System Options under z/OS

BLKSIZE= System Option: z/OS

Specifies the default block size for SAS libraries.

Default:	0
Valid in:	configuration file, SAS invocation, OPTIONS statement, OPTIONS window
Category:	File Control: SASFILES
PROC OPTIONS GROUP=	SASFILES
z/OS specifics:	all

Syntax
Details
See Also

Syntax

BLKSIZE=n | nK | hexX | MIN | MAX

n | nK

specifies the block size in multiples of 1 (bytes) or 1,024 (kilobytes). You can specify decimal values for the number of kilobytes. For example, a value of 8 specifies a block size of 8 bytes, and a value of .782K specifies a block size of 801 bytes.

hexX

specifies the block size as a hexadecimal value. You must specify the value beginning with a number (0-9), followed by hexadecimal characters (0-9, A-F), and then followed by an X. For example, the value 2dx sets the block size to 45 bytes and a value of 0a0x sets the block size to 160 bytes.

MIN

sets the default block size to 0.

If BLKSIZE=0 is specified, SAS uses the value of the appropriate BLKSIZE(device) option. If a nonzero value is specified for BLKSIZE, then SAS uses the value specified for all device types.

MAX

sets the default block size to 32,760.

Details

The BLKSIZE= option sets the physical block size of the library when you create a SAS library. After the library is created, the block size is set.

The default value of zero indicates that SAS uses the value of the appropriate BLKSIZE(device-type)= option. When a nonzero value is specified for BLKSIZE=, this value takes precedence over any value specified with the BLKSIZE(device-type)= option.

Note: Because of the constraints on the block size for direct access bound libraries, SAS will use a lower value than the value that is specified in some situations for direct access bound libraries. For more information, see Controlling Library Block Size. [cautionend]