Pattern File Names for Options 3.7.1 and 3.7.2 in Extract/Load function

You can enter a pattern name in any File name field to produce a list of file names that match the pattern. You can select a file from this list with the S line command.

The pattern file name is used most often as a file name prefix. This means that all files whose high-level qualifiers match the pattern file name are listed and there are no restrictions on the remaining qualifiers. The exceptions to the prefix rule are the slash (/) and plus (+) pattern characters.

The prefix concept is illustrated in the following figure. FDSAMP.*is entered in the File name field.

Specifying a Pattern File Name

The following figure lists all the files (data sets) that have a first-level qualifier of TSOID01, a second-level qualifier of FDSAMP, and any number of subsequent qualifiers: TSOID01.FDSAMP.EXTCRIT, TSOID01.FDSAMP.EXTRACT, etc.

Displaying Results of Pattern File Name Search

In File-AID’s File name field, the first-level qualifier of the pattern file name must be an explicit qualifier with no pattern characters.

Pattern Characters

The valid pattern characters allowed in File-AID pattern file names are the asterisk (*), slash (/), plus (+), question mark (?), and percent sign (%):

Asterisk (*)

The asterisk is a qualifier-name wildcard. It represents any single-level qualifier, or partial-level qualifier when preceded by 1 to 7 explicit characters.

Example:

Lists all the files (data sets) with a first-level qualifier of USERID, a second-level qualifier beginning with TEST, and any number (including zero) of remaining qualifiers: USERID.TEST, USERID.TEST.DATA, USERID.TESTAA.DATA, USERID.TESTAB.NODE.NODE, etc.

Question Mark (?) and Percent Sign (%)

The question mark and the percent sign are both single-character wildcards. Either character represents a single character in the specified position of the qualifier. A single-character wildcard can be used up to 8 times within a qualifier, but a character must exist in that position.

Example:

These examples both match files with a high-level qualifier of USERID and second-level qualifier of TESTAA and TESTAB, but not TESTOUT or TEST. They also match USERID.TESTAA.NODE and USERID.TESTAB.NODE.NODE.

Slash (/)

The slash specifies the number of levels in the file name. File names with more levels than those specified in the File name are not listed. The / must be the last element in the File name. The / and the + cannot both be used in the same File name.

Example:

This example matches USERID.TEST.ALPHA and USERID.TEST.BETA. It does not match USERID.TEST.ALPHA.BETA because there are too many levels or USERID.TEST because there are too few levels.

Plus (+)

The plus tells File-AID to ignore any intermediate-level qualifiers. Use the + after the high-level qualifier and before the lowest-level qualifier to have File-AID ignore any intermediate qualifiers. In effect, it matches zero or more qualifiers in the name. Only one + can be used per name.

The portion of the name before the + represents a pattern for the high-level qualifier(s) of the file name; the portion after the + represents a pattern for the low-level qualifier(s). When the + is used, only file names that begin and end exactly as the pattern does are displayed.

The / and the + cannot both be used in the same pattern file name. The + implies a / at the end of the pattern file name.

Example:

This example matches USERID9.BETA.TEST, USERID9.TEST, or USERID9.FILEAID.ALPHA.SEQ.TEST, since they all begin with USERID9 and end with TEST. It does not match USERID9.BETA.TEST.CLUSTER, because the + indicates that TEST must be the last qualifier in the file name.