:

The JCL file extension is rarely used and includes different formats for different programs. The file formats most commonly found in JCL files are:

40% of all JCL files are based on the well-known XML file format. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple text-based format for representing structured information: documents, webpages, data, configuration, books, transactions, invoices, and much more. XML defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. These files are text files, so they contain words and text. The files are on average 6 KB in size and range from 4 KB to 14 KB. The file type is old but is used even today. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>, <hotpot-jcloze-file>, <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"> and <rdf:Description r. Such files sometimes refer to cloze, unit and tagalog.
20% of all JCL files are based on the well-known Source file format. A source code is the set of instructions written by a programmer using a computer programming language like JavaScript, C++ or Basic. This code is translated into machine language by a compiler. The translated result is called app, program or executable. These files are plain text, which means they can be viewed with any text editor such as Windows Editor, Nano for Linux, and TextEdit for macOS. The file size is in the range of 700 bytes to 10 KB. Certain words are almost always found in the files, such as MSGCLASS, //JSTEP01 EXEC PGM=ASSIST, //STEPLIB DD DSN=KC00NIU.ASSIST.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR, //SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*, //SYSIN DD * and NOTIFY. These files can be linked to labexer.

All other JCL files (40%) have no uniform format. Often described as adjust or hijri. If you want to find out which format your JCL file belongs to, just click on the button "Choose your .jcl file to view".

Technical Data for JCL File Extension

File classification:

Simple text file

Related files:

job, cmd, bat, sh, ctl, jmt, htm, xml

Mime type:

text/plain, text/x-jcl

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: HotPotJClozeFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\HotPotatoes6\JCloze.exe

a jcl script file is a special file format and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with JCL files

Associate the JCL file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open script files. Because only the current version supports the latest JCL file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the manufacturer website after an available JES update.
To make sure that your JCL file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .JCL file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.