Allocating External Files

Using the JCL DD Statement to Allocate External Files

The syntax of the JCL DD statement is

//ddname DD DSN=data-set-name,options

options include options such as file disposition as well as options that describe the format of the file.

Here are some examples:

Allocating an existing sequential data set:

//BOOKS DD DSN=LIBRARY.CATALOG.DATA,DISP=SHR

Allocating a new sequential data set:

//REPORT  DD DSN=LIBRARY.REPORT.FEB08,DISP=(NEW,CATLG),
//           SPACE=(CYL,(1,1)),UNIT=SYSDA,
//           DCB=(LRECL=80,RECFM=FB,BLKSIZE=6160)

Concatenating sequential data sets:

//INPUT   DD DSN=LIBRARY.DATA.QTR1,DISP=SHR
//        DD DSN=LIBRARY.DATA.QTR2,DISP=SHR
//        DD DSN=LIBRARY.DATA.QTR3,DISP=SHR
//        DD DSN=LIBRARY.DATA.QTR4,DISP=SHR

For complete information about the JCL DD statement, see the appropriate JCL User's Guide and JCL Reference for your OS level.

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