Specifying a dataset name

Enter the dataset name you want to process in the Dataset name field of a screen. A qualified dataset name is enclosed in single quotes; an unqualified dataset name is not enclosed in quotes. File-AID/Data Solutions concatenates the TSO prefix to the front of an unqualified dataset name.

Qualified dataset names

A qualified dataset name is enclosed in single quotes (’ ’). The quotes specify that no other information is to be concatenated to the front of the qualified name. Since the trailing quote is not required, a single leading quote can signify a qualified dataset name.

You must specify both the library name and the member name for a qualified dataset name. The member name must be enclosed in parentheses ( ( ) ).

In Example 1, File-AID/Data Solutions searches the catalog for a dataset name containing the three specified levels. Each level is separated by a period ( . ). The entered name is processed as it is entered.

Example 2 specifies the member called PROG1 within the library UNIT.TEST.CNTL.

Unqualified dataset names

An unqualified dataset name is not enclosed in quotes (’ ’). The TSO prefix is then concatenated to the beginning of the entered value.

Use the TSO PROFILE command to display the value of your TSO prefix. If the TSO PROFILE NOPREFIX option is set, the TSO prefix is not added to an unqualified dataset name.

Unqualified VSAM dataset names are prefixed with the installation-defined optional VSAM high-level name (for more information, see VSAM Allocation Information). Also, a user-defined VSAM intermediate name default can be set in the System Parameters (option 0.1). When a search fails for an unqualified dataset name, the VSAM name is constructed and the catalog is searched again to see if the cluster can be located.

Pattern dataset names

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

The pattern dataset name is used most often as a dataset name prefix. This means that all data sets whose high-level qualifiers match the pattern dataset 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.

’USERID1.DASAMP.*’ is entered in the dataset name field.

Specifying a pattern dataset name

The following figure lists all the data sets that have a first-level qualifier of USERID0, a second-level qualifier of DASAMP, and any number of subsequent qualifiers: USERID0.DASAMP.EMPLOYEE, USERID0.DASAMP.NEWJCL.TEST, etc.

Displaying results of pattern dataset name search

File-AID/Data Solutions does not allow a pattern name in the dataset name and member name field at the same time.

Pattern Characters

The valid pattern characters allowed in File-AID/Data Solutions pattern datasets 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.

Lists all the data sets with a first-level qualifier of USERID1, a second-level qualifier beginning with TEST, and any number (including zero) of remaining qualifiers: USERID1.TEST, USERID1.TEST.DATA, USERID1.TESTAA.DATA, USERID1.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.

These examples both match data sets 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 dataset name. Dataset names with more levels than those specified in the Dataset name are not listed. The / must be the last element in the Dataset name. The / and the + cannot both be used in the same Dataset name.

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/Data Solutions to ignore any intermediate-level qualifiers. Use the + after the high-level qualifier and before the lowest-level qualifier to have Data Solutions 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 dataset name; the portion after the + represents a pattern for the low-level qualifier(s). When the + is used, only dataset names that begin and end exactly as the pattern does are displayed.

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

This example matches USERID1.BETA.TEST, USERID1.TEST, or USERID1.FILEAID.ALPHA.SEQ.TEST, since they all begin with USERID1 and end with TEST. It does not match USERID1.BETA.TEST.CLUSTER, because the + indicates that TEST must be the last qualifier in the dataset name.

Pattern dataset name examples

Examples 1 through 5 are valid entries in a Dataset name field.

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any second-level qualifier, a third-level qualifier of MISC, and any number of qualifiers beyond the third-level. Matches USERID.DATA.MISC and USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS. It does not match USERID.BETA.ACCOUNTS.MISC because the third-level qualifier is not MISC.

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any second-level qualifier, and a third-level qualifier of MISC, which must be the last qualifier. Matches USERID.DATA.MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS because there is a qualifier in the name beyond MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.ACCOUNTS.MISC because there is more than one qualifier between USERID and MISC.

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, a second-level qualifier that begins with ACCTID, any third-level qualifier, a fourth-level qualifier of MISC, and any number of qualifiers beyond the fourth-level. Matches USERID.ACCTID.DATA.MISC, USERID.ACCTID99.SCRIPT.MISC, and USERID.ACCTIDX.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS.NODE.

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any number (including zero) of intervening qualifiers, a second-to-last-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there), and a last-level qualifier of MISC.

Matches USERID.DATA.MISC and USERID.BETA.EXAMPLES.TEXT.MISC. It does not match USERID.MISC because the * requires that there is at least one qualifier between USERID and MISC. It does not match USERID.BETA.MISC.ACCOUNTS because the last-level qualifier must be MISC.

Matches data sets with a high-level qualifier of USERID, any number (including zero) of intervening qualifiers, a second-to-last-level qualifier of MISC, and a last-level qualifier that can be anything (but must be there). Matches USERID.MISC.DATA, USERID.NODE.MISC.NODE, and USERID.NODE.NODE.MISC.DATA. It does not match USERID.MISC because the * requires that the last-level qualifier exist. It does not match USERID.MISC.NODE.NODE because the + implies a / at the end of the pattern dataset mask, which indicates that MISC must be the second-to-the-last qualifier in the dataset name.

Pattern member names

You can specify pattern characters in a Member name field to limit the members selected for display. You cannot specify pattern characters in both the dataset name and member name fields at the same time. The asterisk (*), question mark (?), and percent sign (%) are valid pattern characters for the member name field. The member name must be enclosed in parentheses (( )) when entered in the Dataset name field.

The ? (question mark) and the % (percent sign) function as single-character wildcards. An asterisk (*) can be used as a partial or entire member name. It functions as a blank when used to represent the entire member name and produces a complete member list. When the asterisk is entered along with explicit characters, it functions as a single-character wildcard unless it is the last character and then it matches any valid number of remaining characters.

Example

The next two figures show the asterisk used as the last character in the mask to select record layout dataset members.

Specifying a Pattern Member Name

Displaying Results of Pattern Member Name Search