z/OS Datasets

In the object workspace, the z/OS datasets are shown when you expand the Datasets folder of a z/OS node. Example:

Datasets folder

This document covers the following topics:

Filtering z/OS Datasets

Before displaying z/OS datasets, you can define a filter so that only those datasets are shown which correspond to your filter criteria.

Start of instruction setTo define a filter

  1. In the object workspace, select the Datasets folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Filter.

    Or:
    Press F3.

    The following dialog box appears:

    Filter datasets

  3. Enter the filter criteria.

    Option Description
    Dataset name Enter the datasets that are to be shown. For example, when you specify "ABC*", only the dataset names starting with these characters will be shown.
    Volume

    If you do not specify a volume, the dataset list is created from the catalog.

    If you do specify a volume, the dataset list is created from the VTOC of that volume.

    Password Enter the system password if dataset is protected.

  4. Choose the OK button.

Listing z/OS Datasets

The number of objects shown in the list view window depends on whether or not a filter has been defined for the datasets (see Filtering z/OS Datasets).

Start of instruction setTo list z/OS datasets

  1. In the object workspace, select the Datasets folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose List.

    Or:
    Press F8.

    The list view window appears.

    The type of information contained in the list view window depends on whether or not filter criteria for Volume have been defined (see Filtering z/OS Datasets).

The following topics are covered below:

No Volume has been specified

When a volume has not been specified with the Filter command, the dataset list is created from the catalog. Example:

List datasets

Since no volume was specified, the list of datasets appears as shown above with the following columns:

Column Description
Dataset Name Name of the dataset.
Volume Volume serial number.
Series Device series.
Class Device class. Possible values:
COMM Communications.
CTCA Channel-to-channel adapter.
DASD Direct access.
DISP Display station.
NA Not applicable.
TAPE Tape.
UREC Unit record.
Type Dataset type, for example: NONVSAM, CLUSTER, DATA, GDG BASE.

A Volume has been specified

When a volume has been specified with the Filter command, the datasets contained in the VTOC of the specified volume are shown. Example:

List datasets

Since a volume was specified, the list of datasets appears as shown above with the following columns:

Column Description
Dataset Name Name of the dataset.
Organization Dataset organization, for example:
DA Direct access.
PO Partitioned dataset (PDS).
POE Partitioned dataset (PDSE).
PS Sequential dataset.
Record Length Logical record length in bytes.
Block Size Block size in bytes.
Record Format Record format, for example:
F Fixed length record.
FB Fixed blocked record.
FBA Fixed blocked record, ANSI control characters.
U Unformatted record.
V Variable record.
VB Variable blocked record.
Cylinder Size of dataset in cylinders.
Track Size of dataset in tracks.
%Used Percentage of dataset used.
Created Dataset creation date.
Last Access Date of last access.
SMS Is this an SMS-controlled device/unit (YES, NO)?
Update Has the file been updated since the last backup (YES, NO)?

Managing Recent z/OS Datasets

Mainframe Navigation internally maintains a list of the 100 datasets most recently accessed by the user. This list is stored at the end of a session and is read when Mainframe Navigation is started.

The following topics are covered below:

Listing Recent z/OS Datasets

All commands that are available for datasets can also be invoked from the list of recent files.

Start of instruction setTo list recently-used z/OS datasets

  1. In the object workspace, select the Datasets folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose My Recent Files.

    The list view window containing recently-used datasets appears in the content pane. Example:

    Recent files

    The list view window contains the following columns:

    Column Description
    Dataset Name Name of the dataset.
    Volume Volume serial number.
    Organization For example: PO (PDS), PS (sequential dataset), DA (direct access).
    Last Access Date (YYYY-MM-DD) and time the dataset was last accessed.

Removing a z/OS Dataset from the List of Recent Files

You can remove a dataset from the list of recent files. This does not delete the dataset on the server.

Start of instruction setTo remove a z/OS dataset from the list of recent files

  1. In the list of recent files, select the dataset to be removed.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Remove from list.

Synchronizing the List of Recent Files for z/OS Datasets

You can synchronize the list of recent files with the data on the server. List entries which no longer exist on the server (for example, because they have been renamed or deleted) are deleted from the list of recent files.

Start of instruction setTo synchronize the list of recent files for z/OS datasets

  1. In the object workspace, select the Datasets folder in the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Synchronize.

    A dialog box appears, asking to confirm the synchronize function for the selected object.

  3. Choose the Yes button to synchronize the list of recent files.

Cataloging a z/OS Dataset

You can add a z/OS dataset to a catalog.

Start of instruction setTo catalog a z/OS dataset

  1. In the object workspace, select an uncataloged dataset in the Volumes folder of the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Catalog.

    The dataset is cataloged. It will appear in the Datasets folder (depending on your filter criteria).

Uncataloging a z/OS Dataset

You can remove a z/OS dataset from a catalog.

Start of instruction setTo uncatalog a z/OS dataset

  1. In the object workspace, select a cataloged dataset either in the Volumes or Datasets folder of the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Uncatalog.

    A dialog box appears, asking to confirm the uncatalog function for the selected object.

  3. Choose the Yes button to uncatalog the dataset.

    The selected dataset is uncataloged and removed from the Datasets folder.

Compressing a z/OS Dataset

You can compress a partitioned z/OS dataset (PDS).

Start of instruction setTo compress a z/OS dataset

  1. In the object workspace, select a partitioned dataset either in the Datasets or Volumes folder of the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Compress.

    A dialog box appears, asking to confirm the compress function for the selected object.

  3. Choose the Yes button to compress the dataset.

Allocating a z/OS Dataset

This command is generally issued for an existing dataset. The allocation information for the existing item is displayed and you can overwrite the name and modify the specifications for the new item.

Start of instruction setTo allocate a z/OS dataset

  1. In the object workspace, select a dataset either in the Datasets or Volumes folder of the appropriate node.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Allocate.

    The following window appears in the content pane:

    Allocate dataset

  3. Enter a new name for the dataset and enter or change other options as described in the table below.

    Option Description
    Node Node containing the dataset.
    Name Dataset name.
    Volume Serial number of the volume on which the dataset is to be allocated. You can specify up to 5 volumes for multi-volume datasets.
    Device type If you do not specify a volume, specify the generic identifier from which a volume is to be selected (for example, 3380).
    Organization For example: PO (PDS), PS (sequential dataset), DA (direct access).
    Allocation type Space type for dataset. Possible values:
    BLK Blocks
    CYL Cylinders
    TRK Tracks
    First extent Initial quantity to be allocated.
    Second extent Additional quantity to be allocated if dataset fills.
    Record format For example:
    FB Fixed block
    VB Variable block
    FBA Fixed block, ANSI control characters
    Record length Given in bytes.
    Block size Given in bytes.
    Directory blocks Must be specified for PO-type datasets.
    Catalog dataset Activate this check box to automatically catalog the dataset when it is allocated.
    Release Activate this check box to release allocated space if it is not used by the dataset.
    Contiguous Activate this check box if tracks or cylinders must be adjacent.
    Round Activate this check box to automatically round up space to the nearest cylinder if tracks or blocks are specified as space units.
    Expiration date Date when the dataset expires. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the dataset causes a console message, requiring an operator reply.
    GDG attributes GDG limit A value in this field identifies the file to be allocated as GDG. The value specifies the maximum number of generation datasets that can be associated with the GDG being defined.
    Empty all Activate this check box to uncatalog all generation datasets when the GDG limit is reached. If you do not activate this check box, only the oldest generation dataset is uncataloged.
    DSCB clear Activate this check box to delete the dataset's DSCB from the VTOC; the GDS no longer exists. If you do not activate this check box, the DSCB is not deleted from the VTOC and the dataset can be processed as any non-VSAM dataset.
    SMS attributes These attributes are available only if SMS is installed.
    Management class The management class to be used to obtain the management-related data for SMS (migration, backup and retention criteria) to allocate the dataset.
    Storage class The storage class to be used to obtain the storage-related data for dataset allocation.
    Data class The data class to be used to obtain the data-related information (SPACE, LRECL, etc.) for dataset allocation.

  4. Choose the OK button.

    A dialog box appears, informing you that the dataset was successfully allocated.

  5. Choose the Yes button to allocate another dataset.

    Or:
    Choose the No button to finish allocation.

Displaying the Properties of a z/OS Dataset

You can display information about a z/OS dataset. Different types of information are shown for sequential and partitioned datasets and for generation data groups (GDGs).

Start of instruction setTo display the properties of a z/OS dataset

  1. In the object workspace, select a dataset in the Datasets folder.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Properties.

    Or:
    Press ALT+ENTER.

    A properties dialog box appears.

The following topics are covered below:

Sequential and Partitioned Datasets

The properties dialog box for a sequential or partitioned dataset looks as follows:

Dataset properties for sequential and partitioned datasets

The following information is shown in this dialog box:

Option Description
Name Name of the dataset.
Volume Serial number of the volume on which the dataset is allocated.
Device type If a volume is not specified, this is the generic identifier from which a volume is to be selected (e.g. 3380).
Organization For example:
PO PDS
PS Sequential dataset
DA Direct access
Record format For example:
FB Fixed block
VB Variable block
FBA Fixed block, ANSI control characters
Record length Logical record length in bytes.
Block size Block size in bytes.
Allocation type Space type for dataset. Possible values:
BLK Blocks
CYL Cylinders
TRK Tracks
First extent Initial quantity allocated.
Second extent Additional quantity to be allocated if dataset fills.
Security Security status. Possible values:
NONE Not password-protected.
READ Password-protected for read and write operations.
WRITE Password-protected for write operations.
Allocated cylinders/tracks Number of cylinders or tracks allocated.
Allocated extents Number of extents, 1 to 16.
Percentage used Percentage of dataset used.
Creation date Dataset creation date in format YYYY-MM-DD.
Last reference Date of last access in format YYYY-MM-DD.
Expiration date Date when the dataset expires in format YYYY-MM-DD. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the dataset causes a console message, requiring an operator reply.
Partitioned dataset These fields appear only if the dataset is partitioned.
Number of members Number of members in the dataset.
Directory blocks Number of directory blocks.
Unused blocks Number of unused directory blocks.
SMS attributes These fields appear only if SMS attributes have been defined for the dataset during allocation.
Management class The management class used to obtain the management-related data for SMS (migration, backup and retention criteria) to allocate the dataset.
Storage class The storage class used to obtain the storage-related data for dataset allocation.
Data class The data class used to obtain the data-related information (SPACE, LRECL, etc.) for dataset allocation.

Generation Data Groups (GDG)

The properties dialog box for a generation data group looks as follows:

Dataset properties for data generation groups

The following information is shown in this dialog box:

Option Description
Name Name of the dataset.
Limit number The maximum number of generation datasets that can be associated with the GDG being defined.
Empty all When the maximum number of generation datasets is reached:
YES All generation datasets are uncataloged.
NO Only the oldest generation dataset is uncataloged.
DSCB clear When the generation dataset is uncataloged (due to the Delete command or Empty all value):
YES The dataset's DSCB is deleted from the VTOC and the generation dataset is deleted.
NO The dataset's DSCB is not deleted from the VTOC. The DSCB is left in the VTOC and the dataset can be processed as any non-VSAM dataset.
Expiration date Date the dataset expires. Until this date is reached, each attempt to update or delete the dataset causes a console message, requiring an operator reply.
Model DSN attributes Organization For example: PO (PDS), PS (sequential dataset), DA (direct access).
Record format For example:
FB Fixed block
VB Variable block
FBA Fixed block, ANSI control characters
Record length Logical record length in bytes.
Block size Block size in bytes.