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Status Future consideration
Workspace z/OS
Categories DFSMS SMS
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 29, 2021

JCL LIKE for PDSE Version and MAXGENS

In JCL, the DD LIKE parameter is used to specify the allocation attributes of a new data set by
copying the attributes of an existing cataloged data set.

One attribute it copies is the DSNTYPE parameter, which includes whether the model data set is
a PDS vs. a PDSE. That is, if the model data set is a PDSE, then LIKE=model.data.set is equivalent
to specifying DSNTYPE=LIBRARY.
But now DSNTYPE=LIBRARY has a subfield: version. If the default PDSE version is 1 (as set by
IGDSMSxx PDSE_VERSION), then in JCL to create a PDSE Version 2 you must code DSNTYPE=(LIBRARY,2).

The problem is that LIKE doesn't copy the library version. So if you allocate a new data set by
copying the attributes of an existing PDSE Version 2, then it will allocate it as version 1
(if PDSE_VERSION=1), or vice versa.

This is exacerbated by another issue: DD LIKE does not copy the MAXGENS parameter, which is
closely related to DSNTYPE=(LIBRARY,2). So if you use DD LIKE to copy a PDSE defined with
MAXGENS greater than 0, then the new PDSE will have no MAXGENS: either because it allocates
as DSNTYPE=(LIBRARY,1) with PDSE_VERSION=1, or even if PDSE_VERSION=2, because it doesn't copy
the MAXGENS that was defined on the model data set.

I don't see any other parameter in JCL to remedy this.

Does IBM intend for DD LIKE to be able to model PDSE Version 2 libraries with MAXGENS?

I don't see any changes to DD LIKE in z/OS 2.4.

Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 28, 2023
    PDSE version and MAXGENS are currently stored within the PDSE data set.
    In order to support JCL LIKE, we have to open the PDSE data set specified in LIKE. That would be a performance hit.

    The expectation for version, was that most PDSEs would be version 2 once the customer was comfortable with them. So we expected the IGDSMSxx parameter PDSE_VERSION({1|2})] would be set to version 2 and then all PDSEs which did not specify version would be allocated as version 2, including those allocated with LIKE.

    Can you just set PDSE_VERSION to 2 in your SYS1.PARMLIB(IGDSMSxx) member? Or, you are willing to take a performance hit for this LIKE support?
    3 replies
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 30, 2021

    Due to processing by IBM, this request was reassigned to have the following updated attributes:
    Brand - Servers and Systems Software
    Product family - z Systems Software
    Product - z/OS
    Component - DFSMS SMS
    Operating system - IBM z/OS
    Source - None

    For recording keeping, the previous attributes were:
    Brand - Servers and Systems Software
    Product family - z Systems Software
    Product - z/OS
    Component - DFSMS CVAF/DADSM
    Operating system - IBM z/OS
    Source - None

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 29, 2021

    Actual requester comments: This is similar to declined RFE 90546, however to address IBM's comments on that RFE:

    - While it might be nice if Version 2 PDSE was the default, that's not happening for reasons, along the same lines as why 99% of new libraries are still created as PDS.

    - Accidental modeling of MAXGENS could be an issue but so could not copying it. So in this RFE, I'll say, if the LIKE parameter isn't the answer then provide some alternative syntax.